Nike Free is a minimalist running shoe. It was introduced in 2005 after Nike representatives observed Nike sponsored track athletes training barefoot.

Nike Free always helps enhance your body's natural motion, but the barefoot-like-running experiences vary from shoe to shoe. These variances are graded on the Free Scale. The lower the number, the more barefoot-like the shoe.

What is Nike Flyknit? A material made up of strong yet lightweight strands of yarn that have been woven into a one-piece upper, securing an athlete's foot to the shoe platform.

I thought the Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit was going to feel and ride like a minimal shoe. It doesn't. There is plenty of midsole cushion and even a 6mm drop from heel to toe. I would recommend this shoe for a runner that keeps the regular runs under 10 miles and likes crosstraining.