Jake Pulver
Barefoot Essentials: The Evolution of Nike Free
Nike Free 5.0 2014
Photo via Nike
2014 marked ten years since the initial debut of Nike Free technology. Even with much innovation over the ten years, there was more land to be conquered, and the latest in the Nike Free 5.0 line brought a couple new tricks to the table. A hexagonal flex-groove pattern and anatomically shaped heel allows the foot to move more naturally and freely in all directions. Another cool innovation that this iteration of Free 5.0 brought to the table was customizability. Through NIKEiD, customers could mix and match the Free 5.0 2014 upper and Free 4.0 Flyknit 2014 upper with Free 4.0 and Free 5.0 soles. And with an organic look akin in some ways to the Free Run 2+, the Free 5.0 2014 was a surefire hit among runners and casual Free fans alike.
