NIKE FLYKNIT LUNAR 2 – REVIEW

Nike’s Flyknit Lunar One was a smash hit – it quickly gained rave reviews and a huge fanbase amongst both the hardcore runners and the swoosh fanboys.  So how will the follow up be received? Bigger and badder, or more of a difficult second album? We take a look at the NIKE FLYKNIT LUNAR 2 to find out.

Flyknit: lightweight, functional, eco-friendly, flexible and breathable. It’s already a game changer – and Nike’s Flyknit Lunar One was the shoe that brought the tech to mass appeal, dropping in a load of colours for both boys and girls. Safe to say the Lunar 2 has a lot to live up to.

At first glance it’s a case of evolution rather than revolution.  That sole unit looks like the familiar Lunarlon piece, with updated curves and textures, and the upper retains all the regular Flyknit cues–multiple textures, directional weave, Flywire and a choice of wild  colours. But it’s definitely more than just a remix; look more closely and you’ll see that the sole unit is completely new, taking a more geometric approach to the midsole, while the cushioned elements of the sole are now modelled on a pressure map of a runner’s feet–clever and functional.

The upper now features more structural panelling, with clearer differences between the ventilation and support sections, and chunky woven guides for the Flywire cables which add to the support the knit provides.  And thankfully the tongue is now sewn in place to stop it sliding about – which was a major annoyance on the old model.

On foot these differences take what was already a brilliant running shoe and push the performance that little bit higher.  The comfort the reworked upper provides is unmatched, and whilst these won’t be supportive enough for heavy overpronators and will be too soft for some, the neutral runner looking for a daily shoe to put miles on will likely be in heaven with the combination of fluid ride and cushioning.

For those of us who don’t run anywhere and wear shoes like these because they look nice (and The Drop Date staff are guilty as charged on that score), the Lunar 2 is a little less conventional in appearance than the outgoing version, with the zig-zag upper allowing for some great colour blocking, while the swoosh gets moved back toward the heel.  While looks are a matter of taste, what can’t be disputed is the comfort, which is next level!

Whatever your intended use, there’s no disputing the NIKE FLYKNIT LUNAR 2 as a boldly distinctive, brilliantly functional shoe that takes the Flyknit range another step forward – and whether you like your colourways tonal and subtle or prefer a technicolor hammer to the skull, there’s probably a pair for you in the range – which you can check out in full via the link-throughs below.