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Anyone who has shopped at a big-box store knows it can be hard to figure out where to begin. There are dozens upon dozens of options that all seem as worthy as the next, but the reality is that products from any given brand are not all created equal. When you shop as regularly as we do, you learn that many brands just do some things better than they do other things. Nike, with more than 600 different sneaker styles alone, is one of those brands — its inventory of cool-people–approved shoes and performance workout clothes needs to be carefully picked through to find gems like HIIT-friendly leggings, tennis pro–approved wristbands, and sneakers designed for road running. Here, we’ve corralled all the shoes and clothes from Nike that our writers and editors — as well as professional basketball players, TikTok stars, fitness instructors, stylists, and other cool people like Chris Black — have recommended on the Strategist.
Women’s Shoes
Perhaps the most-recommended sneaker on the Strategist to date, Nike Air Force 1s — in all white — are beloved by everyone from TikTok stars to cool teens for their timeless, goes-with-everything look. Mixed-ish star Arica Himmel, who has “probably owned five or six pairs over the years,” also considers them a closet staple, noting that she can wear them with “pretty much anything.” Hustlers star Keke Palmer is another fan, telling us they’re the “most stylish shoe.” For a “cool and unexpected” look, Leigh Plessner, a co-creative director of Catbird, pairs her Air Force 1s with dresses and nightgowns, while Real Housewife of Beverly Hills Erika Jayne wears them with “shorts or tights or with a tracksuit.”
They’re not just stylish, though. They’re comfortable, too. They “boast supercomfortable cushioning and a breathable toe box,” according to our fashion writer Ambar Pardilla in her roundup of the best white sneakers for women. “I could actually shoot hoops in them if I wanted to, because they have some bounce to them; I stuck to sidewalk treks instead and found them endlessly comfortable for thousands of steps.”
For a more “fashion-forward twist on the traditional dad sneaker,” several cool women recommend the Huarache. Elizabeth Tamkin, content manager at Kule, owns the fully white version and wears them all the time, pairing them with dresses and tracksuits alike. Our senior editor Crystal Martin also wears them often but recommends going up half a size, since these can be tight.
When we asked 21 cool women about the most comfortable (but still stylish) shoes, several of them named Nike shoes — including Yuki Izumi, Hi-Collar café’s manager and signature barista, who wears the Nike Roshe Ones to work. Their supportive arches and snug fit make them comfortable enough to stand in all day.
Erica Lall, a ballet dancer, swears by Nike Air Max 95s. “I’ve had so many pairs,” she says. “I wear them every day and won’t stop wearing them until I’ve worn them out. As a ballet dancer, I have to be careful with what shoes I wear because I obviously use my feet for everything. These have never given me a blister and they support my arches.” While Lall has worn adult versions of the 95s, because she has small feet (size six-and-a-half), she prefers kids’ styles, like the Recrafts.
Merica Lee, denim designer and maîtresse d’ at Frenchette, who spends a lot of time running between her factory in Brooklyn, the Garment District in Manhattan, and the restaurant in Tribeca, prefers Nike’s Air Max 270s. They’re sleek and modern-looking, she says, and look good with jeans, trousers, dresses, and jumpsuits. “But most important, they feel good” — like walking on sponges, she says.
The Nike Air Rift debuted in 1996, and it’s still a favorite of fashion designer Yara Flinn, who started wearing them in high school. “With a separated toe like a cloven hoof and chunky rubber soles, they were neither feminine nor ‘cool,’” she says. “That’s exactly why I loved them.” She wears them with jeans, shorts, and even dresses and calls them the ideal shoe for when the weather is too chilly for sandals but too sunny for boots. One word of caution: Wear them with toe socks. “These puppies are neoprene and do not breathe well,” she says.
Not all running surfaces are created equal. Runners who train on a treadmill have different needs from road racers, and the Nike Pegasus was designed specifically for street running. Melissa Boyd, head trainer at Tempo, says that after struggling to get used to other running shoes’ cushioning and responsiveness, the Pegasuses won her over. They have enough bounce for speed, but are light enough for sprints and longer runs, she notes, adding that the wider toe box helps her hit a consistent stride. “I found a lot of my prior qualms with the sport were solved with this shoe.”
For an even more cushioned run, Maria Wong, a co-founder of the running group Queens Distance Runners, likes Nike’s Invincible 3, which has a soft, forgiving feel underfoot thanks to the brand’s proprietary ZoomX foam (made from Pebax foam) in the heel and midsole. “It’s really padded and bouncy, so you don’t get much of a ground feel, and it fits a pretty wide range of feet,” she says.
Nike is well-known for its racing shoes. The Nike Zoom Alphaflys, largely regarded as the fastest marathon shoe when they were released, are what marathon Eliud Kipchoge wore when he ran a sub-two-hour marathon. Nike’s expanded its offerings since then, and its Vaporflys are a race-day favorite for many runners, including Wong, who ran the 2023 Boston Marathon in them and uses them on runs whenever she’s simulating race pace.
Personal trainer Denajha Phillips swears by this laceless Nike pair for her HIIT workouts. Not only are they comfortable for her flat feet, but they stay on. “I look for something that’s (1) going to be comfortable, and (2) really mold to my foot and get me through my workouts and my walks, and I find that this one does it all,” she says. They’re easy to pull on but have a thick, cushioned sole, which Phillips says absorbs impact effectively.
While the React Infinity is made specifically with runners in mind, Vanessa Chu, co-founder of recovery studio Stretch’d, says that on top of being her “go-to running shoes,” these are her first choice for HIIT workouts (because they make her feel like she’s bouncing but still protected). “They are superlight and were specifically designed to prevent running injuries, which seems like a no-brainer,” Chu adds.
Nike Vapors are the shoes to wear on court, according to former Howard University tennis player and Westchester-based pro Emnet Simunyola. She wears the Nike Air Zoom Vapor Pro2s. Nike’s shoes are especially good for those with narrow feet, as Nike shoes in general run narrow. Phil Parrish, tennis director of the Longfellow Health Club in Wayland, Massachusetts, recommends the Vapor tennis shoes for players who have trouble finding a snug fit in other brands, as these are designed with reinforced mesh for extra support. And for those who play on clay, Mark Mason, the owner of Mason’s Tennis, says these are great because the ground surface is more forgiving, so you can get away with a lighter shoe.
If dance cardio is your favorite workout style — or if you just love to go dancing — the Nike Air Max Bella TR5 will keep your ankles secure as you move. Candace Taylor, an instructor at 305 Fitness, says that “for dance, the key to healthy feet is shock-absorption capacity and ankle protection.” She recommends this “well-crafted” pair because they “are incredibly supportive and structured,” in addition to being stylish.
Women’s apparel
“When I say I run most of my miles in shorts, I really mean I run most of my miles in Nike Tempo shorts,” says marathon runner and Strategist senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson. They’re durable and feature a three-inch inseam, which she describes as “in that Goldilocks sweet spot of being neither too short nor too long.” Adelson has worn them for everything from 5Ks to marathons, and the shorts (which she says will often go on sale) come in a multitude of colors and plus sizes.
Though technically designed for running, when we asked cool women about their favorite tennis clothes, Hastings-on-Hudson pro Olivera Veskovac named these Nike ones as a favorite practice pair. Their built-in undershorts hold balls really well, Veskovac says, and the spandex also helps prevent chafing.
Other tennis players, including Simunyola and lifelong tennis player Mel Kenny, prefer just wearing undershorts for practice — specifically Nike’s tried-and-true Pro shorts. “The fabric does that amazing ‘holding you in’ thing that makes everything look tighter and less jiggly than it in fact is,” says Kenny.
For tennis players who prefer dresses, Nike’s white Victory dress is Simunyola’s favorite. It’s “very sleek, very ‘It’ girl,” she says, but still very comfortable to play in thanks to its sleeveless design and stretchy, sweat-wicking fabric.
For intense high-impact workouts, HIIT-instructors Tatiana Lampa and Dianna Falzarano both rely on Nike Pro leggings for their cooling mesh panels and cropped length. “They’re super compressive, so they’re nice and tight and never fall down,” Falzarano assures.
“When I’m working out, I usually stick to the basics, like Nike,” actress Keke Palmer says, and one her must-haves is Nike’s Victory Padded sports bra. “One of the most annoying things to me, especially when I’d doing cardio, is my boobs moving everywhere. So I feel really protected in the Nike sports bra.”
For smaller busts, personal trainer Tamara Pridgett recommends Nike’s Indy Light-Support bra — which she says still offers more than enough support. “I can wear this when sprinting, hurdling, jumping, and lifting without any issues,” she says. “And the cups don’t get frumpy.” Plus, the longline style means it functions more like a crop top.
A favorite of both Adelson and Chris Black, this breathable, rain-or-shine cap is minimal, affordable, and “gets the job done,” according to Adelson. Black agrees, calling it “the perfect hat for all seasons.” It’s available for both women and men.
These unisex crew socks are a favorite amongst Strategist writers, editors, and Black alike. “I probably have 40 pairs of white Nike crew socks, and I wear them daily,” says Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst. “I think of them as kind of like footwear: They’re slightly padded on the bottom, look cute when scrunched, and go with absolutely everything.”
When going hatless, tennis player Simunyola like Nike’s headband for the way the timeless swoosh can instantly elevate your style.
Men’s shoes
Air Force 1s are just as popular with men as they are with women. Cool teens, athletes like Kevin Love, and celebrities like Fab 5 Freddy and actor Noah Schnapp have all praised them for their comfort and versatility. “Everyone has them,” Schnapp says. “They go with any outfit. They’re comfortable, so I wear them everywhere.” They’re so comfortable that Chef Daniel Humm says he can even wear them in the kitchen. And the shoes were mentioned several times when we asked cool men about their favorite white sneakers, too. Stylist Bryant Simmons says they’re the perfect shoe for the wide-leg pants trend. “The Air Force 1s balance out that wide silhouette really well. If you wear smaller shoes with a wider leg, your feet can look swallowed up.”
“They’re a classic,” says NBA all-star and former pro basketball player Chris Bosh of the Nike Cortez. “I’ve got three pairs: black and white, white and red, and blue and white.” Bosh promises the sneakers are comfortable and that you can dress them “up or down.” Nicolas Lazaro, a community specialist at menswear-resale platform Grailed, is another Cortez fan, telling us that the narrower silhouette is one of the “most flattering styles if you have slim legs and small ankles.” He says Cortezes are among the best white sneakers a guy can own.
If you’re looking for an everyday sneaker that makes a statement, Kiyoshi Martinez, lead fit specialist at men’s tailor Hall Madden, vouches for Nike’s Huaraches. “I wanted a sneaker that would go well with an obsession I was getting into with Hawaiian shirts and shorts, but it still needed to have a modern edge and be comfortable for walking and standing in,” Martinez says. He adds that their “futuristic and structured” look “is actually very comfortable and stretchy because of its design.”
Keith Pollock, SVP of creative at West Elm, is a devotee of the classic Nike Air Max 95. “I pretty much have a uniform these days, which is all black and navy,” he says, adding that it always includes a pair of Air Max 95s. (Currently you can get them in Smoke Grey, Cosmic Clay, or the Midnight Navy, shown.)
According to professional basketball player Julius Randle of the New York Knicks, the Air Jordan 1 Mid is another super-versatile sneaker that can be worn for “just walking around” or with some slacks “for dressing up.” Street dancer and DJ Stephen “tWitch” Boss agrees, calling these the “first stylish street sneaker” and a “classic” that he owns “about 20-something different pairs” of.
For a classic street shoe that does double-duty as a gym shoe, Dr. Clinton Lee, a Brooklyn-based certified strength and conditioning specialist, suggests Dunks. Thanks to their low profile and ample support, they’re great for lifting. Lee says he wears them for squat workouts — “not for any performance-related purposes. It’s just that they’re fun, I love the way they look, and for the amount of time I spend in the gym, I need something different than typical sneakers or weight-lifting shoes, so I rock these for the fashion aspect.”
As for workout-specific shoes, Nike makes many expert-recommended pairs — four are on our list of the best men’s workout shoes. Nike’s Metcon 9s took the best-overall spot thanks to their versatility. Fitness writer Jeremy Rellosa has been wearing them for four years and says they’ve held up to all types of workouts, including weight lifting, rowing, HIIT sessions, and treadmill warm-up runs. He recommends them for nearly any fitness activity except marathon training, which requires a more specific shoe. His recommendation is backed up by experts, including Todd Brandon-Morris, the founder of inclusive fitness brand Out-Fit, and Sean Sewell, a personal trainer who runs the gear-review site Engearment, who both say they’re great for weight-lifting because they’re lightly cushioned. And Lee says he’s been wearing them for general gym training for years. “They’re lightweight, and many models have a relatively flat sole (which I prefer for lower-body training), and they look good,” he says.
If you’re looking to spend a little less on a workout shoe, Rellosa named Nike’s Free Runs as the best less-expensive option. “It has a stretchy fabric upper, a relatively low profile, and a medium amount of cushion,” he says. “If you want an easy shoe to wear to the gym for all types of sports and the occasional run — at an affordable price — I highly recommend the Free Run 5.0.” They’re also recommended by running-and-fitness-content creator Chris Chung, who says lifting in the Nike Frees feels “almost like wearing a sock.”
For running-specific shoes, Rellosa suggests Nike’s Pegasus. “It’s been a staple of Nike’s running lineup ever since it was introduced nearly four decades ago, and its cushioning comes from a layer of the brand’s proprietary React foam in the midsole,” he says. It’s designed for logging daily miles with daily training, so it can be used for both road runs and other aerobic workouts.
Chung likes Nike’s Invincible shoe for its “massive cushioning,” which he says has helped him stay injury-free. “It’s really padded and bouncy, so you don’t get much of a ground feel, and it fits a pretty wide range of feet.”
For races, Nike’s Vaporfly again comes out on top. Chung likes the ZoomX foam cushioning on the Vaporfly 3, which he says keeps his legs fresh on longer efforts. “I’m reaching for this shoe when I’m racing anything longer than a 5K,” he says. They’re also the go-to race shoe for chef Daniel Humm, a marathon runner currently training for the Boston Marathon. “There might be a little bit of a placebo effect going on, but they are very comfortable and very fast,” he says.
“The most popular tennis shoes are Nikes,” says former college tennis player and Mechalico co-founder Dane Mechali. Specifically Vapors, as worn by Federer. The shoes feels as good on the foot as it looks. “It’s low to the ground, which is really forgiving for my tendonitis,” says tennis journalist and brand consultant Robert Cordero. As with women, Pharrish recommends Nike’s Vapor 11s for men with narrow feet.
Men’s apparel
Grub Street editor and avid gymgoer Alan Sytsma wears these lined seven-inch shorts while running, telling us they’re lightweight, “short enough to avoid being baggy,” and secure at the waist, so they “don’t start sagging down like ten minutes into the run.” They also have pockets, including an “even-more-crucial-but-rarely-seen interior back pocket” that he says is perfect for keys and other small necessities that might otherwise jangle against your leg.
Slightly shorter than the above pair, these five-inch Nike shorts are what Chris Keyloun, a coach at New York City rowing studio Rowgatta, wears for both running and rowing workouts. He says they have “built-in compression” and a not-too-long inseam to keep you “free from snags on the slide of the boat or rower.” This pair comes with a liner, but the shorts are also available linerless.
When writer Kat Gillespie asked cool men about their favorite tennis clothes, several mentioned Nike’s tennis shorts. “I look for more of a streetwear aesthetic that’s inspired by the 1990s tennis uniform, which is boxy and oversize but with very short shorts,” says Mechali, and the Rafa shorts fit the bill. Cordero also likes these shorts for their length: “There’s something with tennis shorts — when they’re too long, it looks weird. I like them to be kind of like a square as opposed to a rectangle.”
Contributor Steven John, an avid trail runner, wears this moisture-wicking shirt on runs outside (and in the gym), telling us the style is “flattering” and “comparable to more-expensive tees from Under Armour and Lululemon.” The shirt is made from a lightweight material and has mesh panels along the sides to keep him cool and dry, John adds.
When it comes to tennis clothes, lightweight, stretchy, and moisture-wicking fabrics are most important, according to Diego Freire Garcia, a former professional player in Spain and current coach in Hastings-on-Hudson, which is why he likes Nike’s Dri-FIT tees. “Other brands like Under Armor might have similar technology,” he notes, “but Nike is just cleaner-looking than all of them.”
Nike’s cushioned crew socks are also a favorite of men: Grailed editor Lawrence Schlossman, who wears the gym-ready Dri-FIT version, told us that if he’s “not in Nike’s, I’m going sockless.”
Meanwhile, over at Navarro College, the male (and female) cheerleaders on its famous squad prefer the no-show version, according to assistant cheerleading coach Andy Cosferent. “We like to keep a very clean, college image, so we want to match the white socks with the white shoes,” he says.
For tennis socks that are just the right length, Cordero suggests Nike. These fall just in between your calf and your ankle, he says, which prevents chafing or bunching while also looking more of-the-moment than a pair of no-shows.
Finally, wristbands are a favorite accessory for tennis players, but they’ll work for any activity where you need to wipe sweat off your face and out of your eyes. Chris Olberding, president of Gitman Vintage and an avid tennis player, says that wristbands — like socks — have a tendency to “go wandering” in the wash, so it’s not a bad idea to stick to one always-in-stock color or style for all of your pairs so you don’t have to worry about mismatches if you lose one. In that spirit, tennis pro Lendale Johnson told us he chooses to stick with these classic white bands from Nike.
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