Nike Wildhorse 3 Shoe Review
Right off the bat, I have to say that this is one of my all-time favourite shoes for the road and trail. The Nike Wildhorse 3 has been my trail shoe of choice since it hit shelves back in late fall 2015.
I have put this model through an endless number of trail runs, and some real Western Canada hikes and it continues to amaze me and keep my feet moving forward. From the casual after-work hike up Grouse Mountain, to my first 100-mile trail race down in Zion, Utah, this shoe does it all.
Well, it wouldn’t be my first choice for a road 5-K, but it could work.
READ MORE: Nike Wildhorse 3 GTX Review
So, I will start with the basics. The Nike Wildhorse 3 is a stable shoe, but a bit on the beefier side. The men’s 10.5 weighs in around 11 ounces. Some might say it’s a bit too heavy, but considering what you get out of this shoe in terms of performance and longevity, I personally think the extra weight is just fine.
The 8-mm drop is right in the sweet spot, and the stack is 20 mm to 28 mm high – which I think is adequate. It has a forefoot rock plate and is equipped with a Zoom Air unit in the heel.
One of the main reasons why I love the Nike Wildhorse 3 so much is its durability. I’ve had about three pairs of these, and they just will not wear down. I will get 600+ kilometres out of them with no problem and after that, I still have been keeping them around just as chill out shoes because they are just so comfortable. The upper is great, a very supportive piece with the Flywire technology.
The toe box is spacious but doesn’t have so much room that people with narrow feet like me would get lost in wiggle-room. It fits just right, and yet still provides ample room for foot swelling on those really long days in the mountains, or out on the trails.
The tread, or outsole, is very well designed with decent-sized lugs displaced throughout. However, it’s not a soft rubber. So, my only complaint is that you may lose a bit of traction on wet rocks or on cold days. With that being said, harder rubber materials provide a much more responsive ride on most terrains.
Nicknamed, ‘The Beaver Tail’
In the north shore mountains, the terrain can be technical with rocks, roots, mud and fallen trees. If you let go of your fear of trail descent a bit and run down the mountain, you can rest assure the shoes will protect your feet like a couple of big ole’ beaver tails slapping down the trail. They keep your feet free of harm from the terrain.
Well, it works most of the time. I hope the Nike Wildhorse 3 bring you the same enjoyment they have given me over the last few years.
Jesse Booi
Kintec Race Team
Read our review of the Nike Wildhorse 3 GTX.
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