Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 7 Review

We've been fans of the last few iterations of the Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger, and this latest addition mostly follows the path of predecessors, with a few tweaks. This shoe features the same Nike React midsole, but the stack height is a little higher, and the rock plate in the forefoot has been moved back a bit and now resides directly under the midfoot, while the uppers remain largely unchanged.

Performance Comparison

Hard packed dirt trails is where these shows really show their stuff.

Photo: Ryan Baker

Foot Protection

While this shoe certainly doesn't have the best protection, it does have an excellent balance of protection and sensitivity. With a stack height of 16.5mm under the heel and 12mm in the forefoot, there's not a lot between your foot and the trail. However, the React foam combined with the air pocket in the heel and the rock plate under the midfoot make it feel like there is a lot more than what the numbers say. This isn't our favorite shoe for rocky, technical trails with the occasional scramble, but that has more to do with traction and stability, as ithe protection is adequate for most terrain, even shorter distances on pavement.

The rock plate has migrated to the midfoot of the Terra Kiger 7, where it was in the forefoot of the previous version 6.

Photo: Ryan Baker

Traction

This tread of the Terra Kiger 7 consists of a shallow lug pattern that sheds mud well and performs perfectly on hard-packed single track and dirt fire roads. It features Nike's high abrasion rubber, which we've found to be durable and resist breaking down longer than much of the competition. The midfoot has exposed React foam, and while we didn't damage or puncture that part of the outsole, heavy midfoot strikers should be wary. When cruising over talus or wet granite slabs, the rubber doesn't feel as sticky as compounds from Salomon or La Sportiva, but we felt very confident bombing steep dirt trails.

The tread isn't particularly deep, but it's tough and resists breaking down.

Photo: Ryan Baker

Sensitivity

Like previous versions of this shoe, lucky number 7 is a sensitive model, letting you feel roots, rocks, and uneven terrain while still protecting your tired feet. This gave us the confidence to really let loose on the downhills, as we could easily feel the trail and react quickly to whatever came our way.

Perhaps our biggest gripe, the rubber could be stickier for running over smooth granite.

Photo: Matt Bento

Stability

With a somewhat low stack height and plenty of room for the forefoot to splay while remaining locked in place, this shoe feels wonderfully stable. It has just enough drop to encourage forefoot striking and give that sense of forward inertia we've come to expect from the modern running shoe, without the heel feeling clunky.

The low stack height and medium drop make these shoes feel very stable.

Photo: Ryan Baker

Comfort

We find the Terra Kiger to be very comfortable. It fits true to size and has a medium width, with a little extra room in the forefoot. The fit reminds us of some of our favorite models from Salomon. The upper is a breathable perforated synthetic and feels light and airy along with the lightly padded tongue. The tongue has just enough padding to keep the laces from feeling too tight over the top of the foot, even when they're cranked down on a high-volume foot.

Though the tongue is minimally padded, these shoes remain comfortable when we crank down the laces.

Photo: Ryan Baker

Weight

Our scale puts a pair of these shoes at 21 ounces for a size 9.5. While not the absolute lightest shoe we've reviewed, they offer a lot of comfort and protection for such a light shoe. If counting ounces is your thing, we implore you to check these shoes out, as they are a worthy compromise.

These light shoes are more for those who are nimble on their feet than for those who "crush" the trail.

Photo: Matt Bento

Value

This shoe has an average price and way above average performance, so it's easy to call it a great value. So far in our experience, they are very durable, and we expect to get loads of pleasurable miles out of them.

Conclusion

The Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 7 will appeal to many different runners. They are lightweight, and the medium amount of drop will appeal to experienced trail runners and road runners. Folks new to hitting the trail will appreciate the cushioning and familiar feel. Just remember that smooth and flowy trails are their forte, as you may want something more protective for mega runs in the mountains.

Our tester enjoying the miles of trails in the hills above Carson City, NV.

Photo: Ryan Baker