NIKE Women's Downshifter 11 Gymnastics Shoe

Product Information

The Downshifter 11 is comfortable on the roads, at the gym, and even just as an around-town sneaker. It’s also a lot lighter than both the Vaporfly and Alphafly, which again points to the Streakfly’s role as a short distance shoe. Compared to its predecessor, the Downshifter 9, the 10th iteration has updated support and cushioning in the midsole too. The latter can be a better option for those who want to set fast 5K and 10K times, especially as the Streak is much cheaper than the Vaporfly, but the Vaporfly is considerably more comfortable to use in a marathon or half marathon. The Downshifter 11 gave much more cushioning on longer runs and performed better over time, and I’d recommend the Downshifter range over the Revolution to everyone.

It is surprising to see that within budget Nike offers very good quality running shoes with soft midsoles and durable outsoles. They are springy in step and feel supportive, I have worn them all day and no sore feet at the end of the day which is amazing. Compared to the Downshifter 10 I’ve recently been running in, there’s slightly more visible support around the midfoot, however, I really couldn’t feel this when trying it on.It takes the best attributes of the Vaporfly – the ZoomX foam and the carbon plate – and adds Nike’s Air Zoom pods under the forefoot for a poppier toe-off that only adds to the speed of the shoe. It is impressively durable, too, and the outsole grips well on light trails as well as the road to add to the Pegasus 38’s versatility. The Downshifter 10 is a modern looking running shoe that will suit most tastes, requirements and budgets. Alternatively, you could opt for a cushioned shoe, which will be the most comfortable option for your training if you’re a beginner runner or not too fussed about racing.

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. It’s extremely affordable, has a cool style, a grippy outsole, and can do a little of everything for the entry-level or beginner runner. But the good news is that you can get this Nike shoe in wide and extra-wide options to get a better fit. The key difference with the road shoe is the outsole, which is designed to mimic a mountain bike tyre and does a great job of finding grip on harder trails, even in the rain. The Vaporfly pairs Nike’s soft and springy ZoomX foam with a carbon plate to produce a remarkably fast and efficient ride that’s helped runners of all levels set PBs at races of all distances in recent years.

The second edition of the shoe improves on the first by adding more padding and support around the heel while also adding more structure to certain areas of the upper. This version of the Downshifter is the 10th iteration of the entry level, cushioned running shoe from Nike.

Consider sizing half or whole size up, or avoiding altogether if you have a wide foot (the same size shoe in the Nike React Miler has a much wider toe box). While the high stack of the Alphafly can make it a bit unstable on twisty courses, especially at 5K or 10K pace, it’s brilliant for cruising through half marathons and marathons at high paces, when the cushioning and propulsion it provides helps you stay fresher for longer so you can power through the last few miles and claim that PB. When I first tried on the Downshifter 11, the fit is quite snug for a Nike, coming in a little shorter and narrower than other Nike running shoes, so you may want to consider going half a size up, or if they’re your first pair of running shoes, at least a whole size up from your regular shoe. The Nike Downshifter 11 is a superb shoe for anyone starting out in running or training, or those looking for a budget running shoe. In the next version I’d love to see a few more features on the upper to improve breathability, and perhaps some longer laces.This wasn’t too noticeable on a run, but my feet did feel very hot and uncomfortable when the run was over. The midsole on the Downshifter 12 feels soft but it has enough stiffness to create a stable platform to rely on. This upper is constructed in a seamless design with synthetic overlays and ventilated TPU midfoot cage. What’s more, considering that this is a budget model, it’s great that they decided to make it more environmentally friendly.

However, people with wider feet probably won't be able to enjoy the comfort of the shoe because it runs too narrow!

There’s no better option for 5Ks and 10Ks, and there’s only one shoe we rate as better than the Vaporfly for long distance races, and that’s Nike’s other carbon racer, below. We found that the Nike Downshifter 12 is a budget running shoe that serves very well as a sneaker too. There are no reflective elements on the Downshifter 11 so be sure to be careful after dark in these if you are out running on busy roads. The Downshifter is not my go to shoe for long or fast runs, but is often one that packed in my case when travelling to wear in all circumstances. The wide forefoot also adds to the stable feel of the shoe, which makes it a great workhorse for serious runners as well as a top option for heavier people just getting into the sport who will value the extra support.