Nike LunarEpic

The midcut version of the Nike LunarEpic made its debut a few months ago, and the low version arrives in Singapore this week.

Nike hosted a 5km session for some of the media to try out the midcut version of the LunarEpic last week. While early adopters would have had tried these the moment they appeared on retail anywhere in the world, the running community at large remains curious about the sock-like shoes that go above the ankle.

The good news is, it works as well as advertised. Rather than working as ankle support like on basketball shoes, the high ankle collar of the LunarEpic is designed to give the shoe a seamless transition to your feet.

With the Flyknit upper that is already very much like a sock, this is simply an extension of the idea slightly higher up. The design is meant to make it feel like you can’t tell where the shoes end and your feet begin. It takes some distance to break in a new pair but it does the job of being flexible and supportive at the same time.

Underneath, the dual-density Lunarlon foam is now heat fused together because traditional glues can make the shoe feel stiffer. The rubber-less outsole has geometric pistons for additional cushioning on high pressure zones, defined after studying the pressure maps from runners’ feet.

This certainly makes for an interesting road feel while walking, because you can feel the individual pistons taking up the shock of each footfall. Once you move up to running pace however, the sensation evens out. Laser-cut lines along the sides of the midsole further aid the shoe’s flexibility.

It’s not as difficult to put on or remove as it seems, as the shoe simply slides on like a pair of socks, and then you do up the laces, which are anchored to Nike’s Flywire threads that nicely secures the midfoot to the sole.

The strong yet open weave of the uppers also means that heat did not present itself as an issue even though it was a blistering hot afternoon. We’ve worn shoes that feel warm even while running at night, and the Nike LunarEpic pretty much allows your feet to operate at ambient temperatures, as long as you’re wearing thin socks, or none at all, with them.

The LunarEpic Mid is retailing at S$289 while the LunarEpic Low is retailing at S$265.

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