Article by Sam Winebaum and Mike Postaski
Nike Terra Kiger 10 ($160)
Introduction
Sam: “Nike Trail Racing” The Kiger 10 announces its intentions boldly on the midsole sidewalls and tongue .
Comparatively low slung at 29mm heel / 24 mm forefoot, for the first time a Kiger gets Vibram, and no ordinary Vibram, as it is shod in state of the art MegaGrip with Traction Lug.. About time!
Further speeding things up it drops 2mm in stack height and about 1 ounce in weight.
The midsole is now Cushlon 3, to our knowledge not a supercritical foam. It is Nike's current top non ZoomX foam and replaces the React foam of the Kiger 9, a shoe we unfortunately did not review.. Cushlon 3 was included as the bottom stabilizing layer in the Vomero 18 road trainer.
A stable consistent midsole on trail, and especially for the speed and shorter distance focus of the new Kiger, is vital. I see this foam as a good but not ideal choice given the proliferation of lighter more reactive supercritical foams now dominating its class and trail shoes in general and given the $160 price point.
A new “leno weave” upper initially gave pause as it does not look or feel like the usual higher performance trail shoe upper with its more casual vibe and very soft feel. Not to worry, this seemingly unstructured and “casual” upper is not only very comfortable and breathable but has superb hold due to its leno construction of vertical fibers interlocking with the thicker horizontal ones and overall construction.
Pros:
State of the art Vibram Megagrip Traction Lug for the first time in a Kiger: Sam, Mike P
Built for speed on more technical terrain at non ultra distances, refreshing in an ultra focused trail shoe world: Sam
Built for speed on more technical terrain at non ultra distances, refreshing in an ultra focused trail shoe world: Mike P
Very secure and comfortable upper combining great hold with a surprisingly broad toe box: Sam
Nimble and smooth: lowish stack height and rock plate providing a stable, flexible and moderately propulsive ride Sam, Mike P
Versatile: also fine comfortable casual shoe or light and fast hiker: Sam, Mike P
Cons:
Cushlon 3.0 foam while stable and protective is somewhat dated and dull in feel Sam, Mike P
Supercritical more lively, lighter foam in order for what is a $160 shoe and could increase range and versatility Sam, Mike P
Lateral foothold not as locked down Mike P
Thin lug edges could possible wear down easier? Mike P
At just over 9 oz / 255g US9 heavier than its direct competitors
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 9.05 oz / 256g US9
Sample Weight:
men’s 8.8 oz /250 g US8.5, 9.5 oz /270 g US9.5
women’’s oz / g US
Stack Height: men’s 29mm heel /24mm forefoot (moving down from 31/28)
Platform Width: 80mm heel / 70mm midfoot / 105mm forefoot
Most comparable shoes
Merrrell MTL LongSky 2 Matryx (RTR Review)
NNormal Kjerag (RTR Review)
Brooks Catamount Agil (RTR Review)
Adidas Speed Ultra (2021)
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Sam: No doubt about it the Kiger has beautiful visual design. The side view conveys speed and motion with its low slung platform while the leno weave upper with its combination of thicker horizontal fibers and thinner vertical white ones adds texture and a sense of durability. Leno weaves are used for fabrics requiring durability (even potato bags) as they combine those horizontal yellow fibers with what are interlocking vertical fibers to maintain the shape of the upper.
Back to the visuals. The mesh is quite thick and very pliable and soft yet seen from the inside it is actually very open and I expect breathable. The overall hold of the upper is superb even if it is so soft and unstructured from lace up forward with only a thin lateral overlay which extends forward in one piece to also create a very pliable toe bumper which is more protective of the upper mesh than the toes.
The secret to hold here, in addition to the properties of the leno weave is at the rear of the shoe. We have extensive collar padding which is quite firm.
The ankle padding extends further down than normal helping create a comfortable and very supportive rear of the shoe but not a totally rigid one as while the lower part of the heel counter is rigid its upper portions all the way to the lace up are semi rigid. The result is a superb rear lock down and stability but with just enough give to not over lockdown and immobilize on changing terrain.
The tongue is unpadded and made of the same leno weave in a bit thinner form as the rest of the upper. We have a very extended stretch gusset which essentially extends the entire lace up area. Even with no overlays to speak of the mid foot hold is superb as a result of the combination on the leno weave, flat tongue, gusset and lacing with an all of a piece very smooth fit.
Continuing the midfoot themes the toe box mesh is very pliable and essentially unstructured but again that leno weave magic is present with a very secure soft feelling fit.
The toe box is broad and low. I sometimes have issues with low toe boxes over the toes if the mesh is stiff and the bumper rigid but not so at all here. As with the rest of the shoe upper there is something special about the mesh here with its soft and easy on the foot yet has solid support.
I am true to size without question here for my narrow to medium volume feet. I think moderately broad feet will also do just fine here.
Mike P: First impression absolutely has to be regarding the weight and overall style of the shoe here - the Terra Kiger is returning to its “roots” - low slung, closer to the ground, more ground feel, back to being more of a “speed shoe”. Yes this statement is made in bold lettering with “Nike Trail Racing” printed on the side.. But we’ll get to that later.
Speaking of style, as usual, and as Sam points out - Nike does know how to make a good looking shoe. My yellow colorway just looks stunning, all the elements blend together in an understated / futuristic looking way. Yes, that’s the description I’m going with. I always love a light colored upper, and this one is dynamite!
Sam covers the details, and I generally agree, but I didn’t find the toebox to be that low in height or volume. The mesh material is in fact quite pliable, so even if it is on the lower side for some, it doesn’t really press down on the top of the toes in any obtrusive way.
A couple of other elements to point out - I’m generally not a big fan of the lacing bar setup (non-eyelets). I always find it difficult to get good tension with that setup. But in this case those knit “bars” do seem to have a bit of “grab” to them, and with the kind of thick knit laces, I think it works just fine.
The tongue is on the thinner side, and wraps pretty far down over the sides of the foot though. I find this is not an issue once laced up though, and there’s enough padding where I got no lace bite at all. Height is also good - plenty of space above the knot.
I love the rear/heel of this shoe as well. Nike goes “no fuss” here - just a regular ring of soft bolstering around the interior. It wraps completely around and above my ankle bone, and given the general flexibility of the shoe, heel hold is excellent with zero slippage. The upper edge has no hard or rigid areas - excellent setup here.
Midsole & Platform
Sam: At 29mm heel /24mm forefoot we have for these days a relatively low 2025 shoe stack height shoe and is 2mm lower and 1 ounce lighter than its predecessor.
The midsole is Cushlon 3.0. Nike does not disclose the makeup of its midsole foams but Cushlon 3 is likely a compression molded EVA. It is similar in feel to Hoka’s CMEVA midsole foams with a touch more bounce, so maybe more rubber in the mix.
To the best of our knowledge it is not a supercritical foam as its most direct competitors such as the Catamount Agil, Kjerag, and Merrell Long Sky have. While I wished for a lighter more reactive super critical foam the midsole foam here does its job well in terms of having adequate cushion, densely protective and being stable on the trails.
That said, if there is one weak point in an otherwise superb shoe (upper, geometry and midsole) it is the foam here. It just feels a bit dated and dull in reactivity and especially on firm hard surfaces.
On forest paths, softer surfaces and I would expect on snow it is just right. If all out short distance fast trail running on more technical trails is your intent for the shoe it is just fine but I wish for a bit more reactive “fun” feel vs the responsive one here to extend the shoe’s range in distances and surfaces.
Mike P: The Cushlon 3.0 (which I’ve never heard of before despite apparently 2 previous versions), does have a kind of nondescript feel to it. It feels neither thin, nor firm, and also lacks any feeling of energy or “excitement”. For a shoe that has “RACING” printed boldly on the side, I would have expected more of a dynamic midsole feel.
It does have somewhat of a dense feel to it, without feeling overly heavy, and one pro is that I never get the sense that I’m bottoming out, despite the generally lower stack height. Perhaps long term durability will be a big feature of this midsole - after close to 40 test miles so far, it does feel exactly the same and gives a very consistent feel underfoot. A shoe that immediately came to mind for me is the Merrell Long Sky 2 - which I’ll discuss in the comps below.
There is a forefoot rock plate in the mix here, but don’t expect miracles here when stepping on anything sharp. It must be quite flexible as I hardly notice the feel of the plate on the run, and it seems to deflect and contour around rock impacts rather than being a full shield. You will feel stuff underfoot, but I’d say you feel the contours more rather than the sharp points.
Outsole
Sam: Along with the upper the outsole is the star of the show. For the first time the Kiger gets a Vibram MegaGrip outsole with Traction Lug mini side elements. The lug depth is 3.5mm which is pretty much the standard for a speed focused shoe.
The grip on gravel, forest paths and dirt is outstanding and also is not over present or overly slappy on hard surfaces and even pavement. The long somewhat thin in width front lugs grip also provide an additional platform for smooth toe off and propulsion. The outsole design combines with the rock plate just below the outsole upfront which appears to be a hardened foam.
The rock plate (yellow shown above) gives the Kiger a moderately stiff long flex upfront with more flexibility just behind where the rock plate ends. Protection is solid for the relatively low stack height from the combination of midsole, rock plate and outsole, understanding this is a shoe where agility and trail feel are a priority over ultra depth protection.
Mike P: More Vibram Megagrip for Nike Trail - nothing to complain about here! Check out my Zegama 2 Wet Test. I put a lot of miles into the previous Terra Kiger 6 - which I believe was the last “speed”-type Terra Kiger version. I really liked that shoe, but the outsole was definitely one of the low spots. Definitely scary on anything wet. Vibram Megagrip takes that issue out of the equation here.
The outsole setup here is highly segmented - you can see the complete split in the rear of the shoe and also across from the front to the back. This is another hint that this is a clearly a speed oriented shoe, and also a shoe not designed for full protection underfoot.
Grip and wet traction has been excellent in varied conditions for me - as expected from Vibram Megagrip. 3.5mm lugs are not super deep and I do have a little bit of concern about the shape of the lugs. In some looser sand/dirt I did get a bit of slippage, so don’t expect too much from these just because they’re Megagrip.
3.5mm is still more in the “runnable” range, and the lugs themselves are quite narrow at the edges. I have some concerns about durability given how narrow they are, especially those lugs under the forefoot. I could see them getting potentially scraped or sliced by sharp rocks. But after 40 test miles, I don’t detect any noticeable wear.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Sam: Nike clearly upped their trail performance game with the latest Kiger with a shoe clearly targeted at shorter distance racing and is not shy about branding the shoe sidewalls and tongue with “Nike Trail Racing”.
To date I have mostly run them on a combination of moderately technical trails, gravel, grass and pavement. I particularly noted their very smooth flow and mildly propulsive and well protected forefoot. They are agile, quick to react to terrain changes and have great grip. Their stack height and weight a few years ago would have been the norm but now a days one could almost say they are more “minimal”. They very much remind me of shoes from pre the industry ultra focus and for my trail runs that are mostly an hour with varied terrain they are fun and fast.It is a very agile and nimble riding shoe with adequate front rock protection and some propulsion off the front.
The highlights are superb leno weave upper which has a rare combination of outstanding soft on the foot comfort and hold and the Vibram MegaGrip outsole.
The Cushlon 3 midsole is dense and protective but not particularly exciting or reactive when the terrain turns firm.
At $160, Nike might have considered a supercritical foam and likely not Zoom X PEBA which without a sidewall coating (adding weight and stiffness such as in the Ultrafly can be prone to abrasion. Zoom X is the OG of superfoams but it might be time to move on, and especially in trail, to a lighter and more reactive supercritical EVA or TPU as most brands have now done in 2025 for their performance trail shoes.
Some caveats for the midsole aside, the latest Kiger is comfortable, quick and fun to run. It is a great choice for shorter distance trail racing on any terrain and daily training runs. Due to its superb upper comfort and outsole it can also cross over to everyday use, travel and light hiking.
Sam’s Score: 9.2 /10
Ride (30%): 8.9 score affected by foam and weight for a shoe in its class
Fit (30%): 9.4 outstanding comfort, solid hold if on the more relaxed rather than full on race side
Value (10%): 8.9 At $160 Nike might have stretched to a supercritical foam for weight & reactivity
Style (5%): 9.3 sleek and fast looks
Traction (15%): 9.5 all terrains solid, never in the way on firm
Rock Protection 9.3 (10%): decent given plate and dense foam but affected by relatively low stack height
😊😊😊1/2
Mike P: What a fun ride from Nike here - bringing the Terra Kiger back to its roots! At 9.5 oz in my US 9.5 (true-to-size), it’s not extremely light, but it does have that lightweight and nimble feel on the run. Many “ultra”-stacked shoes are also in the range of 9.5 oz so it’s likely the Cushlon 3.0 foam here than keeps it from being even lighter.
On the positive side, the midsole does have a denser, relatively absorptive feel that works very well as a daily training shoe. Despite the bold “Nike Trail Racing” lettering on the midsole, I see this shoe as a really excellent everyday training shoe. For racing, I would definitely want to have a more energetic feeling foam (especially in today’s market) and also better foothold and security.
In twisty and uneven terrain, especially at faster paces, I don’t quite get a confident feeling of security from the upper. I’d say it leans more towards comfort than a secure and locked down feel. It does wrap the foot well, but when applying lateral pressure, the foot does seem to move, not slide, but at least it seems to shift into the sides of the upper. Other low stack shoes discussed in the comps below do give a more secure and confident feel, especially in more technical terrain.
Overall this is a hugely positive update from Nike here. It definitely brings the Terra Kiger back into the mix as a usable trail shoe, and I expect to see a lot more Nikes on the trails going forward. (I honestly don’t see much Nike at all, which is startling considering how big of a brand they are). Going forward (assuming they keep the weight as-is, or even lower), I would love to see an improved foam and more secure upper in future versions.
Mike P’s Score: 8.95 / 10
Ride: 9.5 - Lightweight, versatile, a fun, agile ride for not-too-rugged terrain
Fit: 9 - Very comfortable, but I would want more secure lateral foot hold
Value: 9 - Kind of standard price these days, includes Vibram MG, but no superfoam
Style: 10 - My yellow colorway looks great, expect many great color options to come
Traction: 8 - Good up to moderate terrain, but don’t expect SG-level traction
Rock Protection: 8 - Sharps are blunted, but expect to feel what’s underfoot
Smiles 😊😊😊😊😊
10 Comparisons
Merrrell MTL LongSky 2 Matryx (RTR Review)
Mike P (US 9.5): This was the first comp that came to mind when running in the TK10. The LS2 is similarly lower stack, flexible, and really feels great as an everyday shoe if you like that style. The Merrell excels in foothold - with a more secure fit and better lateral foothold, while the Nike’s upper is more relaxed and comfortable. Both fit true-to-size but the Merrell’s Matryx is a bit snugger. I don’t like the Merrell’s heel cup though - the Nike’s is much more comfortable, and just as secure. Merrell get’s the outsole edge with more coverage, and deeper lugs, and it’s also a lighter shoe. Both shoes look great too!
Sam: For me too the closest comparison. I agree on the LongSky’s superior Matryx hold but for most uses I prefer the Nike’s more plush and slightly more relaxed fit. At about the same stack height the LongSky is 0.5 oz lighter and would be lighter yet if it had lower than its I think more softer ground focused 5mm lug outsole. It’s midsole feels similar to the Nike’s. For overall day in day out versatility in a shoe of its class I prefer the Nike in this match up. For racing the Merrell.
NNormal Kjerag (RTR Review)
Mike P (US 9.5): The Kjerag has a SC EVA, which does feel more energetic, but it’s just so thin. Really a minimal feel with the NNormal, and you and your feet have to be prepared for that. It’s too thin for ultra racing for me, but that’s subjective. It’s really nice and light as an everyday shoe, especially if you want to train up your feet a bit. Definitely a more secure foothold with the Kjerag too - I have way more confidence in technical terrain with those. Overall the NNormal is more of a niche shoe, while the Nike is going to be across the board more versatile for the majority of runners sticking to less technical terrain.
Sam: The Kjerag is almost 1.5 oz / 42g lighter but sits on a lower 23.5 /17.5 platform. That said, its supercritical EVA foam midsole almost “evens” things out in terms of cushioning feel with additional reactivity for the shorter and faster runs both are intended for for most of us, except Kilian who runs won UTMB in his. Both have 3.5 lug MegaGrip outsoles with the Kjerag lugs broader and less angular which improves firm ground feel but lags the Nike on slipperier terrain The very light Matryx upper of the Kjerag is thin and pliable in contrast to the Nike thick and soft upper. I found a similar midfoot to rear hold.The NNormal has a similarly broad toe box and fits large. I could have sized down half a size from my “normal” in the Kjerag. Priced $35 more, the Kilian shoe is a faster lighter option and one I even used easily for 3 days of trekking with a pack on smooth terrain.
Brooks Catamount Agil (RTR Review)
Mike P (US 9.5): The Agil is noticeably lighter and also closer to the ground with a lesser stack. Way more ground feel in that shoe, perhaps too much for most runners. It also has a relatively stiff SpeedVault plate which gives a bit of propulsion. Its Nitro EVA midsole feels energetic, but like the Kjerag, it’s so thin. Also similar to the Kjerag and also the Long Sky 2, a much more secure fit leading to more confidence in technical terrain. The Agil is again a bit of a niche shoe, the TK10 much more versatile for most.
TNF Vectiv Sky 2 (RTR Review)
Mike P (US 10.0): Despite similar stack specs, the Sky 2 rides and feels closer to the ground. I do go up ½ size typically in North Face, but the fit is so good in this one that despite the extra toebox space, I have a much more secure fit than the TK10. The Sky 2 feels really locked in around the midfoot area. The Sky 2 also has a much more dynamic ride with its Nitro TPU midsole and full length forked carbon plate. The Sky 2 is perhaps my favorite lowish stack speedster/racer at the moment, while the TK10 gives more fun training shoe vibes.
Sam: The NorthFace’s shorter race competitor is considerably lighter at 8.3 oz / 235g US9 with a slightly lower 28mm heel / 22mm stack height. A considerably more sophisticated shoe than the Nike, it includes a supercritical foam midsole and flexible carbon plate. On top of that, its lugs are 5mm vs 3.5 of the Nike. Priced at $200 it is for sure a super race shoe for shorter distances on any terrain, Its upper is not as “plush” or as comfortable as the Nike's. It all adds up to a springier and racier shoe, and for me, certainly a faster shoe.
VJ MAXx 2 (RTR Review)
Mike P (US 9.0): The MAXx2 is almost a full ounce lighter at roughly the same stack height. The VJ has weird sizing - I’m down a half size from my normal at a US 9.0 in the MAXx2. The VJ upper is less refined, thicker and definitely less breathable than the Nike. It’s also a bit more rigid around the ankle collar, although itl hasn’t caused me any problems. The VJ upper is still more secure than the Nike though, but the platform is narrower so it can be unstable at times in its own way. The VJ midsole foam durability is a question mark though - mine as well as the midsole of the Lightspeed model have pancaked down quite a bit under the balls of the feet. The foam seems lighter with more air injected within, and seems to break down more easily. I’ve never considered the MAXx2 for racing, hence, I’d recommend the TK10 for more general training purposes.
Nike Wildhorse (RTR Review) Nike Zegama 2 (RTR Review) Nike Ultrafly (RTR Review)
Mike P (US 9.5): Haven’t tried the Wildhorse in a long time although new contributor has tested and reviewed at the link above.
The Zegama 2 and Ultrafly are utterly different from the Kiger 10.
Zegama 2 has way softer ZoomX midsole foam, a massive slab in fact - it’s a good setup if you’re looking for major cushion above all else. That shoe doesn’t agree with me so much due to the fact that it feels overly heel-oriented, and it feels so high and unstable.
The Ultrafly was also sort of a dud for me - heavy for a supershoe, and extremely stiff, with an oddly wide toebox. Although designed for a completely different purpose, I think the TK10 is the best Nike trail shoe on the market right now.
Nike Terra Kiger (previous versions)
Mike P (US 9.5): I last ran in V7, which was an incredibly unwieldy 10.8 oz with poor foothold and a similarly poor outsole. I wrote off the TK model until now - since it’s back to being a lightweight model last seen in V6. V6 was great, the toe toebox was a bit shallow, and of course the outsole was not that good.
V10 is generally a better shoe, but more comfort oriented. V6 did have a more secure fit (at the expense of toebox height), and in the right terrain where I didn’t have to worry about grip - I really liked that shoe. If the next TK could somehow replicate the foothold of V6 without cramping the fit, that might move it into real racing territory.
Adidas Speed Ultra- 2021 version (RTR Review)
Mike P (US 9.5): Very similar vibes between these two shoes.. The “old” Speed Ultra was one of my favorite trail shoes - I loved the secure fit, flexibility, and moderate amount of cushion. Yes, it has been surpassed now by more modern shoes, but the new TK reminds me of that shoe, aside from the secure fit. As with the comps against other shoes, I still find that the TK leans more towards comfort. The TK is more flexible around the midfoot in comparison to the old Speed Ultra - that one had some type of torsion element which was a bit stiffer under the arch.
Brooks Catamount 3 (RTR Review)
Mike P (US 10.0): Lots of deals going around for the Cat 3 - I would recommend picking up a pair if you can still find them. It’s a great training shoe - very flexible underfoot, firm-ish ride and stack - it feels quicker than the TK10, and it also has SkyVault plate which gives it a bit of extra propulsion which the TK lacks. The Brooks fit works great for me in this model - very snug midfoot with wide forefoot base - there’s more room in the toebox in the Brooks if you size up, and it still retains a highly secure fit. I think the Cat 3 is a better shoe, but the TK10 may get the edge if you perhaps want a bit of a softer feel and aren’t concerned so much about more rugged trails.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Tester Profiles
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 53th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
Mike Postaski currently focuses on long mountainous ultras - anywhere from 50K up to his favorite - 100M. 5'10", 138 lbs, midfoot/forefoot striker - he typically averages 70 mpw (mostly on trails), ramping up to 100+ mpw during race buildups. A recent 2:39 road marathoner, his easy running pace ranges from 7:30 - 9:00/mi. From 2022-23 Mike has won the Standhope 100M, IMTUF 100M, and Scout Mountain 100M trail ultras, winning the Scout 50M in 2024. He also set a CR of 123.74M at the Pulse Endurance Runs 24H and completed the Boise Trails Challenge on foot in 3 days 13 hours, besting the previous record by 7 hours. Mike's shoe preferences lean towards firmer, dense cushioning, and shoes with narrower profiles. He prefers extra forefoot space, especially for long ultras, and he strongly dislikes pointy toe boxes.
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for reading Road Trail Run! We also welcome comments in French. See our page with links to all shoe and gear reviews HERE. You can also follow RoadTrailRun on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram where we publish interesting run related content more frequently as well as links to our latest reviews. Shopping through links on articles help support RoadTrail Run and is much appreciated