Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 8 Review

This post sponsored by Nike, all content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Who’s ready to hit the trails this summer? Me! So I’m stoked to be lacing up some new models of Nike trail shoes to cover the terrain. First up is the Nike Zoom Terra Kiger 8.

I’m always a little nervous with a new model because what if they changed the feel from the previous version and suddenly you don’t love it any more?

I’m not going to lie to you. When it comes to shoes, I AM PICKY. I try and dislike a lot of them, so anytime something comes along that I immediately choose to run in multiple times over my other go to shoes, it’s something that needs to be shared!

But, I also spend a lot of time looking for other people who have worn the shoe to tell me how it FELT! Was it hard or soft? Did they only like it for short runs? How did it compare to other shoes?

Hopefully, that’s exactly what I can provide you today for the Nike Zoom Terra Kiger 8 released just recently.

Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 8 Review

Good news for anyone who loved the Kiger 7, the 8 has only a few changes and they’re nothing that will massively change the way you feel running in the shoe. But they will make the shoe more breathable for those hot summer runs!

While this shoe has a rockplate, I’d still relegate it to my mid-distance or faster trail style running, not my super big rock kind of days. I’m a big fan of the lower profile and the Epic react cushioning (see info below).

Some noted that they didn’t like the feel of the shoe on hard packed trails, but I can’t say I minded. Again simply knowing upfront that this is trail running shoe that’s going to be moderately cushioned and responsive.

That being said many of you will appreciate them for any distance. I also liked the toe bumper, which is just that additional protection from rocks without making the shoe stiff.

The grip felt good in most places, though the lugs are not huge or varied on the forefoot, so for more technical terrain you might choose another option. I’ve heard it doesn’t grip well when wet, but I wasn’t on anything slick enough to find that as an issue.

I do like a little more underfoot for some of the longer trail days simply because my feet get tired! So no surprise that I’m also a fan of the Nike Wildhorse.

Find it here on Nike.com for $140, so you can enjoy their 30 day trial policy!

Specifications

Let’s dive in with some of the top line info that we all need to know about a shoe!

• Weight: 10.5 oz men’s, 8.8 oz women’s
• Heel drop: 4mm
• Neutral trail running shoe
• Seamless, no shoe tongue sliding around

Features

Key features of this trail shoe that set it apart:

• Attached tongue is light and breathable. Love that it means it won’t be sliding around on my foot.
• Toe bumpers and rock plate
• Improved heel locking fit in the Kiger 8

Nike React Foam

One of the reasons I loved this shoe was it hit that middle ground of feeling soft when landing, while still having structure to support the foot. Turns out this is due specifically to their React Foam.

• 13% more energy return with every foot fall than the Nike Lunarlon foam
• 11% softer than the Nike LunarEpic
• 5% lighter than the Nike LunarEpic

Crazy amounts of math and engineering went in to creating this shoe. And while I appreciate all of that, what I mostly appreciate is a shoe that I slip on and say “ahh”. It just feels good whether I’m on mile 1 or 8. And as I keep rebuilding post knee surgery, I’m pretty confident it’s going to feel light and comfy at mile 17, too.

Cons of the Terra Kiger

Honestly the biggest drawback that I’ve heard others bring up is the weight. Personally, I can’t say this shoe seems heavier than many of the trail running shoes I’ve tested. The complaint seems to stem from previous versions being lighter.
You aren’t going to put it on and think my goodness this is heavy! But we all know that as the miles progress, those things add up.

So keep it for the shorter days and enjoy!!

Additionally, all Nike shoes run more narrow. Again this isn’t an issue for me, but I have a number of running friends who need to look specifically for wide shoes in anything Nike to get a more comfortable fit.

Nike Trail Running Shoes

One of the things that often helps me make a decision is a quick comparison to other models! So let’s do a rundown of the trail running shoes that Nike has in the current line up.

• Wildhorse
• Pegasus Trail
• Juniper Trail
• Terra Kiger

Nike Wildhorse

You can read my full Nike Wildhorse Trail review, so I won’t deep dive here, but a an overview. This is a more cushioned shoe, though still not plush. It has a rockplate and will be good for longer mileage on easy to moderate trails.

Nike Pegasus Trail

Much higher heel drop at 9.5mm than some others, which could feel good to those used to traditional running shoes with a 10-12mm drop. This really is that transition shoe from road running to hard packed trails or light gravel.

It does NOT have a rockplate.

Juniper Trail

This shoe really is designed for those more technical trails where traction is key and you’re moving over a lot of rocks. It’s going to have the same level of cushion as the Kiger helping it to remain a responsive shoe.

Terra Kiger

Most minimal of the trail running shoes. Designed for light trail running and responsiveness to make it a faster shoe.

Why I Order Direct from Nike?

One. I look for the older model and it’s almost always on sale, where the price has gone up for it on other sites!!

Two. I’m a size 11 and honestly, a lot of running stores just don’t stock a ton in my size. Their 60-day return period because it means I can take them on a run to make sure they fit and feel the way I think they should.

Looking for other running shoe reviews??

• Nike Vs New Balance
• On Cloud vs Hoka
• How to Tell if Running Shoes Fit Properly
• How to Clean Running Shoes

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