Nike SuperRep Go 3 Next Nature Performance Review

The Nike SuperRep Go 3 Next Nature is Nike’s only performance cross-training shoe with sustainable materials. Although most of their names are similar, this shoe has nothing in common with the Nike Air Zoom SuperRep 3. The SuperRep Go 3 is marketed as a shoe you can use both casually on weekends and at the gym. Will it finally prove that sustainability can be coupled with top-tier performance? Unfortunately, not.

Pros

Comfortable Crater Foam

The midsole is unrestricted Crater Foam, Nike’s recycled version of Phylon/EVA. Because there’s no caging, the foam is free to move and compress. This makes walking around in these a pleasurable experience and fits right in with the marketing of the shoe. However, it isn’t a pro for working out. It compresses too much when doing heavy squats and other heavily weighted lifting workouts.

Cons

Material Quality

I am all for sustainability and recycled materials, but it has to be done right. The quality has to be on par with regular builds. This one is not it. The first thing I noticed was the thinnest tongue I’ve ever seen. To make things worse, it’s made out of cheap felt. And because of its thinness, it folds when you put your foot in, which is annoying. The recycled Flyknit upper is comfortable, but the glue they used to make it sturdier made it too stiff in some areas. I would have loved to have had the free Flyknit we’re used to in the running line along with reinforcements in critical areas.

The laces are also the worst I’ve had in a while. They’re thin and feel like they would only last a few months of wear. I had to be careful when lacing them up because I feared snapping them.

Heel Containment

This con led me to test them in less time. However tightly I cinched the laces, my heel wouldn’t stay still. The collar height for me was too low. The lace loops looked like they ran down until the footbed, which is misleading. They’re just lace loops. It would’ve been a much better experience if Nike had made them like Flywire. Adidas’ cat’s tongue lining could have also been used here to avoid issues. The heel counter did not help either, as it’s flimsy and can easily be deformed. It was heel slip galore every time I put these on, even when it was just for casual use.

Lack of Rubber

The outsole is mostly foam, contributing more to sustainability marketing. Again, I am all for this if it functions just as well as regular builds. But it didn’t. The lack of rubber didn’t feel as secure and wasn’t as durable as other outsoles. The rubber that’s there is thin and quickly wears down. That could’ve been slightly mitigated if the whole outsole had rubber coverage.

Nike SuperRep Go 3 Next Nature Summary

The Nike SuperRep Go 3 Next Nature is a shoe for sustainability fans and no one else. I can’t recommend this product for serious weightlifting, HIIT, jump training, or any other exercise. I know that the marketing says that you’re supposed to be able to use these casually and in the gym, but even walking around in them isn’t the best because of the heel slip. Virtually every other cross-training shoe we’ve reviewed is better than this. Check out our Best Cross-Training Shoes list here.