Nike Air Zoom Streak 7 Brand new size 11

Nike Air Zoom Streak 7 Brand new size 11

The RW summary
‘A high-performance, versatile shoe that offers superb value for money.’

wide toe-box for natural toe-splay
excellent cushioning-to-weight ratio
surprisingly durable for an out and out racer
The Zoom Streak was once the shoe of choice among Nike’s elite marathoners. Then the Vaporfly Next% came along, ripped up the rulebook and left the Zoom Streak trailing in its carbon-fibre propelled wake. Yet there is so much to admire about the seventh edition of this affordable, cushioned unisex racing flat. Originally designed to provide elites with just enough protection for a full 26.2, it’s best used by mortals for distances up to the half-marathon.

A durable outsole
nike streak 7 review
You might think that a lightweight, unisex shoe is a signpost to a lack of durability, but as has been the case with previous iterations of the Streak, it punched above its weight here, with the basic structure of the shoe and the outsole rubber in particular showing little wear and tear in it after more than 100 miles in the shoe. The 8mm heel to toe drop also means that runners who are intimidated by, or can’t get on with, a more minimally dropped shoe can wear this and enjoy a slightly more conventional feeling.

The Pebax plate
The midsole contains a Pebax plate (a kind of hard, flexible plastic) which, although subtler than the carbon fibre plate in the Vaporfly Next%, still gives a snappy sense of propulsion on the run – and doesn’t require a huge wodge of foam to house it either. The cushioning-to-weight ratio of this shoe is so good that the RW office speedster, Senior Editor Rick Pearson (a sub-3 marathoner), remarked that he has never experienced a more comfortable racing flat.

nike streak 7 review
The upper
Breathability and weather-proofing are both above average, which is a bonus: often you get one at the cost of the other. The shoe’s wide toe-box, which allows your toes to splay naturally upon impact with the ground is one of those features that sounds unremarkable but is actually remarkable. It’s unusual to find a racing shoe that offers this feature, since many brands cut weight by narrowing the shape of the shoe and making it as aerodynamic as possible. The sensation of your splayed toes really gripping the ground through the shoe was pronounced.

nike streak 7 review
Open Gallery

If you’re looking for a high-performance, versatile shoe that’ll go the distance time and again for less than £100, you’ll be hard pushed to find a better option.