For decades, running shoe foam was a compromise: soft meant slow, responsive meant harsh. Nike React broke that trade-off. Introduced in 2017, React foam delivered cushioning that was both plush and springy — and it changed what runners expected from a daily trainer.
The Chemistry Behind the Bounce
React is a synthetic rubber foam engineered at the material level for energy return. Traditional EVA foam absorbs impact but returns little of it; React was designed to give back significantly more energy with each stride while staying soft on landing. Nike's lab testing showed double-digit gains in energy return over their previous foams, and runners felt the difference immediately — the Epic React's debut had marathoners and casual joggers describing the same sensation of being propelled forward.
React vs. the Competition
React sits in Nike's cushioning hierarchy between standard EVA and the race-day ZoomX foam found in Vaporfly models. ZoomX is lighter and more explosive but far less durable; React trades a bit of that pop for longevity, making it ideal for daily training where a shoe needs to survive hundreds of miles. Compared to Adidas Boost, React feels slightly firmer and more responsive rather than marshmallow-soft — a matter of preference, but many runners prefer React's livelier ride.
Where You'll Find It
React foam powers the InfinityRN line, built specifically for injury-conscious runners seeking a stable, cushioned ride, and it appears across Nike's training and lifestyle models too. If you're logging daily miles and want one foam that handles easy runs, long runs, and everything between, React remains one of the most proven options in the game. Look for models pairing React with rocker geometry for the smoothest experience.
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