Nike Zoom Streak 5

The Nike Zoom Streak 5 is extremely lightweight. The pair tested was a US 11, and it came in just over 200 grams or 7 ounces, and we’re willing to bet that a size US 9 would be sub 200 grams or 7 ounces. To amount to that number requires a specific set of design elements, which the Zoom Streak adeptly blends together. To begin, the upper is extremely minimal, with a sandwich mesh forming majority of it, sans bulky overlays – except for the giant Swoosh logo. The material changes at the rear, and connection is made by a thin layer of welded synthetic, which helps the lightweight cause.

Midsole is compression molded EVA, its density bordering on firmness, yet with ample give. There’s a Zoom Air bag seated right under the heel, and beneath a thin, fabric strobel. The insole is contoured, but non-removable. Circular dots of adhesives makes the footbed stick to the fabric strobel and part of the mesh upper. At walking speeds, you can hear the adhesive dots repetitively sticking and peeling away, resulting in a sound akin to velcro tearing. This is no issue when you’re running, but walking around in the Nike Zoom Streak on smooth floors sounds like you’ve got a piece of duct tape stuck under your heel.  There are other examples of weight reduction measures throughout the shoe. The upper eye-stay reinforcement is a result of a transparent, filmic lamination over the mesh, backed by another layer of soft synthetic inside. Eyelet holes are punched into this toughened section, and thin laces pass through them and the Flywire loops. The cords extend upwards from the upper base, and over the upper. They’re guided into place by a pair of tacks, which also prevents the cords from sinking in case you choose to skip lacing through them.

Nike takes the weight savings coming out of the minimal upper and applies it to bulk up the outsole. By which we mean there’s a generous amount of blown forefoot rubber under the forefoot . In the back, a three piece set-up of carbon rubber does duties – and going by our experience with Nike outsole rubber, long term durability should be pretty good on the Streak 5. A transparent, plastic shank links the rear and forefoot, adding an element of midsole stability.

The Zoom Streak is built on a distance racing last, so the midfoot is form hugging, more by the virtue of last contours than use of Flywire. The cords actually have some slack in them; even with properly done lacing, they don’t go taut. Having said that, the Flywire cords aren’t mere placebos. If you undo the laces and then re-lace without using the Flywire loops, the decrease in level of midfoot pressure is instantly noticeable. So if you like your Streaks even more relaxed, you do could skip the cords entirely. Don’t worry, they won’t drop to the sides. There’s a pair of guide tacks on the top, so those keep the Flywire cords from going anywhere – they just go a bit droopy, that’s all.

 For a cheap $130 bucks, it is a competent piece of running equipment with a lot going for it.