Nike Wildhorse 10 Evaluation | GearJunkie Examined

I grew up operating observe and cross-country competitively in southern Colorado, when there have been no path trainers accessible wherever, even at specialty operating shops. The posh of alternative merely didn’t exist for path runners again then. As a child, I ran the paths in each day trainers meant for the street.

I can recall a time when the Salomon XA Professional was the golden commonplace for operating mountain ultras. Mountain extremely path races had been an inglorious place for retired collegiate {and professional} runners, awkward science academics and engineers, and silver-haired burnouts to shuffle for eternity. 

Since these days, mountain extremely path (MUT) operating has exploded, encouraging shoe producers to fulfill the calls for of the business’s quickly rising MUT sector. The result’s an unbelievable quantity of shoe decisions from large manufacturers like Nike, designed to fulfill the precise calls for of each self-discipline of off-road operating possible.

In April 2025, Nike launched its fully overhauled ReactX Wildhorse 10. This shoe is designed to “serve a large spectrum of path makes use of — from brief neighborhood runs to steep, technical 100Ks.” I examined the Nike Wildhorse 10 over roughly 74 miles and 20,000 ft of vertical achieve from the Owens Valley to the Excessive Sierra Crest.

Briefly: Regardless of the ReactX Wildhorse 10’s energetic and provoking really feel, the shoe’s off-trail efficiency is disappointing, limiting its use to gravel paths and non-to-moderately technical trails. I don’t suggest this shoe to anybody who loves steep technical trails and off-trail journey. This isn’t the shoe for forefoot strikers, particularly when substantial quantities of steep terrain are obligatory. The shoe is best for mellower terrain and restoration days.

Try how the Nike Wildhorse 10 stacks up in opposition to the competitors in GearJunkie’s information to the most effective path trainers.

Nike Wildhorse 10: Evaluation

Match

Diving proper into match, I discovered that the ReactX Wildhorse 10, dimension EUR 42.5 (U.S. Males’s 9.5), match me effectively, which is commonplace for my foot size. Nonetheless, traditionally with Nike trainers, I’ve run in dimension EUR 43 (U.S. Males’s 10). I’d suggest that people accustomed to Nike’s sizing contemplate taking place a half dimension within the Wildhorse 10.  

Shifting to quantity, whereas ReactX Wildhorse 10’s quantity all through the shoe appears to be designed to greatest accommodate mid- to high-volume foot profiles, the shoe accommodates a variety of foot profiles. Take me, for instance. I’ve canted forefeet at a width of 99 mm mixed with a particularly low-volume foot profile. Basically, I’d say the Wildhorse 10 did a passable job of locking my foot to its body.

Regardless of the Wildhorse 10’s adaptable and accommodating match, I did expertise some harsh lace-bite on the prime two eyelets whereas making an attempt to safe my heel into the shoe’s body on technical trails. The Wildhorse 10 provides its greatest containment via the forefoot and midfoot of the shoe, making the heel counter and collar its weakest elements relating to match.

The match on the heel is much less accommodating, making it a greater possibility for deep heels the place the calcaneus protrudes out sufficient to fill within the quantity on the rear of the shoe.

Weight

Coming in at a said weight of 311 g / 10.9 ounces (U.S. Males’s 9), the Nike Wildhorse 10s I examined measured at 343g / 12.1 ounces (U.S. Males’s 9) per shoe. Whereas the Wildhorse 10 actually isn’t the lightest shoe, it does sit properly inside the maximal path shoe class. Try the comparable fashions listed under, and contemplate the ratio of weight to stack top:

Switching from the model’s React foam to its ReactX foam, Nike provides 3 mm of froth to the Wildhorse 10’s midsole whereas decreasing the shoe’s weight by 35 g when in comparison with its predecessor. The Wildhorse 10 rides effectively and feels surprisingly nimble regardless of the 1.5 inches of shoe underfoot on gentle to average trails. Nike’s Wildhorse 10 distributes weight ahead and returns power greatest for strides touchdown wherever from the midfoot to the heel. 

Upper

The ReactX Wildhorse 10’s higher is designed to ship excellent safety and sturdiness, meant to resist the calls for of any ultra-distance. The shoe’s higher comes with an up to date toe cap that gives wonderful safety from blunt influence. The Wildhorse 10’s engineered mesh higher is designed to be breathable, sturdy, and comfy.

Whereas the shoe’s mesh higher is snug, the fabric doesn’t carry out effectively in relation to air flow, drainage, and sturdiness. After taking this shoe on one in all my favourite trails involving a dozen creek crossings, I can confidently say the Wildhorse does a fully horrendous job at draining water from the shoe. After every crossing, I carried footwear stuffed with water for minutes earlier than they lastly drained.

The mesh material by no means dried, even with an hour between creek crossings. That very same path (with the creek crossings) begins on a scorching, high-desert valley flooring. Coming again down into the desert from the excessive nation was fairly depressing within the footwear.

The Wildhorse 10’s engineered mesh higher isn’t very sturdy. After three runs (roughly 60 miles), the mesh exhibits vital put on from abrasions on average, unmaintained trails involving gentle vegetation overgrowth, mellow fields of talus, and delicate slopes of scree. 

Midsole

Nike’s Wildhorse 10 sports activities a very overhauled midsole. By switching from the model’s React foam to its ReactX foam, Nike managed so as to add 3 mm of cushioning to the Wildhorse 10’s midsole whereas decreasing the shoe’s weight by 35 g when in comparison with its predecessor. Nike’s React cushioning is a rubberized foam mix of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) and EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate).

Though the ZoomX cushioning was accessible on the time, its manufacturing prices had been excessive, and its availability was restricted. Thus, Nike’s React foam was created to compete with the dominating Adidas Increase expertise of the time.

Whereas Nike’s React foam provides tender but resilient cushioning, it lacks responsiveness and power return when in comparison with different race efficiency foams. Since its launch, React has develop into a signature materials utilized in lots of Nike’s path and each day coaching footwear.

After spending 5 years formulating a powerful midsole mix that balances high-level efficiency and low environmental influence, Nike launched React’s successor, ReactX, in 2023. In comparison with React, Nike’s ReactX foam will increase power return by about 13% whereas decreasing its carbon footprint by roughly 43%. The spectacular outcomes are achieved via injection molding the suitable mix of TPE + EVA.

Historically, excessive power return and responsiveness have been achieved via compression molding. This makes use of extra power and creates extra waste to fabricate when in comparison with injection molding. Regardless of its maximal 38mm ReactX foam midsole, the Nike Wildhorse 10 delivers a powerful quantity of power return and floor really feel, making for a assured and comfy experience on gentle to average trails.

Outsole

The ReactX Wildhorse 10’s outsole is supplied with 4mm multidirectional lugs utilizing Nike’s proprietary All Terrain Compound rubber. Nike’s ATC rubber is designed to ship grip and sturdiness on steep inclines and in moist climate, much like Vibram’s Megagrip compound.

Whereas Nike’s proprietary All Terrain Compound is an improved outsole materials in comparison with previous iterations of the Wildhorse, the ATC rubber’s efficiency is disappointing to me.

I examined the Wildhorse 10’s ATC outsole on desert, forest, and alpine trails involving the entire gamut of surfaces and situations. To be truthful, the Wildhorse 10 performs fairly effectively on dry, non-to-moderately technical trails.

Nonetheless, the shoe’s outsole performs terribly on moist, sturdy surfaces. For instance, shortly after crossing creeks and snow fields, the shoe would slip out on felled timber and rocks.

The Wildhorse 10’s ATC outsole fails to grip easy rocks even when dry. On this case, when the Wildhorse 10 reached its first alpine use path alongside a mellow talus area, the shoe’s outsole would slip out on a number of easy rocks and boulders.

For me, the ATC rubber alone is a dealbreaker, particularly when contemplating different choices in the identical shoe class that come geared up with Vibram’s Megagrip compound. 

Lastly, the Nike Wildhorse 10’s lug sample comes with some sturdiness weaknesses. I managed to tear a handful of lugs all through the forefoot after simply three runs (roughly 60 miles). Whereas the outsole’s 4mm lug depth works nice on tender floor, the lugs are slender, making them inclined to tearing when operating on steep rocky inclines. 

Sturdiness

Though the Wildhorse 10 may be very snug with its mesh higher and maximal cushioning, the shoe’s sturdiness is disappointing. After simply three runs, the shoe’s mesh higher is blowing out from abrasions on average, unmaintained trails involving gentle vegetation overgrowth, talus, and scree. The outsole’s lug sample lacks the fabric and construction essential to resist the lateral drive that comes with operating on steep rocky inclines.

That being mentioned, the shoe’s midsole remains to be energetic and protecting. Given the shoe’s delicate higher and delicate lug sample, I’d if saved on gravel paths and nontechnical trails, the Wildhorse 10 may final me 400 miles. The shoe’s higher is actually the weakest part of the shoe.

Nike Wildhorse 10: Conclusion

For these searching for a maximal on-trail shoe with a beneficiant quantity of responsive cushioning and uncompromising safety, Nike’s Wildhorse 10 often is the proper shoe for you. The ReactX Wildhorse 10 has an brisk and provoking really feel with a extensively accessible and adaptable match.

The Wildhorse 10’s rocker geometry vastly advantages strides touchdown from the midfoot to the heel with a safe and managed stride on reasonably technical trails. 

The Wildhorse 10’s efficiency is disappointing off-trail and is proscribed to gravel paths and solely reasonably technical trails. I don’t suggest this shoe to anybody who loves steep technical trails and off-trail environments.

The Wildhorse 10’s rocker geometry and dramatic heel-to-toe drop work in opposition to a forefoot strike, making for an unstable experience. This overengages the calves, particularly on steep terrain. I additionally don’t suggest the Wildhorse 10 to forefoot strikers, particularly when substantial quantities of steep terrain are obligatory.