 Good running shoes can be hard to find. While contentment is largely based on personal preference and running style, some shoes have a level of quality and performance that is hard to match. The Nike Air Max 180+ is this type of shoe.
From the moment you place your feet inside the Nike Air Max 180s, they hug your feet with soft cushioning and support. The shoes are so comfortable, it is hard to take them off. They also have strong lateral support, but are not as rigid as trail running shoes. The soles are a bit firm for my taste, but they at least have creases in the bottom that help the shoe bend. The mesh tops of the shoes are very breathable and help keep your feet dry throughout even the longest runs. Reflective accents make these shoes impossible to miss at night, which makes it safer to run after dusk.
The large amount of air in the heels of these shoes do a wonderful job of cushioning your feet against hard pavement. They provide that "running on a cloud" feeling that I love, especially when running long distances. The Air Max 180s make your feet almost bounce off the ground instead of feeling each strike against the pavement. The padding in the front of each sole also cushions the ball of your foot and distributes the weight of each step evenly across the foot.
I chose the white version of this shoe, which has some gray and black accents as well as a blue heel. In my opinion, this is by far the best color scheme available for this shoe, as the other choices look like either trail running or basketball shoes and are rather unattractive. However, the all white version can is very white and can easily get dirty, so if you like clean shoes, you might not want to wear these on rainy days. Running on dirt paths and grassy areas also may tarnish the clean look of these shoes, but they are meant for hard surface running, so you should try to stay on pavement with these anyway. I recommend getting a separate pair of trail running or cross-training shoes if you plan on a running on other surfaces.
While these shoes were comfortable the first time I stepped into them, it took about 20 miles to really break them in. (Most shoes take at least that long to mold to your feet and soften on the bottoms.) Now they feel nice and soft, but still have a solid, well-built feel to them. With many shoes becoming more plasticy and cheaply made these days, I am happy to say the Nike Air Max 180+ shoes have a high quality appearance with meticulous stitching a made of high-quality, lightweight materials.
Since it is important to choose shoes that fit your feet and running style, I hesitate to recommend any shoe for every runner. However, if you want long distance running shoes that have a lot of cushioning, but are still lightweight and breathable, the Nike Air Max 180s deserve serious consideration. |
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