Nike Air Max Full Ride Tr 1.5

Editor rating: 7.8 / 10

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By Stephanie D'Adamo

All Nike Shoes

Nike Air Max Full Ride Tr 1.5 Review Facts

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Since its foundation in 1964, Nike has become one of the most widely known running shoes in the athletic industry. This is in part due to their sponsorship of widely acclaimed athletes including Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Derek Jeter (to name a few). However, as Nike’s sales reports show – no single customer supports Nike’s business alone. In fact, Nike has a surprisingly diverse clientele that comes from both existing and emerging markets with no single business or individual holding 10% or more of their purchasing power. All stocks aside, whether you’re looking for a supportive shoe for daily wear or a lightly cushioned urban trainer for your daily runs, Nike’s Air Max Full Ride 1.5 trainers live up to their prestigious namesake. With this latest update to the Full Ride line, Nike has strayed even further from minimalist shoe design, increasing the heel drop on the 1.5s by another millimeter. Still, Nike Air Max Full Ride Tr 1.5 shoes are supportive trainers designed for lightweight, cushioned, responsiveness in urban settings.

Editor's Pros & Cons

Pros

Brand trustworthiness
Lightweight
Cushioned support
1/2-bootie construction
Flexible enough for training and streetwear

Cons

Dynamic Flywire support may be uncomfortable if you have wide feet or over-pronation
Air Max unit of this shoe may be susceptible to breakage

Outsole

The outsole of the Nike Air Max Full Ride Tr 1.5 is constructed out of high-quality rubber with a Nike Free-inspired grooved forefoot. The delta node traction pattern on the outsole (featuring a series of raised chevrons) is also conveniently designed to function on a wide variety of surfaces. However, it is important to note that these shoes are not designed to be slip-resistant or hold up while traversing wet terrain or trails. In fact, some wearers report these shoes make a rather loud squeak when exposed to slick and/or slightly wet surfaces.

Midsole

The Nike Air Max Full Ride Tr 1.5 features the same Phylon foam midsole also used in some of the best-cushioned running shoes on the market like the Nike FREE RN Distance. Phylon (easily identified by its fine, wrinkled appearance) is constructed out of compressed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam pellets that are specially formed to the shoe using “blow-molding”. This process introduces a pocket of compressed air to the midsoles of the Nike Air line without weakening the Air-Sole mechanism. This duel-pressure cushioning system provides maximum cushioning and shock absorption while offering extra heel protection and rear foot stability. Ultimately, the Max Air (alternatively called Air Max) heel of the Nike Air Max Full Ride Tr 1.5s provides superior cushioning and responsiveness.

Upper

Synthetic weave on uppers on the Full Ride Tr 1.5 provides firm support to midfoot. This means these shoes may feel too tight or wear faster than expected for those of us with wide feet. However, if you’re looking for a running or training shoe to give you extra stability and provide you with some degree of motion control (without sacrificing lateral movement), the TR 1.5s might just be the shoes you’ve been looking for. On the interior lining the phrase "Training, Lift, Jump, Run, Cut" has been printed outlining the shoe's intended usage (running, cross-training, weightlifting, sprinting, and performing jumps). Because of their superior Air Max heel unit (designed for intense shock absorption), these shoes may feel slightly stiff to the average city-goer. However, wearers report the Full Ride line is exceptionally comfortable when used as intended.

Weight

Nike Air Max Full Ride Tr 1.5 shoes are relatively lightweight for a maximalist shoe and have about the same foot-feel as a standard pair of trainers. Full Ride Tr 1.5s ship at approximately 3lbs.

Breathability

Because of their lightweight synthetic-mesh upper and textile lining, Nike Air Max Full Ride 1.5s have been constructed to be well-ventilated and highly breathable trainers. In future releases, it would be a welcome change to see Nike switch out their textile interiors for an even more breathable and/or hygienic choice of Lyocell Bamboo or micro microbial fabric.

Comfort

The Max Air heel unit and Phylon foam midsole make Nike's Full Ride Tr 1.5 shoes uniquely crafted for equal parts cushion and responsive support. Phylon is a unique material that combines the responsiveness of EVA foam with high-impact durability for repetitive motion. Nike creates these units using a “blow-molding” technique that offers increased stability, reduces shock, distributes pressure, and cushions to protect against the impact of your gait. A padded footbed lining also contributes to a plush, walking-on-air, feeling as you cycle through your workout routine. To top off the design, the Tr 1.5 line also offers padded ankle support that extends well beyond the collar of the shoe.

Style

Full Ride Tr 1.5s come in a variety of colorways including Black/Volt, Black/White/Anthracite, Cool Grey/Black Stealth, and Black/White/Tough Red. Although more color choices would be appreciated (including a designated Women's colorway for this unisex design), the TR 1.5 is a very stylish shoe overall that prominently features Nike's signature logo.

Durability

Because Nike's Full Ride Tr 1.5s have eyelets made of synthetic fabric at the forefoot, some wearers have experienced early stitching breakage. If your feet are subject to over-pronation, you may want to consider a more durable shoe. However, if you have mild under-pronation, plantar fasciitis, or experience knee pain while running, these shoes may be a cost-efficient solution.

Protection

Nike's Full Ride Tr 1.5s are designed to be lightweight track, field, and street running/training shoes. As such, they do not offer significant protection from low-lying brush, water, or other trail hazards. However, the unique attached tongue on this shoe should prevent pebbles, gravel, dirt, and dust from entering the shoe during your urban runs. In addition, grooved rubber toe caps and mudguards offer yet another layer of protection to your feet on the field.

Responsiveness

The Phylon foam midsole and lightweight design of this shoe make it highly responsive (especially on urban terrain). Moreover, because of the Dynamic Flywire support in the midfoot and forefoot, Full Ride Tr 1.5s grip the foot for minimal slippage. What's Flywire? Flywire is a specially designed thread from Nike made from either Vectran or nylon. Dynamic Flywire is used in the uppers of many of Nike's athletic shoes in order to minimize weight and maximize support - thereby increasing the overall responsiveness of the trainers themselves.

Support

The Dynamic Flywire and stiffer synthetic-mesh of the Nike Air Max Full Ride Tr 1.5s offer support for those with both slight under-pronation and a natural gait. Flywire (a staple in Nike shoes) is a fantastic minimalist feature to find a trainer. Flywire is made from Vectran fibers, a type of thread spun from liquid crystal polymer. Each one of these threads, which are thinner than a single human hair, have about five times the tensile strength of steel. Flywire supports the foot by mimicking the design of suspension-style bridges and locking the foot in place. Strategic placement along the uppers helps prevent slippage and offers an additional layer of support to the forefoot (metatarsus and toes) and heel.

Terrain

Nike Air Max Full Ride Tr 1.5 shoes are designed to cover urban terrain, roads, running tracks, turf, and trips to your local gym. Although the outsole of the Full Ride Tr 1.5s features dynamic flex grooves, these shoes are not suitable for trails, hiking, or wet surfaces.

Price

Nike Air Max Full Ride Tr 1.5 shoes retail in the midrange depending on your shoe size and color preference. Although this makes the Full Ride line slightly more expensive than bargain trainers, they more than make up for that cost with their extensive colorway selection and air-injected heel units.

Traction

The unique delta node traction pattern on this Nike shoe offers fantastic traction on the road, ensuring you'll have adequate footing when you traverse gravel, sand, and loose concrete in urban areas. Plus, because the rubber outsole wraps fairly high on the heel these shoes provide great durability and traction. However, some wearers have reported that this chevron pattern (and maximalist cushion design) interfere with a runner's natural gait cycle.

Flexibility

The synthetic mesh uppers of Nike's Max Full Ride shoes offer a surprising amount of flexibility. This is largely due to the fact that Nike's Dynamic Flywire design does not require multiple layers of material in order to offer support to the forefoot and heel. In fact, the mesh material on the uppers of the Nike Air Max Full Ride Tr 1.5s only serves to prevent debris like dirt and rocks from entering the shoe. However, the primary features of this line focus on the Tr 1.5's supportive and lightweight design.

Drop

Nike Air Max Full Ride Tr 1.5 shoes have a surprising 14mm drop. If you're looking to start your transition from maximal to minimal shoes, these might be a good choice for you. However, if you're planning on going on quite a few long-distance runs, it might be a better idea to find a shoe with a slightly lower drop (between 12mm and 10mm) to start your transition process.

Key Features

- Nike's discreet Max Air heel
- Durable rubber outsole
- Midfoot inspired by the Nike Free with Dynamic Flywire support
- Delta node traction pattern for superb performance on a variety of surfaces

Bottom Line

Nike Air Max Full Ride Tr 1.5 shoes are supportive, cushioned trainers designed for urban runners and gym-goers who are looking for a shoe to help them "[Train], Lift, Jump, Run, [and] Cut". Their unique Flywire system adds support and stability, while their state-of-the-art Air Max unit and padded insole offer exceptional cushioning. All in all, you can expect a moderate amount of midfoot support in this maximalist (yet comparatively lightweight) cushioned shoe.