Nike Lunar Elite+ Better Than My Other Running Shoes

[Mrricebubbles14]

Just bought air Pegasus 28. Have u tried them?

[Mrricebubbles14]

@mckln

Thanks for the reply, I think i'll go for elites

[Mrricebubbles14]

@mckln

Sorry to bother u again but I have one last question, do u think I should get lunar eclipses or lunar elites?

Lunar elites are less heavier by about 2 oz

but lunar eclipses look better. Is 2 oz enough to not consider buying the lunar eclipses?

So to conclude to make sure u dont get confused with what I'm asking, do u think lunar elites would best lunar eclipses

[mckln]

@Mrricebubbles14

Not sure, your decision depends on what you value more: weight or fashion. I value weight and would go for the elites. The Elite already is more fashionable than offerings from other brands :)

[Mrricebubbles14]

@mckln

Thanks for answering but I'm curious did the foam wear out a lot

[mckln]

@Mrricebubbles14 No; the foam is still in tact. In comparison, the Nike Free 3.0 rubber wears out fast -- Lunarlon lasts longer.

[Mrricebubbles14]

How long have u had ur lunar elites and if u dont have them now, how long did they last?

[mckln]

@Mrricebubbles14 I've had them for 18 months; I still wear them; in fact, I wore them tonight! These shoes have lasted because they aren't my everyday trainer -- I use Nike Free 3.0 for everyday running and for races, I use the Lunar Spider R. I only wear the Lunar Elites on recovery runs.

[Mrricebubbles14]

It's $160 in Aus :(

[TandLstorm]

this video is a great shoe review, you actually talk about the specific performances of each shoe, not just the look and non -action statistics, like most reviews. I had the same implosion problem with my nike dual fusion rn shoes, which hurt my toe. Very descriptive, and I will be sure to heavily consider the Nike Lunar Elites

[mckln]

@TandLstorm Thanks for the encouragement; in the year and a half since I've made this, the Lunar Elite has undergone significant structural changes -- most noticeably on the outer where there is much more fly wire these days!

[0venomenon0]

I bought this :)

Its a great running shoes

[pacdiv]

Donate them to the salvation army...

[gearaxis]

try kayano 16!

[22bearsfan]

DAMN sue nike holy shit! a strained hamstring and a broken toe!

[feilovevv]

May i just ask some ones how about the Mizuno Wave Rider 13?? How it feel?

[mckln]

@feilovevv I think Wave Riders are built for heel-strikers; but I haven't worn them before. I threw away the Mizunos in this video because I realized they offered no support when my gait began to falter. That heel piece, in fact, became an obstruction in longer runs!

[RascalUKonTour]

What colourway are the lunarelites please? And where can I purchase them?

[mckln]

@RascalUKonTour The Lunar Elites are purple and neon green with grey overlays. The Lunar Elite 2's have been released, on sale everywhere in Hong Kong, and do not come in that color scheme.

[RascalUKonTour]

What colourway are the lunarelites please? And where can I purchase them?

[emin257]

pff i dont like any of those shoes they are just to big...

[uddhav87]

Hi I am running a 100 km marathon in April. I already have a Nike Free 5.0 Last year during the marathon my ankles were knackered at the end of it. Is it cos of the lack of support that Nike Free has around the ankle? Are the LunarElite + better in the support category around the ankle as well as sole while maintaining the lightness?

[mckln]

@uddhav87 I would think so not least because the Lunar Elite provides dynamic support so there is pronation control when you need it: I would suspect that you would need some support as your gait fails (tires) over 100km!

I don't think I would run a marathon in Nike 5s; I would opt for a shoe with more cushioning and stability since I would lose my gait at that distance. I hope this helps!

[InspectMyGadget69]

Cry more?

[Wack1002]

This was a very informative video so thanks. But man if you're going to run you will get minor nigles like chaffing, etc. from time to time so relax a little. It's not like you have Plantarfateseitous or a pulled hamstring.

[mckln]

@gamecockforlife Sure! I use the Nike Free 3.0 for my 10K races; the Nike Free series is light as a competition trainer should be; in fact, I think this year, I may try them at half-marathon distance too.

[kagemusha101]

Been using the shoe for about a month now! doing about 15 miles a week! So far so good, fits great and is incredibly light! The Lunar mix cushioning is fantastic gives you a nice bounce in the step for energy efficiency and so far haven't received any injuries from the shoe! Glad I bought them!

[lawlelo]

Thanks, for the answer I really appreciate it. I bought a lunar lite and it's good but not what I expected maybe because it was not the proper shoe. What do you recommend for a heavy rnunner is Airmax a good option? Thanks

[mckln]

@lawlelo I think an airmax shoe is more for fashion than for performance; at least it seems as if it is marketed that way.

There are a lot of criteria that you can consider when selecting a shoe: your gait; your body type; your mileage; running on a level surface, slopes or both; and the list goes on. Maybe the most important part in selecting a shoe is not placing too much hope in it. There are so many other factors that more significantly impact performance and training.

[mckln]

@lawlelo Having said that, given your emphasis on being a heavy runner, look for a shoe with cushioning, and perhaps, stability control if you aren't bio-mechanically efficient.

[lawlelo]

@mckln Thanks a lot for your time and the information David, you are the best man. i think I'm just gonna continue using the Lunar lite cause it feels good and i hope it gets better while time goes. by the way i subscribed your as an appreciation of your efforts ;) wish you happy running 

[mckln]

@lawlelo No worries, man; happy running to you too!

[lawlelo]

hi there, i shall thank you for the great review. i have a question, can you tell me what is difference between (the Nike lunar elite, Lunar lite, and The lunar glide) ? please, because i am confused about this matter.

[mckln]

@lawlelo Hey, I'm pretty sure the Lunar glide has a piece of plastic on the bottom which forces stability in a runner's gait, but reduces the shoe's flexibility. The lunar elite doesn't contain such plastic. While I don't know much about the lunar lite, I suspect the that each of the shoe types was constructed with a particular type of runner in mind.

[sunnyynnus]

try Asics

it will impress you for sure

[peteryang92]

have you tried the vibram five fingers shoes?

[mckln]

@peteryang92 I haven't; my left foot is bigger than my right and I don't have sufficient incentive to buy two pairs of vibrams, two sizes, just to try them out. Have you?

[strikerz890]

Np I know what u mean

[strikerz890]

I respect u for the way u film and what u talk about

[mckln]

@strikerz890 Thanks for the encouragement; this is constructive ;)

[vinceaomeg]

very disturbing here and ther movement of the video. why dont you try focusing on one part and just move the subject near on where it is focused..

[Xannava]

Thanks for the great review!

I am new to running, would you recommend the Nike Free Run or the Lunar series for me? I have the Nike Free HyperTR but I don't use them outdoors. Also the main feature that attracted me to these shoes were the Nike+ option. So would I be better off with a Nike Free Run or with something with more support such as the LunarGlide/Elite? Should I go all our for barefoot running or fall back on the "traditional" support to start off with? Thanks! =D

[mckln]

@Xannava No worries; glad the review helped you!

If you are new to running, you might as well start off with the Nike Free Run so you learn to run naturally. It's a good shoe to use, even for long, long runs. I think the only problem would be doing frequent hill training in those shoes as, perhaps, you would need a stiffer, more cushioned shoe to deal with the impact of frequent downhill running.

Having said that, I run in Nike Free 3.0 up and down hills. Happy running!

[Xannava]

@mckln

Awesome! Gonna get a pair soon! Thanks so much =D

[Xannava]

@mckln I've just gotten my pair of Nike Free Run, they are so comfortable and nice to run in! Thanks so much for the advice! =D

[mckln]

@Xannava No worries; happy running :)

[figure25]

for a distance of about 10 miles, what is your opinion on the Nike Lunar Elite+ vs the Nice Lunar Glide+2? I am debating on which one to get.

[mckln]

@figure25 I think both in general are good options for such a distance because of their cushioning; a finer distinction could be made between the two depending on your gait and whether you tire at such a distance.

Personally, I would run 10 miles in the Nike Free 3.0!

[figure25]

@mckln I am about 5'7" 140lbs, and am fairly new to running, i can run about 5 miles before getting pretty tired.

The nike free (nike free run+), was my first interest, but I was told it wasn't for long distances or new runners, and that it takes time to get used to. Do you know if that is correct?

[mckln]

@figure25 Well, if you are a new runner, you might as well get used to running freely in a minimalist trainer rather than go down the road of having your feet, and your gait fit the "traditional" shoe. Having said that, the shoe does require a period of breaking in, and shouldn't be used for distances which you find unmanageable even in "support" shoes.  Consider getting a pair of "traditional" trainers and a pair of minimalist trainers and alternate their use in your workouts!

[atTituDeKiD]

Nike are ok for trainings and speeds. Asics are better for long distances.

[kharnvelzyghur]

haha this is funny. did you know that everytime some idiot buys nike shoes god kills baby seals.

[SILVERBULLETS94]

where did u get ur nike run avant in that color from?

[scorpionsbomb]

i got these Nike Lunar Elite + Q310 today :)

there a man as shoe and im a 11.5 us and im a girl LOL

[THSdrummer]

You mentioned the Nike 3.0s. Can I possibly have an over view and review of the 3.0s? I'm really interested in the 3.0s to get the barefoot feel, since I still haven't successfully won the battle in putting on Vibram 5s.

[mckln]

@THSdrummer Yeah, I'll have one ready for the Nike 3.0s in September when I return from holiday. The Nike 3.0s were put on sale again in Hong Kong and I plan on buying a pair soon!

In general, I would call the Nike 3.0 a minimalist trainer; it's certainly not as "barefoot" as the Vibram 5, I believe.

[maxasampson]

try the nike lunarflies+ i gor mine for $160 (AUS)

[slacker361]

ok what am I missing here I cant find the lunar elites anywhere are they for sale in the USA ?

[mckln]

@slacker361 I'm not sure; they are for sale in Hong Kong.

[eugene1241]

@slacker361 hi there. I guess the Elites are new. I suppose the bigger stores should carry them. The are a few months ago in Nike stores in Singapore.

[Akleptose]

HK dollars?

did u buy it at hong kong?

[mckln]

@Akleptose Yes, I bought it in HK for HKD$710 (price includes a 10% discount)

[Karmakameleeon]

Hi, thanks for the vid, very informative. I just had a quick question for you: so how durable do you think the nike lunar elite would be? I mean, does it withstand a high mileage (up to 60ish per week)? I have a pair of Asics 2140s, which ive had since last october, and they hold up to wear and tear really well due to a generally harder foam. is there a greatly reduced durability would you say in the lunar elites? after how long would they need to be replaced?

Thanks!!!

[mckln]

@Karmakameleeon That's a tough question. If you are putting 60 miles on them every week, you'll likely compromise the foam in 3 months' time (720 miles). No matter how dense the foam is, it will loose it's ability to adequately reduce shock after a few hundred miles, I think.

[Karmakameleeon]

@mckln well im not quite at that mileage yet, but i will be eventually

thanks for the help!

[mckln]

@Karmakameleeon That's a tough question. If you are putting 60 miles on them every week, you'll likely compromise the foam in 3 months' time (720 miles). No matter how dense the foam is, it will loose it's ability to adequately reduce shock after a few hundred miles, I think.

[redapplejellybeans]

do you use the lunar elites for distance training? would you recommend using them this way?

[mckln]

@redapplejellybeans Yes, I use them for distance training and would recommed that you do the same :)

[alfred3299]

would you know where to buy the lunar swift or glides in all colors, because today i went to times square marathon, giga sports, nike actual store and they all sell only the highlighter green ones

[mckln]

@alfred3299 I'm not sure; having said that, if you want customized Nikes, try the NikeID shop on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui.

[alfred3299]

which of the lunar series is the cheapest?

[mckln]

@alfred3299 Either the Lunar Swifts or the Lunar Glides are the cheapest, I think -- the Lunar Racers and Lunar Elites cost $799 per pair.

[alfred3299]

hey mckln where did you buy your lunar shoes in hong kong

? did you buy in causeway bay?

[mckln]

@alfred3299 I bought them at a Gigasports in Kowloon Tong's Festival Walk. In Causeway Bay, the Lunar Elites would be available in the Marathon Sports near Sogo or in the retailers in Times Square.

[slee610]

I've been using the Lunarglides, which look similar to the Lunarelites. No problems whatsoever.

[chr1stianr0cker]

Never had any problems with my Asics, which millions of runners swear by. Not sure why you don't save some grief and run in Asics!!!

[Softhands89]

I started to think, why you were running with a broken toe. Isn't that quite obvious, that the broken toe affects in your step and causes problems, while running with any shoes?

You seem to run with very different shoes, but the other shoes, besides Mizunos, are neutral shoes. Mizunos are for over-pronators, so it could cause problems for neutral runners at those areas, where you had problems with those Elixirs.

[mckln]

@Softhands89 In fact, I didn't break my toe. The hot spot in the Avatar so chafed my toe that the intense,a cute pain led me to believe, at first blush, that I had broken it. However, at last, once I had realized that I didn't experience such pain while walking in other shoes, I figured out that the problem must be in the Avatars -- I returned them to Nike.

[Softhands89]

@mckln Ok, after I watched your video, I realised, that I have some older Adidas shoes, that are build with a similar upper like your Avants and I've lost my nails couple times with them even though there are plenty of space for my toes. I haven't use them for four years.

[mckln]

@Softhands89 I think you're right, furthermore, about the Mizunos. What with its wave construction, I don't think they're the right fit for mid-foot and forefoot strikers.

[mckln]

@Softhands89 I think you're right, furthermore, about the Mizunos. What with its wave construction, I don't think they're the right fit for mid-foot and forefoot strikers.

[Softhands89]

@mckln Yes, it looks like the wave construcion is only in heel side, so it's only suitable for heel strikers. I've never seen any Mizuno shoes live, because they don't sell Mizunos here. Besides that heel construction problem, what kind of a shoe was this Elixir? Was like a wide or narrow, or how did it roll compared to LunarElite? Could think them as a racing shoes? I thoughed a little to try Elixirs some day.

[mckln]

@Softhands89 The Elixir can handle wide feet well; and the ride isn't as firm as that which you can expect from a Lunar Elite. I've heard, nonetheless, that the Elixir is a pretty good marathon shoe, but perhaps you should check runnersworld forums to get multiple opinions on this.

Waverunners are pretty popular in Hong Kong. They're the most popular Mizuno shoe on the market here.

[Softhands89]

@mcklnThank you for your comments. I noticed, that Elixirs have come to Finland too, but they seem to be very expensive in here. The price is 159€(220USD) in Helsinki. I think, i'll pass this one. Btw, the Nike Zoom Elite was a great shoe.

[mckln]

@Softhands89 No worries; I would pass on Elixirs too for that price (I paid about $40USD for a pair!); it's strange that Mizunos are so expensive in Finland -- in Hong Kong, everyone knows that they are an inexpensive (everything under $100USD), quality brand.

[Softhands89]

@mckln The pricelevel is pretty in mad in Finland and especially in Helsinki, but it's only 45min boattrip from Helsinki to Tallin, where the pricelevel is about same, as in Hongkong and I think the shoes and the trip would coast something like 70-80€(93USD) together, if bought from Tallin. LunarElite seems to coast 139€(184USD) in Finland(already sold out from this spring in many places), but there is only one store, that sells Mizunos, so they can keep the price very high.

[mckln]

@Softhands89 $184 for Lunar Elites is really expensive; I paid about $120USD, the full price, for my pair; wow, shoes are expensive in Finland!

[Softhands89]

@mckln Asics shoes are famous for they price in here(about 200-290USD), so those, who run alot, and buy many shoes, dont like to use Asics shoes.

Btw. in that last message, I ment 70-80€(93-106USD) for getting Mizunos from Tallin. At this point, I think its best to buy those brands form internet only in here.

[26point2madness]

Very interesting video. I have recently been transitioning from a heel strike to a fore/midfoot strike. It appears these shoes have a fairly low heel rise. What do you think?

[mckln]

@26point2madness I think Mizunos would suit heel strikers well, which is why, I believe, I injured myself while wearing a pair, since I strike from the midfoot area. For that reason, I prefer the lunar and free series from Nike since the shoes from those lines definitely don't offer much in the heel; less with which to bother me whilst running!

[DjSteveAoki]

can you give me those 3 shoes? please?

[mckln]

@DjSteveAoki Hey, I already gave away my mizunos and the Nike Avants I returned to the Nike store; I still have the Reeboks and don't know what to do with those!

[thatwun14]

the mizunos are volleyball shoes...

[nates811]

Thanks just ordered the lunar elites 2day cant wait to run in them!!!

[mckln]

@nates811 Yeah, I've put about 50Km on them thus far and they've held up well; neither chafing nor implosions!

[nike4life09]

The going price fir a good running shoe starts about 100dolars so I don't know what you mean by expensive (I run cross country go through shoes quickly) and the luner glides realy great cushin for rugged terain

[nates811]

Great Video

[btuck1223]

I've logged in a bunch of miles on the Lunarswift. Good shoe. Small amount of support, with a bit of a lower-profile midsole than the Lunarelite and Lunarglide. Try those out.

[mckln]

@btuck1223 I only tried the lunarswifts in the store and I was a bit wary of its lack of overlays -- the right toebox collapsed on me when I tied the sneaker tightly.

[btuck1223]

@mckln Yeah, after putting on more miles, I'm starting to feel the effects of the lack of overlays. A little chafing on top of my toes and in my insole. I hate how so many shoes are hit or miss! I'm going back to training in the Span 6+ for now, and I'll check out the Elites soon and see how they work for me.

[GrueneBiene]

He's talking about his broken toe. Funny guy!

[MrDeezi]

what abt Nike Lunar Trainer?

[mckln]

@MrDeezi Mmm...I'm sorry; I don't know much about those!

[rbalmes3]

What shoes do you race in by the way? I'm not as fast, you but was considering using the lunar elites for racing (5ks, half)

[mckln]

@rbalmes3 I use custom-made Adizero racing flats; I paid a bit more for the miAdidas customization just so I would have one pair of sneakers that would actually fit my asymmetrical feet!

[rbalmes3]

Great post,

I tried on the Lunar elites the other day, but found the heel strike almost too soft when walking around the store. I'm a big nike fan, and train in Lunar Glides. Just recently I bought ASICS DS-trainer 14s, found on clearance, and the feel is firm but still enough cushion, but I've found them to give me painful hotspot on my L top foot.

Thanks for posting, I'll have to reconsider the lunar elites again, because like you said, you gotta take care of your feet!

[mckln]

@rbalmes3 How big are you? I am about 5'6" and 118 pounds, and tend to strike naturally at the mid-foot -- so, yeah, I can see how the Lunar Elite might not offer enough cushioning for the way you run. The shoe, I feel, also has a very narrow fit which may not be suitable for people with wide feet.

I also like the Lunar Glides, but because I have small feet, I felt like I needed more overlays to keep the shoe from collapsing onto my feet when tied tightly!

[rbalmes3]

I'm 5'8", 130 lbs. I ended up getting the elites, breaking them in, walking around everywhere for now. I can't wait to run in them soon. They feel very similar to the lunarglides so far, but lighter.

I plan on using them for my half-marathon coming up.