Well, we knew this model wasn’t for balling anyway.
The team at FastPass has chopped the Nike Flight Bonafide and found some interesting things. Firstly, for those wanting to ball in these — look elsewhere. The Flyknit is true Flyknit, so it’s breathable and thin, but there is very little support to be found in this model.
However, there’s plenty cushion underfoot — it just isn’t what we expected. The Flight Bonafide uses the Air Zoom Flight 95’s bug-eyed tooling, but it scraps the forefoot Zoom unit for a grey foam unit that mimics the Zoom unit in shape and placement.
The heel features an Air unit that is smaller than what was used in the latestAir Zoom Flight 95 retro, and there’s an additional layer of blue foam for step-in comfort that could be OrthoLite, although no branding is spotted.
All in all, the Nike Flight Bonafide is a shoe that mimics the Air Zoom Flight 95 for casual wear. The shoe should be marked down from its $150 price tag at some retailers now, so does this deconstruction make you want to cop or drop? Let us know.
Source: FastPass
I mean, how much could the zoom unit really out for extra casual comfort? If it costs the same as today’s performance models then I just have a hard time understanding moves like this. A gray puck in the same shape as zoom? Why? I know it’s not for ball but just, why? LOL
cost* not “out”
I think $150 is a ton for something you can’t ball in that has cheapened the tech from the original tooling
Exactly bro. That’s what I’m saying. It just doesn’t make any sense and there’s no real logic.
Such complete and total BS. REALLY glad I didn’t buy these…. Even with a coupon. Nike is so damn sketchy these days. Just add the tech that you allude is there. Its not asking much. Especially for $150!!!!
Nike. You have some great tech. You should really let your shoes be awesome again.
Quotes from Nike’s official launch page.
“mixing modern innovation with on-court heritage” LIE
“Zoom Flight 95’s iconic midsole is put to use for everyday wear” LIE
I’m also wondering how bulky this shit is to walk in — like when you lift your foot, the only thing holding up that CHUNKY tooling is a thin layer of Flyknit.
Dang it seems to me the only way that nike’s been getting away with this halfbake drivel is normies still buying these in droves.
Fuc*ing normies! Skreeeeee
$150 for a regular heel air-sole with a bunch of phylon vs. $130 for forefoot & heel zoom units (Soldier XIs)..hmm, tough choice.
How anyone can still be buying this garbage is beyond me. I mean, come on!! I don’t know if they flat out lied about there being zoom in the forefoot or if they worded it just right. Its terrible. You can see there was a spot for the zoom, so for them to put a little piece of foam in there is just lazy. Let me say this clear for anyone who isn’t getting it “There are other companies producing HIGHER QUALITY shoes, with AS GOOD, or BETTER TECH than Nike for CHEAPER”. How people will keep just eating up stuff like this crazy. Do people not respect the money they pay for stuff, or maybe they don’t care. Its ok to wear something besides a product plastered with the swoosh.
I was never interested in buying these. still if you’re going to use extremely cheap materials in place of better stuff the price should reflect that. I know Nike is a superpower but honestly I havent respected them as a performance brand for years. I see UA and adidas as being far superior to Nike. Nike is so corny. even their sigs are just so lame and childish
Cutting costs at any cost. Nike pulled the same shit with the 15s this year for $190, which i had the displeasure of buying, then playing in and getting vicious shin splints due to the lack of forefoot cushion. NW put it best in the Penny 4 review, why are faking your own product?
you can have the amazing Jordan UltraFly 2s for a mere $125. amazing foam and zoom cushion.
I have the recent NikeLab release of the Zoom Flight 95. 99% sure they kept the Zoom in there because there’s hell of a lot of rebound, and it’s somewhat bulging above the strobel board. I mean either that or it’s some miracle rubber.
The tooling is chunky by volume, but I wouldn’t say clunky by weight or feel. Actually a very usable shoe. Just that the upper piping is a bit stiff.
The Flight Bonafide’s upper was actually impressive in-hand imo. I thought it was a creative re-use of tooling because a lot of Avar’s work back then was trying to be ahead of its time. I’d understand that Flyknit probably drives up production costs a bit, but I can’t be so sure if Nike was really saving anything putting a dummy pad in the forefoot like that.
Maybe that grey foam is that Zoom X shit lol.
Boneheaded strategy for Nike to combat Adidas’ hot selling comfortable lifestyle boost shoes by stripping their lifestyle/sportswear and retro products of comfort while raising the prices. They must love stabbing themselves with the knives used to cut their fabric.
It makes me sad to see these all of these awesome kicks ripped apart. 🙁
Only way to know what we’re actually paying for
I bought those for 99.99 at foot locker, its a comfortable casual shoe that u can style as a retro and looks kinda cool… the comfort is worth 99.99, but not 110