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Nike Epic React

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 7.2 oz · 28/18mm stack · 10mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Nike Epic React 2 replaced it

How it ranks

The Nike Epic React trails most daily trainers in our data. Looks and cushioning are its strongest sub-ratings. Value scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 28 runner reviews and 1 other rated shoe in the Epic React product line.

Nike Epic React

of 5

Below average

69
Overall
69
Appearance
98
Cushioning
91
Comfort
74
Durability
68
Value
64
Confidence

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

97 Very high

97

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

  1. Brand rating
  2. Our ratings
  3. External ratings

What runners say

“Rubber on outside of heel cup will absolutely shred some people's heels.”
3/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas adizero Boston 6
“If you get heel lift, you'll probably get achilles blisters because the heel is not very padded.”
5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Sayonara 4
“Flyknit stitching can aggravate skin near achilles when new—use glide or lip socks until broken in.”
4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas Ultra Boost ST (Stability)
“Material is both cushioned and firm, protecting legs without feeling like running on pillows.”
5/5 Full review 80 mpw training for a marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Sonic
“After hundreds of miles, no breakdown in upper and cushioning hasn't diminished.”
5/5 Full review 50 mpw came from the Nike LunarGlide 8
“Foam breaks down after 100 miles; rubber only on toe and heel.”
2/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34
“After 120 miles each, don't show signs of wear and feel as bouncy as day one.”
5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 5
“Foam flattens after 3 weeks at 65 MPW.”
3/5 Full review 65 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35
“Cushioning unlike anything else—better version of that foam type.”
5/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Levitate
“Perfect for tempo runs and track sessions—very easy to run fast in.”
4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas Ultra Boost ST (Stability)
“Exposed outsole areas likely gone by 200 miles.”
4/5 Full review 21 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas Energy Boost 3
“Foam feels rock hard; can't feel the claimed energy return bounce.”
3/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33
“Great heel-to-toe transition, smooth and effortless at any pace.”
3/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33
“Cushioning feels phenomenal at all paces with nice bouncy/springy feel.”
5/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the Brooks Ghost 11
“Packs enough cushioning to be a workhorse everyday trainer at a weight lighter than most lightweight trainers.”
5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Sayonara 4
“Soft outsole caused hotspots and less responsiveness than desired.”
3/5 Full review 80 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34
“Perfect blend of support, cushioning, and feather-like weight.”
5/5 Full review 50 mpw came from the Nike LunarGlide 8
“Not good for workouts—doesn't roll forward enough, not structured for speed.”
3/5 Full review 65 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35
“Can feel sharp around the ankle, creating hot spots early on.”
5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34
“Energy return is great and makes you feel light on your feet.”
5/5 Full review 60 mpw came from the Saucony Ride ISO 2
“Flyknit upper makes feet cold in rain but cools in hot temps.”
4/5 Full review 25 mpw came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35

Prefer this shoe over another

50% 14/28

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.


Pros

  • Reviewers describe the React foam as bouncy and well cushioned, and rate cushioning 4.6 out of 5.
  • Averaging 7.2 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is lighter than the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers for sale, and reviewers still find it cushioned for long runs.
  • Reviewers use it for easy miles, tempo work and races.

Cons

  • Several reviewers report the sparse outsole rubber wearing quickly, one seeing the exposed areas nearly gone by 200 miles.
  • Several reviewers find the knit upper irritates the heel or Achilles, one giving up on the shoe after about 50 miles.
  • It lists at $160, above the $150 median for daily trainers for sale, and value is its lowest-rated dimension at 3.8 out of 5.

Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale

Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.

Confidence
50 60 70 80 90 100 25 50 75 100

Better Shoes Rating

Epic React rates 69. This shoe has very high confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Nike Epic React

Each dot is one version of the Epic React, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.
  • Epic React 2

    2019 · 17 reviews

    86 Good

    93 Confidence

  • Epic React This shoe

    2018 · 28 reviews

    69 Below average

    97 Confidence

Runner Ratings

28 ratings
5/5 16
4/5 7
3/5 4
2/5 1
1/5 0

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight
7.2 oz
Men's / women's
Men's 7.8 oz · Women's 6.6 oz
Release
2018 Q1
MSRP
$160
Stack
28/18mm
Drop
10mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 26–28 of 28 written reviews

Trash market gettup

2/5

Overall

This shoe is highly cushioned like they pitched it but other than that this shoe is crap. This is the best casual runner shoe ever. The foam runs away after 100 miles due to rubber only being present on the tip toe and back of the heel. This shoe costs way to much and should just be forgotten all together.

Dmitri_morse · Apr 16, 2018

55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
1/5
Appearance
2/5
Value
1/5

Delivers in many ways as promised

4/5

Overall

Delivers in many ways as promised .I experienced the react foam to provide ample cushioning from most anything pavement and rubberized track could throw at it.. a surprisingly lightweight package with a snug upper fit . True to size just let the flyknit expand a little after a few runs to accommodate your foot. The react midsole is at once soft and cushioned snd then firm and responsive when tempo is increased . Felt little to.no fatigue in runs that would usually leave me more fatigued . Recommended for easy and medium paced runs from.10k to full marathon distance.. feels great on treadmill as well

Anonymous runner · Apr 9, 2018

20 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Mach v1

Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
3/5

Not bouncy, but good heel to toe transition

3/5

Overall

I have mixed feelings about the React. The foam feels rock hard, and I cannot feel any of the energy return bounce they claim to have. While I appreciate the light weight, the fly knit upper is a completely unpadded sock, and not very comfortable. Yet, when running they have a great heel to toe transition that is smooth and effortless at almost any pace. And I have now run several events in them, and my joints and muscles felt really good at the end, much fresher than my other shoes. So, I am keeping these in my shoe rotation, and using them on race day, but I still have mixed feelings.

Anonymous runner · Mar 9, 2018

30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33

Comfort
3/5
Cushioning
1/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
1/5

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Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
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Lightest / Best appearance
Newest / Best overall / Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
7.2 oz Lightest
7.4 oz
9.9 oz
Stack
28/18mm
28/18mm
40/35mm
Drop
10mm
10mm
4mm
Release
2018 Q1
2019 Q1
2022 Q3 Newest
MSRP
$160
$150 Lower MSRP
$165
Best price
—
—
$95
Ratings
Overall
69 Below average
86 Good
99 Exceptional Best overall
Comfort
74 Decent
77 Decent
99 Exceptional Best comfort
Cushioning
91 Very good
89 Good
99 Exceptional Best cushioning
Durability
68 Below average
73 Decent
97 Exceptional Best durability
Appearance
98 Exceptional Best appearance
97 Exceptional
75 Decent
Value
64 Below average
75 Decent
77 Decent Best value rating
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