Nike Tennis Shoes with React Foam

[CosmosMpower]

Has Nike ever used the React foam in any tennis shoes? I've been looking for the most cushioned shoes and mostly been using Asics along with Nike Cage 3 and Zoom Zeros. No shoes I've ever tried have come close to the cushioning and comfort as my Nike Epic React 2 Flyknit running shoes. My feet hurt after long matches and when I put on the Epic React's and go walk around it literally makes the pain disappear. It's far superior to FlyteFoam or any other cushioning systems I've felt in tennis shoes. The only downside I can think of is durability as the foam is pretty soft so you'd have to wrap a very durable outsole around it.

 

[teckid]

The closest thing I can think of is the Nike Hyperdunk 2017. I tried it on and it definitely had the same cushion as the REACT style runners, but also supportive with the way they sculpted the mid and outsole. They didn't carry this through to the later years, when back to zoom. On the running shoe topic, you should try a Nike runner with ZoomX foam, side-by-side to REACT it surpasses and seems to have more longevity (Pegasus Turbo, VaporFlys).

"The Nike Hyperdunk 2017 is the ninth Nike Hyperdunk model. It is a high-performance basketball shoe that features a slip-on construction with a mix of either Flyknit or mesh textile over REACT foam cushioning."

 

[Dae18]

Unfortunately not, but you should try the Zoom Pegasus Turbo. It has zoom throughout except for the mid, that has react cushioning.

 

[Deleted member 768841]

Maybe the Nike zoom turbo GP this summer has some react or zoomx, if you watched the Australian Open 2020 Frances Tiafoe and Dylan Alcott were wearing the shoes, some pictures over at Niketalk tennis thread.

edit: I am wearing the gel resolution 8’s, for me personally they are very soft however you said flytefoam is not your cup of tea.

 

[CosmosMpower]

Maybe the Nike zoom turbo GP this summer has some react or zoomx, if you watched the Australian Open 2020 Frances Tiafoe and Dylan Alcott were wearing the shoes, some pictures over at Niketalk tennis thread.

edit: I am wearing the gel resolution 8’s, for me personally they are very soft however you said flytefoam is not your cup of tea.

Flytefoam isn't bad I just never noticed anything special about them after using the SS FF, Court FF2 etc. I felt like the Gr7's had more cushioning than both of those. I do have some GR8's coming so we'll see. I have pain in my right heel so looking for the most cushioning I can get.

 

[XFactorer]

Has Nike ever used the React foam in any tennis shoes? I've been looking for the most cushioned shoes and mostly been using Asics along with Nike Cage 3 and Zoom Zeros. No shoes I've ever tried have come close to the cushioning and comfort as my Nike Epic React 2 Flyknit running shoes. My feet hurt after long matches and when I put on the Epic React's and go walk around it literally makes the pain disappear. It's far superior to FlyteFoam or any other cushioning systems I've felt in tennis shoes. The only downside I can think of is durability as the foam is pretty soft so you'd have to wrap a very durable outsole around it.

They have a METCON with React foam... that's a shoe advertised to give you good stability in weight training. It's one step closer to React in tennis shoes - though React will be firmed up or in a carrier foam to help with lateral stability. In other words, you'll never get anything like an EPIC React 2 sensation in your tennis shoe.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Has Nike ever used the React foam in any tennis shoes? I've been looking for the most cushioned shoes and mostly been using Asics along with Nike Cage 3 and Zoom Zeros. No shoes I've ever tried have come close to the cushioning and comfort as my Nike Epic React 2 Flyknit running shoes. My feet hurt after long matches and when I put on the Epic React's and go walk around it literally makes the pain disappear. It's far superior to FlyteFoam or any other cushioning systems I've felt in tennis shoes. The only downside I can think of is durability as the foam is pretty soft so you'd have to wrap a very durable outsole around it.

Like @teckid mentions, if you want well implemented and full length react with a stable supportive upper, the only option at the moment would be to look in basketball shoes.

Basketball shoes have had a revolution in the last 5-6 years and many releases are very lightweight with knit or mesh uppers and a low cut profile while still providing stability on par or better than tennis shoes.

The cushioning options and cosmetics in basketball shoes are also incredible and extremely varied with a lot of court feel.

If I can offer one other suggestion, do consider other cushioning options like Nike basketball's version of full length zoom, and also Adidas lightstrike and boost cushioning options.

You won't find shoes with uppers or cushioning systems quite as soft as the epic reacts in a tennis or basketball option, because of the requirement of a more stable upper and some containment of the midsole.

 

[CosmosMpower]

Like @teckid mentions, if you want well implemented and full length react with a stable supportive upper, the only option at the moment would be to look in basketball shoes.

Basketball shoes have had a revolution in the last 5-6 years and many releases are very lightweight with knit or mesh uppers and a low cut profile while still providing stability on par or better than tennis shoes.

The cushioning options and cosmetics in basketball shoes are also incredible and extremely varied with a lot of court feel.

If I can offer one other suggestion, do consider other cushioning options like Nike basketball's version of full length zoom, and also Adidas lightstrike and boost cushioning options.

You won't find shoes with uppers or cushioning systems quite as soft as the epic reacts in a tennis or basketball option, because of the requirement of a more stable upper and some containment of the midsole.

While the flyknit is supper comfortable for walking around and running I wouldn't expect that upper style in a tennis shoe but I do love the react foam in the midsole and that's what I was looking for in a shoe. A stiffer upper doesn't bother me but I have foot pain in the heel. For now I'm just using super thick tennis Thorlo socks and a softsole full length gel insert in my SS FF's and Court 2's until my Gel Res 8's come in. I loved the cushioning on the GR7's.

 

[Subway Tennis]

While the flyknit is supper comfortable for walking around and running I wouldn't expect that upper style in a tennis shoe but I do love the react foam in the midsole and that's what I was looking for in a shoe. A stiffer upper doesn't bother me but I have foot pain in the heel. For now I'm just using super thick tennis Thorlo socks and a softsole full length gel insert in my SS FF's and Court 2's until my Gel Res 8's come in. I loved the cushioning on the GR7's.

As someone who also likes react, i'd be very interested to see what you think of the lightstrike cushioning in some of the Adidas shoes. It's incredible stuff. Imagine a lighter version of boost with the same impact protection as react. Adidas is implementing it in a very interesting way in some of its basketball releases that gives a lot of court feel, too.

 

[teckid]

Nike does make Flyknit variations in more supportive upper styles. LeBron 15s came with "Flyknit Battle," similar knit breathability with more structure; the KD 10s had "zoned Flyknit," that had variations in the weave to provide lateral support. Both have since moved away form these materials (LB to Knitposite, KD to a thin upper with "Quad Axial Flywires" for support LOL ???). All these versions of Flyknit were received well and I can't recall anyone freaking out saying it was unplayable for lateral support, seems like they could easily transition to tennis uppers. But looking at Taifoe's unreleased shoe, the lightweight/mesh combos for uppers seem to be the direction. Nike Basketball always gets the more R&D and fancy new tech, but it take FOREVER to filter down to tennis; rightfully so I think the tennis market is much smaller and less a rev generator than any of us players could ever imagine, might even be a loss. The Jordan 28 had this awesome Flight Plate shank rebound plate thing that felt awesome and would have been great in a tennis shoe, but only ever hit a few shoes and I heard Nike might have been licensing the tech from someone else's patent and eventually gave up on it.