NIKE Women's Downshifter 11 Gymnastics Shoe

Product Information

Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best Used for: Racing; Weight: 206g (UK 9); Heel-to-toe offset: 8mm The midsole is firm too, at 32HC (average midsole run 22.8HC) it’s a bit dense under foot, and feels a slight bit harsh to run in for longer distances. As for the grip, the outsole has mini 1.7mm lugs, which is great on a road shoe since they normally don’t have this much texture. It should be fine on gravel trails and dirt paths and had no issues on our road tests. If you’re fairly new to running and don’t need loads of support, the Downshifter 10 will see you through runs and gym workouts superbly.

If taken as a sneaker, the Downshifter 12 does a good job in this department. However, a weight above 10.6oz (300g) is nowadays quite hefty for a road running shoe, which is averaging 9.5 oz (270g). There are a great range of colorways from monochrome to bright and pastel shades to suit every taste. Compared to its predecessor, the Downshifter 9, the 10th iteration has updated support and cushioning in the midsole too. Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best used for: Racing; Weight: 182g (UK 9); Heel-to-toe offset: 6mm As soon as I put the Downshifter 10s on, they were comfortable with no tight spots. The thin, lightweight upper wrapped around the foot with a barely-there feel.

Nike Downshifter 11 First Impressions

Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best Used for: Racing; Weight: 232g (UK 9); Heel-to-toe offset: 4mm The finish was detailed and sleek, yet minimalist, but by far the most stand out thing for me was how breathable and lightweight they felt. Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best Used for: Training; Weight: 310g (UK 9); Heel-to-toe offset: 10mm Nike made a few tweaks to upgrade the Downshifter from its previous version. The shoe's upper has been slightly updated and some subtle tweaks are done on the outsole.

All that adds up to quite a bulky and odd-feeling shoe, but it’s also an undeniably fast one, despite the weight. React foam is used at the heel to provide a cushioned landing while also increasing the durability of the shoe, then the bouncy ZoomX foam used in the Alphafly and Vaporfly is used in the midfoot before you hit the plate and the responsive Air Zoom pods in the forefoot. It all adds up to a springy and speedy ride that only feels better the faster you run in the shoe, but the slightly strange sensation produced by the different foams, the plate and the pods might not suit every runner. On the foot, they feel lightweight, super flexible, and comfortable. On walking around the foam feels adequate, nothing too exciting about it depending on your expectations but all in all, a good first impression.The previous iteration had an outsole that proved noticeably resistant, and the Downshifter 12’s proved as much as good.