April 2009
Nike has announced LunarGlide+, a new lightweight running shoe designed with an innovative mid-sole architecture called Dynamic Support, a patent-pending system that adapts to a runner’s gait with each step, providing superior cushioning and as-needed stability.
“Runners traditionally had to choose between stability or cushioning shoes based on their style,” said Leslie Lane, Global VP and GM for Nike Running.
“Now, consumers can choose a single running shoe that will respond to all of their needs, even adjusting on the fly during a run.”
The new Dynamic Support system shatters the myth that runners must compromise by selecting between two industry-standard categories: stability or cushioning. The Dynamic Support system in the Nike LunarGlide+ mid-sole combines the best of both. It is designed with a lightweight LunarLite foam core that sits within a firmer foam carriage and features a rear-foot wedge, providing stability when needed.
The shoe also has soft, yet strong microfiber synthetic overlays ultrasonically welded into place for seam-free comfort. A high-resilience men’s and women’s-specific foam sockliner, also creates a foot-bed with exceptional step-in feel and added support.
Nike first introduced LunarLite foam in the summer of 2008 in Beijing as the mid-sole cushioning system in the Nike LunaRacer and Nike Lunar Trainer running shoes and in the Nike Hyperdunk basketball shoe. Traditional cushioning systems only absorb energy upon impact. LunarLite foam has proven to provide superior cushioning and significant energy return.
The Nike LunarGlide+ incorporates another Beijing innovation: Flywire technology. The integration of Flywire threads into the upper design of shoes from a variety of sports including running, basketball and tennis, has allowed Nike designers to shed unprecedented amounts of weight without losing necessary support and stability.
The use of LunarLite foam in the mid-sole and Flywire threads in the upper allowed designers to create the men’s LunarGlide+ weighing just 10.6 oz. while the women’s weighs a mere 8.6 oz.
The Women’s Nike LunarGlide+ includes more soft foam under the heel than the men’s model, providing the softer cushioning women need because on average, they weigh 10 to 15 per cent less than men, and having less mass compressing a shoe’s mid-sole. It has a two-part, gender-specific external heel counter engineered to accommodate a woman’s distinct needs for comfort, fit and support.
Nike has applied its Dynamic Fit Technology, a stretchy material, adjacent to the big toe, which expands to accommodate varying widths. Women tend to have broader forefeet which can lead to fit issues and abrasions.
The Nike LunarGlide+ will be available globally beginning this July. For more information, please go towww.nikerunning.com.
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