What is Nike React?
by Adriano Batista
When Nike asked runners what they wanted out of their running shoes, they got very specific answers: They said they wanted better cushioning. They also said they wanted better energy return. And they needed their shoes to be lightweight, of course. Oh, and they had to last too. In a way, they wanted everything. The tricky thing is that these four qualities are incredibly difficult to deliver in one material because they’re opposites.
Nike React foam cushioning launched in June 2017 in basketball — a sport that requires players to shift direction and speed in seamless motion and to lift off at the blink of an eye. The foam met those needs by providing a sensation that is as soft and springy as it is squishy and stable — a balance not previously seen in any other Nike basketball shoe.
To get there, Nike’s in-house chemists and mechanical engineers came together to test ingredients to see which composition would yield the perfect outcome. It was a process that demonstrated Nike’s in-house manufacturing ingenuity. After more than 400 hundred combinations of chemistry and processing, and using scientific methods to dial in on materials with certain amenable attributes, they landed the unique composition of Nike React foam.
From there, they put Nike React technology through more than 2,000 hours of testing on the feet of basketball players, where it proved to be the most durable foam and to deliver greater energy return than any other Nike basketball shoe tested. Because the runners expressed that they craved similar sensations, it was a no-brainer to take Nike React technology to running shoes.
Wondering what that feels like? Well, if you were to squeeze Nike React foam, you’d get that great cushioning sensation; and then, as you let go, you’d see the foam quickly spring back to its original shape, which is where the energy return comes into play. That translates so well to a run because as it reacts swiftly to each step, bouncing back to its original state to ensure a consistent underfoot feel stride after stride, mile after mile.
Nike React technology will be available in the new Nike Epic React Flyknit on February 22 on nike.com and at select retailers. If you don’t want to wait you can get these models on February 12 at the Nike APP. You can download it HERE!
Han Kjøbenhavn Fall/Winter 2018
Outsiders
Gucci introduces its first winter sportswear collection, Gucci Altitude.
The new collaboration between GUESS JEANS and Allen Iverson is a direct homage to a specific moment in culture.
PUMA and San San Gear have reunited for a second collaboration.
The latest collaboration from Stüssy and Mountain Hardwear is built for the elements.
Pitti Immagine Uomo has announced that Hed Mayner will be a Guest Designer at its upcoming edition in Florence.
Aleixandri Studio presented its new collection, “In Nomine Heretica,” at 080 Barcelona Fashion.
BENAVENTE presented its new collection, “Capriccio per Benavente,” at 080 Barcelona Fashion.
The message is clear: growing older may be inevitable, but letting go of imagination is a choice.
Carlota Barrera’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection examines intimacy.
There are artists who dress the world — and others who undress it. David Delfín did both. Tomorrow, at Valladolid’s International Film Festival (Seminci), RTVE Play unveils “David Delfín. Muestra tu herida“, a documentary that peels away the myths to… »
SAGABOI unveiled its Spring/Summer 2026 collection, titled “Port of Call.”
Reebok has launched the Floatzig 2, the next step in the evolution of its iconic running shoe.
The Carhartt WIP Active Jacket is turning fifty. To mark the occasion, the brand has created four special-edition designs.
Maison Margiela has released “A Tabi film,” a close look at one of its most important symbols.
The Prada Holiday 2025 campaign tells a winter’s tale.
The project celebrates over 170 years of combined heritage and a shared passion for adventure
BERSHKA presents a new chapter of its SERIES line, titled “Own Your Power.”
With JALEO, presented at 080 Barcelona Fashion, the designer takes a decisive step forward. The collection feels like a homecoming and a declaration at once.
In a restored 1906 mansion, Soho House opens its third Barcelona address, bringing together heritage, art, and wellbeing.
The Parisian brand Drôle de Monsieur is entering the world of fine jewelry through a collaboration with the American designer David Perry.
ROSALÍA’s new single, “Berghain,” is the first glimpse of her upcoming album LUX (out on November 7), and it immediately establishes a new scale for her work.
Pull&Bear chose a significant moment to launch its new collaboration. The brand presented its capsule collection with the American streetwear label PLEASURES at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Somewhere between the sea and the city, the brand PANTALON created its TUNA collection.
The party was supposed to last forever. This is the faith that pulses through Christian Stemmler’s photobook, “ANFANG/BEGINNING: BERLIN 1994–99”.
Kokoshkin Vladislav photographed by Marie Schuldigen and styled by Zakharieva Anna, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
For Halloween, the brand GENZERO has reimagined its signature Doberman hat.
Gentle Monster has opened its first flagship store in continental Europe, located in the historic Le Marais district of Paris.
Dr. Martens presents the QUBIST, a new collection that redefines the brand’s approach to comfort.
Palaye Royale is one of those groups capable of dissolving distance, of turning music into a bridge of time and emotion.
This partnership is part of MR PORTER’s Health In Mind initiative, which focuses on men’s mental health.
