Among the new designs we’ve seen this year in 2020 is the Nike Air Max VG-R, one that we got a chance to try on and review its features this week. This one is part of a series that Nike have expanded recently, one that includes styles that retail just under $90. This has been happening all while the most popular styles of the Air Max series have gotten more and more expensive, with even the Nike Air Max 90 retailing now for at least $120. The VG-R joins the likes of Nike Air Max Torch, Excee , Motion or Court Vision, all budget Air Max shoes built with basic materials without sacrificing looks.
The Nike VG-R design was inspired from the GT race cars and the driver’s rapid breathing translated in a very well ventilated shoe. Out of the box its shape stands out, with the small forefront and wide heel area. This makes it very comfortable out of the box, with little to no time needed to break it in.
Upper
The upper of the Nike Air Max VG-R is made of synthetic leather and mesh. The designers clearly took cues from classic sneakers and had no intention to modernize it in any way. The combination of mesh and leather results in plenty of stitching all over the shoe which makes the upper combo more resistant. The feel of the synthetic leather and the mesh is what you’d expect from a shoe at this price. They are very lightweight, with size 10.5 only weighing 11.35oz which is quite good considering the complex upper design. The shoe is very breathable, with the mesh expanding throughout the upper. The mudguard and the forefront lace system elongation add some needed reinforcements to what otherwise would’ve been a very flimsy toe box. The shoe compensates the quality of the materials with the exquisite design that in most colorways make this shoe quite an attention grabber. During the time I did this Nike Air Max VG-R review I tried these in the gym and they worked fine, although what I would not wear them too much in cross training as they do not feel strong enough to last. This is clearly made to be worn as an everyday shoe and running in them was not an option for me.
Sole
The VG-R boosts the now classic midsole for this line of sneakers, with an U shaped Air Max unit in the heel and Phylone foam in the forefront. Nike have been using this formula for years now and it’s been a definite success. The heel unit offers cushioning and energy return along with stability while the EVA layers from the Phylone act as a plush landing that casual wearers love. This combination however has its limits in terms of arch support as there are no pressure points or different densities of the midsole. You can wear these in the gym for light exercise but you cannot expect much support or stability when working with weights or doing cross training. The outsole features a rubber layer that adds durability basic traction that we’ve seen in most sneakers from this series. The VG-R runs true to size , however , if you are not sure what size to get you can check the Nike shoes size chart here.
Bottom Line
To conclude my Nike Air Max VG-R review, this is a great looking shoe that makes for an excellent everyday sneaker. While it’s not a collector’s item it offers a good value for its $90 price. The thin mesh used to build it makes it very breathable but also a bit vulnerable in wet conditions. While the quality of the materials are not top notch they compensate with looks and comfort. I can surely recommend these to anyone looking for a stylish everyday shoe that will not break your wallet. There are plenty of colorways to choose from, both for men and women’s,
