If you’re fairly new to running and don’t need loads of support, the Downshifter 10 will see you through runs and gym workouts superbly. The midsole is an unbranded foam, with side cutaways to keep weight down and feels supportive enough, with cushioning throughout the length of the foot, so no issues if you favor a heel or toe strike, and also mirrors the exact pattern, structure and feel of the Downshifter 10. The second edition of the shoe improves on the first by adding more padding and support around the heel while also adding more structure to certain areas of the upper. This means you get a more secure fit around the heel in particular, and the Flywire section around the laces holds the midfoot firmly in place on the run.

If you’ve had gait analysis and have been told you overpronate – roll your foot excessively inwards when landing – then you may well need a stability shoe to provide extra support. Nike has a few great options here. If you don’t overpronate, then a neutral shoe is the best option for you. How much do you need to spend?Nike made a few tweaks to upgrade the Downshifter from its previous version. The shoe's upper has been slightly updated and some subtle tweaks are done on the outsole. The Downshifter 11 is designed to give lightweight, comfortable flexible support to runners who are looking for some midfoot support, and an attractive shoe at an affordable price. Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best Used for: Fast training; Weight: 277g (UK 9); Heel-to-toe offset: 10mm What’s more, considering that this is a budget model, it’s great that they decided to make it more environmentally friendly. There are no reflective elements on the Downshifter 11 so be sure to be careful after dark in these if you are out running on busy roads.

As for the grip, the outsole has mini 1.7mm lugs, which is great on a road shoe since they normally don’t have this much texture. It should be fine on gravel trails and dirt paths and had no issues on our road tests.

The Downshifter 11 is comfortable on the roads, at the gym, and even just as an around-town sneaker. It’s very expensive, not exactly good-looking, and feels huge when you first pull it on, but there’s no other shoe we’d rather have on our feet when it comes to racing the marathon than the Alphafly. It takes the best attributes of the Vaporfly – the ZoomX foam and the carbon plate – and adds Nike’s Air Zoom pods under the forefoot for a poppier toe-off that only adds to the speed of the shoe. The other thing I don’t like about Nike’s lower-budget shoes is they cram the heel with foam for a high-drop experience. The Downshifter 11 has a 11.6mm drop which is just too much. Their other budget shoe, the Quest 4 has an amazing 13.7mm drop in our tests… Nike, even beginners don’t need this much heel! Surprisingly nice weight on the Downshifter 11

The midsole is firm too, at 32HC (average midsole run 22.8HC) it’s a bit dense under foot, and feels a slight bit harsh to run in for longer distances. Size-wise, I had gone half a size up in the Downshifter vs the Revolution 5 and I felt the fit on the Downshifter 10 was the same as the pair of Revolution 5’s I have, thus making the Downshifter 10 on the smaller side in both length and especially the width. The previous iteration had an outsole that proved noticeably resistant, and the Downshifter 12’s proved as much as good. If you’re hitting the trails, you’ll need a dedicated shoe with extra grip and some protective elements on the upper to protect your feet from rogue roots and stones. In contrast, if you’re expecting to use the shoe mostly on the treadmill you don’t need to worry so much about grip.Overall, there’s not much exciting to say about the upper, its low on features to keep costs and weight down. Nike Downshifter 11 Conclusion However, people with wider feet probably won't be able to enjoy the comfort of the shoe because it runs too narrow! Just look how tapered the Downshifter's toebox is! Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best Used for: Training; Weight: 288g; Heel-to-toe offset: 10mm