Nike Epic React

Name: Nike Epic React
Brand: Nike
Rating: 4.4 (28 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 7.8 oz · 10mm drop · 28/18mm stack

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

How it ranks

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

Below average

68/100

Overall

Below average 68

Appearance

Exceptional 99

Cushioning

Exceptional 97

Comfort

Decent 79

Durability

Below average 70

Value

Below average 62

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 will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

92/100

High 92

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)

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 Sep 14.

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 on 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 on sale, and value is its lowest-rated dimension at 3.8 out of 5.

Epic React rates 68. This shoe has high certainty. 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

40 60 80 100

68 2018 93 2019

Release year

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

Epic React 2

2019 · 17 reviews

93 Excellent

91 Confidence
Epic React This shoe

2018 · 28 reviews

68 Below average

92 Confidence

Reader Ratings

28 ratings

5/5 16

4/5 7

3/5 4

2/5 1

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 7.8 oz
Release: 2018 Q1
MSRP: $160
Stack Height: 28mm heel - 18mm toe
Drop Height: 10mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

I love the Nike Epic React Flyknit

5/5

Overall

I had worn Nikes in the late 70s and early 80s (when there weren't too many choices). I switched to ASICs for about 20 years and then to Mizunos. I never lost the feeling, though, of how good I felt in Nikes. I tried the Epic React and they are amazing. So light! And yet so comfortable. I hope to wear them for many years. They also look sharp!

Anonymous runner · Jul 12, 2018

40 mpw training for a marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Inspire 13

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Nike Epic React

5/5

Overall

The Nike Epic React is an impressive shoe. It packs in enough cushioning to be a workhorse everyday trainer in the a weight that makes it lighter than most lightweight trainers. This makes it versatile for everyday training and speed work. The flyknit upper is suprisingly supportive and adapts to your foot well, though it may seem a bit tight at first. The 10mm drop seems to feel more like an 8mm or 6mm. The ride is super smooth, has a touch of softness, and a good amount of bounce. It is not quite running on pillows. It is actually decently firm with a touch of soft. The biggest downsides to this shoe are that if you get any heel lift, you will probably get some achilles blisters because the heel is not very padded, and there is not much rubber coverage. That said, the exposed React foam seems designed for this and very doable. I don't expect durability to be an issue. I have like 200 miles or so on mine, and the initial cosnetic wear on the foam has not increased much. You can probably expect at least 500 miles on these. The main issue then is traction. I may be hesitant to run in these in the Wisconsin winter in the snow.

Anonymous runner · Jun 29, 2018

35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Sayonara 4

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

Good shoe

4/5

Overall

Enjoyable to use on slower paced runs or when warming up and down after races/ training. Wouldn't recommend to use for faster paced runs as they feel less comfortable at higher speeds

Alexfriend14 · Jun 1, 2018

40 mpw training for a half marathon

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

Eat my rubber and blow some dust.

3/5

Overall

After putting them they initially felt nice and cushioned with room to move with the flyknit upper. Even taking them on easy runs they felt nice and bouncy however I used them for an hour long tempo and because of how soft the outsole is I felt hotspots in my feet and not as responsive as I would have liked them to be. I'm a forefoot striker and that may have had something to do with hotspots but overall I felt like my foot moved around too much in the shoe which is a problem I've had with other Nike products with the flyknit upper. The shoe is visually stunning but I would just keep them for easy runs and nothing faster.

lovelybones · Apr 28, 2018

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

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

GAME CHANGER!!!

5/5

Overall

After being disappointed with the LunarEpic Flynit and not impressed with the Pegasus 34, I wasn't sure that Nike shoes were for me . But after all the buzz around the Nike Epic React, I had to give it a shot and I'm SO glad I did, I currently own two pairs and they are my favorite thing to run in (well except for the Vaporfly 4%, which I save for important miles/races). The Epic React is unlike anything I've ever run in. I broke my ankle a couple of years ago, and as a result I have a metal plate, so cushion is important to me. And the Epic React was love at first run. It's cushy and supportive, yet very light and responsive. The upper has a snug construction which I really like, keeping my feet in place, and the Flynit woven is pretty breathable. I love how springy and bouncy they feel. I really enjoy shoes with high energy return but can't compromise support, and the Epic React is truly a game changer!!! I have two pairs, and have run about 120 miles in each of them, and they don't show signs of wear, they feel as bouncy as the first time. I always look forward to my next run in them!

Anonymous runner · Apr 25, 2018

35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 5