Far from the urban blacktops it typically dominates, Nike is looking to expand into the great outdoors and capitalize on one workout’s growing popularity: trail running.
Nike Trail, the brand’s trail-running division, updated a pair of its signature styles on Wednesday, introducing features that emphasize the technical evolution of its outdoor performance footwear.
The Wildhorse 6 and the Air Zoom Terra Kiger 6 represent the sixth iterations of their respective silhouettes and Nike said their refreshed designs draw attention to what makes trail-running different from other recreational activities.
The Wildhorse 6, for example, boasts a thick, horseshoe-shaped pad of foam on the heel that increases stability on the trail, according to Nike. An extended cuff and a modified lacing system with a lateral fit band reduce the chance debris becomes lodged inside the foot cavity. Underneath, a new, punchier midsole contains a heaping portion of Nike React foam.
The Wildhorse 6’s lugs have also been updated with a more aggressive design, improving traction and reducing clogging in the mud.
The sixth update to Nike’s Air Zoom Terra Kiger silhouette features a more durable mesh upper to help keep “mud, muck and moisture” away from the sensitive areas of the wearer’s foot. The Kiger’s upper, equipped with a non-traditional lacing system called Flywire since 2013, includes isolated front eyelets that keep the forefoot secure.
Designers also reduced the tip overlay shape in order to remove hotspots from the Kiger’s toebox.
Both the Wildhorse 6 and the Air Zoom Terra Kiger 6 were available for sale from March 5 through Nike’s website and select retail partners.
Nike has been involved in trail running since 1978, when it provided pairs of Nike LDVs to a U.S. team summiting the famous Himalayan mountain, K2. Former Nike CEO Mark Parker designed its inaugural trail runner, the Nike Pegasus, six years later.
Both the Air Zoom Terra Kiger and the Wildhorse silhouettes were first released in 2013.