Do you buy Nike?

rom · 03-04-2014 9:38pm #1

With a possible boycott from elite athletes in the US due to vested interest USATF in respect to shoe companies. Personally I have a lot of nike gear. Hard to beat/find better shorts in normal running shops.

With athletes like Kara Goucher leaving Nike recently do you believe in the brand and it is good for the sport ?

BeepBeep67 · 03-04-2014 9:46pm

Not deliberately but haven't bought anything Nike in about 5 years and that was a pair of cheap spikes in the outlet store up North.
The brands I do buy do offer great value and quality.

TFBubendorfer · 03-04-2014 10:11pm

Same as BB, I haven't bought any Nike gear in ages but not because I am boycotting them deliberately.

I couldn't care less if they have the USATF in their pockets or not, to be honest. Their sweatshop policy used to bother me a lot more, though I am told they have cleaned up their act considerably in that regard.

tomdempsey200 · 03-04-2014 10:54pm

it wouldn't particularly bother me to buy something

they seem indifferent to drug use in sport

no different to the IOC in that regard

isn't all their gear made in sweatshops too?

nolinejudge · 04-04-2014 6:41am

Same here haven't deliberately not bought Nike but haven't for 10 years or more.
Who big brands sponsor and what they do do don't do has little effect on my buying. Comfort and price.

Cabaal · 04-04-2014 7:46am

Bought a few Nike items when i first started running, mainly because they had them going for around 80% off at the time on their website (making it was a pricing error?).

Outside of that I've not bought Nike since, I just find the prices over inflated compared to other brands and i don't find their products any better quality wise.

drquirky · 04-04-2014 8:18am

Nike was busted for sweatshops in the early nineties but a since then has become the industry leader in corporate social responsibility in regards to their factories.

Used to wear the shoes but have gone off them for running reasons- not particularly impressed w/ the way the NOP has been flexing its muscles lately but one could argue Nike deserves hell of a lot of credit in the creation of Eugene, Oregon as "Tracktown USA".

dna_leri · 04-04-2014 8:49am

Shoot me now!

Nike shorts, spikes, base-layers, probably a top or two.
Good fit, comfort and durability.
I don't "believe in any brand" - don't even know what that means.

Nike dominance of USATF is not good for the sport but it does not affect my purchasing decisions.

buck65 · 04-04-2014 9:50am

In fairness Nike were never really taken seriously for their running shoes compared to Asics, Brooks, Saucony etc.

Way too blingy and fashionable.

drquirky · 04-04-2014 10:23am

buck65 wrote: »

In fairness Nike were never really taken seriously for their running shoes compared to Asics, Brooks, Saucony etc.

Way too blingy and fashionable.

??? Steve Prefontaine, Michael Johnson and millions of runners from the 70s running boom forward would disagree with this.

You do realize Nike were the first company to really experiment with much of the cushioning and support technology we take for granted today?

You are confusing the fact that Nike makes a lot of "blingy, fashionable" sneakers with them not having a solid running line. Shoes like the Pegasus, the Structure the waffle are timeless and all represent important advances in running tech...

Saucany and Brooks have only fairly recently re branded as running specialist companies...

Not a big fan of Nike but I suggest you read the history of both the founder (u of Oregon track runner Phil Knight) and the reason why he and Americas greatest distance running coach, Bill Bowerman started making the shoes.

Sacksian · 04-04-2014 11:10am

I don't, for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, I grew up playing football, rather than running, in the 80s, and Adidas and Puma were the serious (German!) brands. Nike only came along later, and were probably considered a little frivolous by comparison. And I wore the retro Adidas and Puma runners and tracksuit tops too!

Added to the fact that Nike have historically used some of my least favourite sportspeople to endorse their products, as well as some of my least favourite marketing, I just developed an aversion to them. If they made a shoe that could give me 5 seconds a lap over every distance, I'm sure I could get over it.

BeepBeep! · 04-04-2014 12:44pm

drquirky wrote: »

??? Steve Prefontaine, Michael Johnson and millions of runners from the 70s running boom forward would disagree with this.

You do realize Nike were the first company to really experiment with much of the cushioning and support technology we take for granted today?

You are confusing the fact that Nike makes a lot of "blingy, fashionable" sneakers with them not having a solid running line. Shoes like the Pegasus, the Structure the waffle are timeless and all represent important advances in running tech...

Saucany and Brooks have only fairly recently re branded as running specialist companies...

Not a big fan of Nike but I suggest you read the history of both the founder (u of Oregon track runner Phil Knight) and the reason why he and Americas greatest distance running coach, Bill Bowerman started making the shoes.

Great post..hate these running shops that don't stock Nike and say its because they are not a good running shoe. The real reason they don't stock them is because Nike don't offer them deals like Asics, Brooks, Saucony etc. I personally love Nike, currently wear Lunaracers to train and LT Zoom Streak 2 to race. Both great shoes.

menoscemo · 04-04-2014 12:50pm

BeepBeep! wrote: »

Great post..hate these running shops that don't stock Nike and say its because they are not a good running shoe. The real reason they don't stock them is because Nike don't offer them deals like Asics, Brooks, Saucony etc. I personally love Nike, currently wear Lunaracers to train and LT Zoom Streak 2 to race. Both great shoes.

+1, pretty much 50+% of my runners are nike (and I have a lot

).
I also like the Nike Shorts with the compression layer built in. I generally buy Nike stuff because I find it very cheap, I normally buy last years stuff though....

munkee · 04-04-2014 4:14pm

Stopped buying Nike after the whole sweat-shop controversy. Their endorsement of Lance Armstrong deepened my dislike for the brand. I now associate the swoosh with crassness, even if they've changed their ways, so won't be buying Nike gear any time soon.

Condo131 · 04-04-2014 4:18pm

I've been wearing Nike Pegasus for, probably 25 years, racers (getting to the stage where I'm really getting too slow for them! :rolleyes: ) are also Nike - whatever's light & comfortable. XC Spikes are whatever are light, comfortable & cheap.

I once moved away from the Pegasus (to another Nike shoe) but very quickly realised my mistake, so back again. I started out originally with Addidas Oregon - Now, anyone else here care to admit that they even heard of them? :cool:.

Shorts = whatever - cheap, comfortable. Singlet = club. Leggings = Ron Hill.

TFBubendorfer · 04-04-2014 4:28pm

BeepBeep! wrote: »

Great post..hate these running shops that don't stock Nike and say its because they are not a good running shoe. The real reason they don't stock them is because Nike don't offer them deals like Asics, Brooks, Saucony etc. I personally love Nike, currently wear Lunaracers to train and LT Zoom Streak 2 to race. Both great shoes.

I had completely forgotten about my racing shoes, my Lunaracers are indeed Nike.

Having said that, they are over 2 years old by now. Still, they are fantastic shoes - saying that Nike cannot be taken seriously for running shoes is just utter nonsense.

buck65 · 04-04-2014 4:47pm

Compared to the aforementioned brands they are nowhere near as prolific and well regarded.

Prefontaine wore them becuase there were no alternatives except Adidas.

Nike are a fashion brand.

ecoli · 04-04-2014 5:00pm

buck65 wrote: »

Compared to the aforementioned brands they are nowhere near as prolific and well regarded.

Prefontaine wore them becuase there were no alternatives except Adidas.

Nike are a fashion brand.

Nike probably account for over 50% of professional athletes sponsorship money (Look at any diamond league race and over 75% will be sponsored by Nike)

The older models of the Pegasus are to this day regarded by many as the best marathon shoe of all time.

Back in the day adidas and tiger (later Asics) were the top brands and it was his coach, a man intrinsically tied to the sport and the birth of the jogging boom who later founded the company.

In terms of track spikes they are also miles ahead of the competition in regard to their product line (the only ones who come close are adidas)

Nike have had success across all sports and as a result are known in a more general sense however they have probably had the greatest influence in the sport.

To the general Irish public Aasics may have more of an association in terms of perception with marathon running but this is as a result of years of the misconception that the Kayano was the best running shoe to get (thankfully this perception is slowly changing and people are now looking for the right shoes for them as an individual)

Personally my preferences are as follows

Runners/Flats - Saucony/Brooks
Running clothes - Adidas
Spikes - Nike

Also find below a breakdown of the US market from 2013

average_runner · 04-04-2014 5:04pm

I think the Nike shorts are the best out there for running. Might buy a top sometimes but never go out my way for the tops.

denis160 · 04-04-2014 5:08pm

Personally I love to run in their dri fit gear. I find they wash & wear well. Have tried most other brands & under armour is probably the only other brand i'ld buy instead of them. I've ran in their peagus trainer, loved them and in their lunar glides, hated them. Who endorses their products would have no influence on whether I bought nike or not. As another poster said, it's usually last seasons stuff I'll buy.

drquirky · 04-04-2014 5:31pm

buck65 wrote: »

Compared to the aforementioned brands they are nowhere near as prolific and well regarded.

Prefontaine wore them becuase there were no alternatives except Adidas.

Nike are a fashion brand.

Do you even know who Bill Bowerman is? How about the NOP? I'm sorry but saying nike isn't prolific in running is slightly idiotic

BeepBeep67 · 04-04-2014 5:34pm

Condo131 wrote: »

I've been wearing Nike Pegasus for, probably 25 years, racers (getting to the stage where I'm really getting too slow for them! :rolleyes: ) are also Nike - whatever's light & comfortable. XC Spikes are whatever are light, comfortable & cheap.

I once moved away from the Pegasus (to another Nike shoe) but very quickly realised my mistake, so back again. I started out originally with Addidas Oregon - Now, anyone else here care to admit that they even heard of them? :cool:.

Shorts = whatever - cheap, comfortable. Singlet = club. Leggings = Ron Hill.

I had a pair IIRC they were off white with a redish/wine stripe and criss crosses on the midsole, I also had a pair that came with red, white and blue plugs that you could insert into the heel :pac: LA trainers I think they were called

Butterbeans · 04-04-2014 5:39pm

I changed from using Asics runners to Nike about 2 years ago, they really work for me. Same as above poster, I am not influenced by who's endorsing what. I picked up my first pair of Nike because they were on sale, and I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

Stazza · 04-04-2014 6:27pm

I started out with Adidas TRX (trainer and competition) and the Adidas Interval 2 spikes, before moving over to the original Nike Pegasus – brilliant shoes. And I also had a brief go with the Adidas Oregon and Saucony Jazz before reverting back to the Pegasus.

When I started back running 2.5 years ago, I started off with some NB things, then went to the Pegasus (rubbish – shredded my feet), and then on to the Asics Nimbus – too clunky - where I stayed for a while.

But I’ve recently discovered the Nike Flyknit Trainers and Racers– no going back, they’re the dogs; so too are my Matumbo spikes.

Condo131 · 04-04-2014 7:46pm

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

I had a pair IIRC they were off white with a redish/wine stripe and criss crosses on the midsole, I also had a pair that came with red, white and blue plugs that you could insert into the heel :pac: LA trainers I think they were called

Ever get them resoled? I did a few times. There was a guy here in Cork who had a business going resoling them....then he 'emigrated', leaving a load of disgruntled people looking to get their clapped out non-resoled runners back. :rolleyes:

I don't think anyone would dream of resoling their shoes these days...but, then again, I'm sure somebody will surprise me!

ecoli · 04-04-2014 8:05pm

Condo131 wrote: »

I don't think anyone would dream of resoling their shoes these days...but, then again, I'm sure somebody will surprise me!

If you found a guy I would sell my sole to the devil to get my brooks t5s resoled

BeepBeep67 · 04-04-2014 8:15pm

Condo131 wrote: »

Ever get them resoled? I did a few times. There was a guy here in Cork who had a business going resoling them....then he 'emigrated', leaving a load of disgruntled people looking to get their clapped out non-resoled runners back. :rolleyes:

I don't think anyone would dream of resoling their shoes these days...but, then again, I'm sure somebody will surprise me!

I remember unsuccessfully experimenting with Shoe Goo!

rainbow kirby · 04-04-2014 8:36pm

I'm not a huge fan of their shoes - never tried a pair of them that I liked, or that really gave me enough support.

Their clothes though - I love the Nike Miler t-shirts, a very flattering fit. Their shorts, capris and tights are decent too.

PVincent · 04-04-2014 10:33pm

Used to wear asiscs , tried brooks , then onto a nike lunar something until I finally picked up a pair of Pegasus at the London Marathon last year. Easily the best shoe I have ever worn. Problem tho is I got them for 50stg at the expo there. Where will I get the best price now. I love their shorts, definitely the most comfortable of all the brands and as someone said wash really well without compromising on the quality of the material. Very rarely buy tops so can't comment on the tee shirts or jackets.
Incidentally have an Adidas jacket from dublin marathon that they gave to volunteers and it's the best jacket ( lightweight but not waterproof) I have ever worn for running , and it looks great as well

sconhome · 05-04-2014 5:10pm

BeepBeep! wrote: »

Great post..hate these running shops that don't stock Nike and say its because they are not a good running shoe. The real reason they don't stock them is because Nike don't offer them deals like Asics, Brooks, Saucony etc. I personally love Nike, currently wear Lunaracers to train and LT Zoom Streak 2 to race. Both great shoes.

Slightly OT but not true.

In my experience any brand that wants you to buy heavily into their brand with big stock orders will lead to specialist stores having to 'push' that brand in order to avoid being caught with high stock levels and cash tied up. This removes independent thinking & impartiality from the advice process.

To answer OP, no. Have some Nike clothing but the shoes never felt right for my feet.

BananaR · 08-04-2014 10:54am

Can't comment on Nike shoes but I've had a couple of recent disappointing experiences with their clothing, so wouldn't be in a hurry to purchase again.

Pair of capri leggings frayed at the seam on both legs after the 1st wash

2nd Pair of leggings baggy and loose in no time.

Grossly overpriced for the quality

frankeee · 08-04-2014 12:18pm

BananaR wrote: »

Can't comment on Nike shoes but I've had a couple of recent disappointing experiences with their clothing, so wouldn't be in a hurry to purchase again.

Pair of capri leggings frayed at the seam on both legs after the 1st wash

2nd Pair of leggings baggy and loose in no time.

Grossly overpriced for the quality

Have you tried returning them? I've found they're pretty good at replacing faulty gear quibble free (at least for stuff I've bought online)

RunRoryRun · 08-04-2014 12:38pm

I've really had nothing but good experiences buying Nike. I find their clothing (base layers in particular) outlast other brands. Have one I must have worn 500 times over 5 years and is as new.

Found the Vomero trainers suit me so have bought the last four iterations of that shoe, and have all been great.

Bought the Nike+ GPS Sportwatch back in June 2011. It stopped working 2 years and 3 months later. Emailed their support and after troubleshooting, offered to send me a brand new replacement at no charge - well outside warranty.

So yes, I do buy Nike!

OgreSwamp · 08-04-2014 2:10pm

Had 3 Nike Run Free (2nd, 3rd and 4th gen). Run about 2000km with them - no single issue.

Apparel - don't really care about tops, but Asics is hugely overpriced (I compare prices in Kldare Nike and Asics shops). I'm quite big guy and Nike's L fits me much better that average L t-shirt. Also I have 3 long sleeve tops. I don't know why Asics made so thin long sleeve top. It is colder than my average running t-shirt. I always thought that long sleeve wear made for cold conditions. Both Nike tops are fine without extra layer.

I had issues with inner thigh chafing after 15-20km (it was in Singapore and 32C + 100% humidity is killing) with any regular running shorts (with briefs inside). First I found Under Armor anti chafe shorts and they were just perfect for me. I had 2 pairs and last year I found similar shorts from Asics. Guess what, their compression layer material is like a sandpaper. I don't know who had this awesome idea to use such rough material for inner layer. So I barely used it 5 times. Last week found Nike runners with compression shorts inside - my new favourite.

So, yep. I wear Nike.

Shoes: Nike, Asics, Inov-8
Tops: any (long sleeve - Nike)
Shorts: Under Armour, Nike.

ronn · 10-04-2014 12:47am

I'm a nike head :-)
Nike jocks socks and t -shirts,
Breaking in my 2nd vomero runners about to purchase my 3rd pair.
Nike gps also

I go to the states and bulk buy in the outlet stores.

Prefare nike for the quality and usage then under armour then Adidas,

Do you buy Nike?

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