Nike React Terra Kiger 9 Review

Upper

Risa: "The upper of the Terra Kiger provides the perfect wraparound for my foot. This is one reason why I appreciated the version 9 update so much. I experienced no points of irritation, and it felt like the upper was made specifically for my foot. The engineered mesh upper was very breathable and felt lightweight once laced up. I also really enjoyed the new, more modern aesthetic. I should note that I have narrower feet."

Grace: "The upper is made from a newly updated engineered mesh material that is impressively lightweight and breathable. The shoe fits true to size with a highly secure hold around the midfoot and enough room in the toe box for toes to splay. The padded heel cup and new midfoot saddle support system provided an excellent lockdown, which was great for running on technical trails and steep downhill sections. Like Risa, I also have a narrower foot."

Midsole

Risa: "The Terra Kiger 9 has Nike's classic React foam compound, which provides an excellent balance of softness and responsiveness. The React foam is not as energetic or bouncy as ZoomX foam, but I like it for daily training runs. It has a bit of spring to it and is dependable regardless of the type of trail I am running on.

While the Terra Kiger 9 is a more nimble trail shoe, I find it to be plenty protective for my longer efforts. I did not take it past the 10-mile mark during testing because of my current fitness level, but I have no doubts that the Terra Kiger could go farther."

Grace: "The Nike React foam midsole offered a balanced feel with a nice level of softness and a dynamic ground feel. The midsole is also relatively flexible, and in combination with the Kiger's new rock plate, I could move quickly across technical terrain with no issues. I felt some rocks underfoot but did not experience any discomfort or pain. It just felt more natural compared to a higher-stacked shoe.

I liked using the Terra Kiger 9 for faster efforts, as it was always easy to pick up the pace. I do not know if the midsole is as responsive as the Terra Kiger 8, which could be because Nike removed the air unit in the forefoot, and overall, version 9 has a slightly different feel.

The heel-to-toe drop was perfect for my running needs, and I felt right at home in the Terra Kiger 9 straight out of the box. Throughout the testing period, I completed daily runs, faster efforts, and some longer-distance efforts. I could also definitely see myself using it for a 50K race. Anything longer than that, and I think I would want something with a little more cushioning, but if you are a more minimal runner, then you could use the Terra Kiger 9 shoe for 50 to 100 milers."

Outsole

Risa: "Nike's rubber outsoles have received some criticism in the past, but the Terra Kiger 9's outsole was excellent throughout testing and more than met my needs.

Nike updated the outsole layout for version 9 to make the shoe grippier. Ultimately, I did not notice a huge difference from the previous version, as I typically run on less technical trails, but I enjoyed dependable traction and felt very agile while wearing the Terra Kiger 9."

Grace: "The outsole is composed of a high-abrasion rubber with a multidirectional lug design, and I was very surprised by how well the Terra Kiger handled a variety of different trails and wet conditions. I typically do not expect much from a Nike Trail outsole, but the Terra Kiger's retooled outsole impressed me."

Comparable Models

Risa: "The Terra Kiger 9 reminds me of the Saucony Peregrine. I enjoy both shoes, with a slight preference for the Terra Kiger. Both shoes' midsoles are well-balanced and are great for all my trail training runs, but the Terra Kiger is just one of those shoes that works incredibly well for my foot, and the comfort it affords me is tough to beat.

I have also run in the Nike Pegasus Trail, and both shoes are similar overall. The Pegasus Trail is slightly more geared toward daily training runs, and if you want more protection underfoot, I recommend the Pegasus Trail. If you are a runner who is more focused on speed and versatile performance, I would recommend the Terra Kiger."

Grace: "A comparable model to the Nike Terra Kiger 9 is the HOKA Torrent 3. The upper on both these shoes fit my narrow foot nicely, but the Torrent has a bigger heel cup, which forced me to utilize a runner's loop to get an ideal lockdown. The Terra Kiger, on the other hand, held my foot perfectly right out of the box.

The two models also provide similar midsole experiences. HOKA's PROFLY foam is firmer than Nike's React midsole, but both shoes offer a lot of versatility on the trails. I did a few road-to-trail segments while testing both models, and the Terra Kiger was much more comfortable and proficient on road surfaces.

Both shoes offer multidirectional lugged outsoles that grab onto the trails nicely, and I never had any issues with either outsole during testing. The Nike Terra Kiger and HOKA Torrent are lightweight, nimble trail shoes that are perfect for runners who prefer a close-to-ground feel. I prefer the Nike Terra Kiger because the upper cradles my foot perfectly, and the midsole feels more forgiving underfoot, allowing me to do longer distances or run on harder surfaces."