Jake Pulver
Barefoot Essentials: The Evolution of Nike Free
Nike Free Flyknit
Photo via Nike
A part of Nike’s “Nature Amplified” design mindset, the Nike Free Flyknit combined the natural motion of Free with the second-skin fit of Flyknit to provide barefoot-like flexibility and lock the foot in place with compression. The Flyknit pattern is uniquely mapped to provide stability at the forefoot and heel, and a little stretch elsewhere. Today, Flyknit technology can be found atop Free 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 soles, with the Free Run line getting its own Flyknit model in the Free RN Flyknit. The pivotal material is essential to the Nike Free line today. So, the Nike Free Flyknit introducing the pairing to the world was big.
