Review: Nike Air Trainer 1.2 Low Winter
Nike’s offering of trainer shoes has expanded lately, perhaps due to the influx of people seeking workout solutions at home thanks to P90X and the Insanity workout. A specialized trainer for the masses to use on an indoor surface is a bit of a niche product, but since I’m one of the people who gets in shape from home, I gave the Nike Air Trainer 1.2 Lows a shot. Review after the jump.
Traction: You can tell by the pic above that the 1.2 utilizes an all rubber outsole, as opposed to the original. I didn’t experience any slippage on a vinyl laminate surface, nor out and about walking through various surfaces and puddles. The sole definitely suits more than a few walking surfaces. I’d venture so far as to say that it would make a suitable shoe for short distance trail runs if need be. The orange parts of the sole stick out farther from the shoe to prevent you rolling your ankle when making quick cuts and I must say, this small design quirk works quite well. I suspect the designers got this idea from basketball and tennis shoes.
Construction: The 1.2 Winters vary a bit from the original 1.2′s. Yes, the silhouette and sole are identical, and both models contain Nike’s patented Flywire technology. but that’s where the similarities end. These are constructed for cold weather use, and it shows in the details. The tongue of the shoe is lined with a material that’s similar to neoprene, which traps heat to keep the user’s feet warm. The downside is that neoprene retains water and sweat, so if you tend to get super sweaty while working out, the shoes may be a hotbed for bacteria and will get pretty stinky if you use them a lot without giving them ample time to air out. My feet get fairly damp when working out, and they’ve held up fine in the two workouts I’ve put them through. Just make sure you wear athletic socks that wick sweat while wearing these to prevent problems. The toe bumper and accents on the shoe are nubuck, with a synthetic material infused with Flywire. Another difference you’ll find is inside the shoe is the lining. The inside is all wool, which felt more comfortable to me.
Fit: The fit is comfortable, but on the smaller side. My toes come pretty close to touching the front of the shoe, and I prefer a little wiggle room. If you’re like me I’d recommend going a half size up. No real pain from working out in these yet though. The Flywire and strap provide very good lockdown when making lateral movements. My feet did not shift AT ALL in these shoes, and I didn’t find any pressure points that caused any blisters. Even though the trainers are low tops, my ankles felt just fine and didn’t get close to rolling over. The low profile allows for very good responsiveness, at the cost of superior cushioning. If you’re really going to be pounding your feet while working out, you might want to look elsewhere. I experienced a bit of soreness in my knees each time I did a hard workout.
Durability: I’ve owned these shoes for less than a month, and only have worn them a handful of times, but they still look pretty new. Aside from scuffs showing rather easily on the light grey color, I haven’t seen any wrinkles or collapsing of the midsole foam, nor have I seen any Flywire strands pop, which was an issue with earlier models of shoes that had the technology.
Overall: 9/10. These are near perfect training shoes for the indoor/outdoor athlete. Superior lockdown, traction, and an all rubber outsole make this shoe a solid performer in a variety of conditions. Obviously with the addition of neoprene and wool, it might not be the best to use for summer training, but nonetheless it’s a beast to work out in. My only gripes are based on my own crumbling knees, I’d like some more cushioning. Maybe fore foot Zoom Air would have helped. If you’re in good health with no issues with your legs, strap these on the next time you workout and it’s likely to become your go-to for burning some calories.
Nike Trainer Low 1.2 available now at NikeTown
