Nike Air Zoom Odyssey 2 Review

8.2
8.2 score
(WalkJogRun) score (8.2)/10

Our WalkJogRun score is based on 3 different factors: Editor's rating after in-depth testing. User ratings submitted on this page Overall score from the "reviewmeter" based on reviews across the web the weight of each factor is: 40% editor rating 15% user ratings 45% reviewmeter.
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Editor rating: 7.0 / 10
User's rating: based on 3 user ratings
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Nike Air Zoom Odyssey 2 Review Review Facts

The follow-up to the previous Air Zoom Odyssey, the Nike Air Zoom Odyssey 2 features various technologies that improve upon the experience received by the wearer of the shoe. The sole unit of Nike Air Zoom Odyssey 2 has added cushioning that enables the shoe to provide a high level of comfort to the wearer of the shoe. On top of this, the cut of the shoe is one that promotes the overall speed and style provided by it’s predecessor. The cushioning in the sole unit of the shoe provides the wearer with a high level of cushioning which enables the wearer to have the support that they need for the longer runs such as marathons.

Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
  • High amount of cushioning
  • Supportive
  • Stability providing
  • Wider variations of the shoe
Cons
  • Lack of support for arches
  • Upper isn’t very durable
See How
Reviews were analyzed here:
We read, analyze and sort reviews into positive & negative categories to give you the complete picture.
What are buyers saying?

We have spent 3.3 hours analyzing a total of 560 reviews.

These reviews are then categoried into "Positive" and "Negative" feedback.

Below you will read a summary of them:

Positive
  • I like the feel from Nike Air Zoom Odyssey 2, the support is superior to the previous shoe version, ankle support is better, they do break in quickly, a very quick shoe, light with good traction and support.
  • As a large runner I really appreciate the cushion in these and the high level of response, these let my feet bounce nicely, the shoe has very good ventilation which means even more comfort.
  • I have had five pairs of this line of shoe because they have always been outstanding, for me I’m impressed by the shoes ability to give top stability, very nice traction and a lot of comfortable support, couldn't ask for better.
  • As I have flat feet I’m very choosy, I need absolutely the right level and type of support and these shoes give it, they are also light, tough, nice grip and well designed.
  • I use these for cross training and wow they are good, lots of support but still the right flexibility, very good training shoe.
  • My wife tried these for cross training, she was so impressed she bought a pair for me, I am equally impressed and I use mine for running and cross training, they are perfect for both.
  • I have had many issues with shoes due to my feet being flat, with these I can run a straight five miles without and aches, pains or discomfort, a very impressive shoe.
  • I’m older and yes my feet feel old but the cushion and support in these makes these great for running and walking, this will always be my choice from now forward, what a good shoe these are.
  • The arch support feels so right in these, lots of cushion in the heels, a well structured supportive shoe which is light on my feet, love these.
  • Tried these out for a month, 5 miles twice a week, these are so well built, the support and cushion in these is fine, the shoe holds very well for traction and the breath ability is nice. Nice shoe, try them out you wont regret it.
Negative
  • The shoe runs small, I sorted that out, the cushion in these is much stiffer in comparison to the previous version, response needs to be better and for the price these should have reflective tech for night running.
  • The sole is peeling at 300KM and the shoe cannot deal with challenging distances, granted, I do work shoes very hard but with this price tag I expected a much more durable shoe, Grumbling apart, they do perform really well.
  • I think the shock absorbing in these needs to be upgraded, it just isn’t what it should be, the jolts are very uncomfortable. That said, these do run nicely in all other ways.
  • First shoes to ever give me back ache? I can feel the jolts travel over through my body when I run on sidewalks. I don’t like the amount of heel drop, it’s too high.
  • These run narrow for the toe area but still wearable but not so comfy, the prior version had better cushion, these are stiffer, the level of response feels dull, the rest of Nike Air Zoom Odyssey 2 is ok.
Reviewmeter
The Reviewmeter shows you an overall score that you can easily refer to. The highest rating is 10 (100% positive feedback)
Of the 560 reviews we found in total, 14% were negative, and 86% were positive.
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Outsole

The outsole of Nike Air Zoom Odyssey 2 is one that provides the wearer with a decent level of grip and stability during their wear. The sole unit features a waffle pattering that enhances the level of grip received due to the spread of the material used throughout the design. On top of this, the material of the outsole of the shoe is primarily that of the hardened rubber variety which adds to the level of grip received by the wearer of the shoe. The design of the outsole is the reason why the shoe works so well for use on terrains such as roads and the like; the spreads and the grooves of the material allow for a decent level of grip to be achieved by the wearer of the shoe.

Midsole

The midsole of the shoe is fashioned primarily from Nike’s Air zoom technology; this allows the shoe to provide for the various curves of the wearer’s foot. The material itself is designed from a durable tensile foam that adds to the bounce achieved by the shoe which in turn provides the wearer decent level of transition during their time wearing the shoe. The Air Zoom works to provide the wearer of the shoe an added plush feeling for the longer runs in the shoe.

Upper

The upper of Nike Air Zoom Odyssey 2 is designed primarily from Nike’s Fly Mesh material; this material allows the shoe to provide the wearer with a good level of air circulation while the shoe is in use. It also allows the wearer of the shoe to have a good level of comfort because of this. Nike also incorporated their Flywire technology into the shoe’s design, allowing the shoe to have a sturdy snug fit during wear. The double layering of the material works to allow the shoe to have an average level of durability during use; it does its best, but the shoe still experiences a fair level of ripping with extended use.

Weight

The materials used throughout the Odyssey’s design are nothing but lightweight. The foam and rubber used in the midsole of the shoe add very little in the way of weight to the shoe primarily because of the material’s naturally lightweight design. This means that the qualities of the material are those that naturally add very little weight to shoes unless used in excess. The upper of the shoe is extremely minimal as well and adds very little weight to the overall shoe allowing the shoe to remain extremely lightweight during use.

Breathability

The upper of the shoe features a mesh design that allows for very high level of air circulation to take place inside and outside of the shoe. Mesh is known for being naturally porous and provides wearers of the shoe to retain a higher level of comfort because of this. The mesh used in this shoe’s design is of Nike’s own and incorporates all of the best features of the regular mesh into a more flexible and durable frame. The use of mesh aids Nike Air Zoom Odyssey 2 in reducing the level of sweat buildup in the shoe which also enhances the feel of the overall shoe.

Comfort

The Odyssey is designed to provide the wearer of the shoe the maximum level of comfort possible. The upper of the shoe s designed from a combination of both Flywire and fly mesh, which allows the shoe to conform rather nicely to the size and shape of the wearer’s foot; a side effect of this is also that the shoe provides the wearer with a great level of breathability. This also translates into comfort for the wearer of the shoe. The sole unit of the shoe has Air Zoom cushioning which provides the wearer of the shoe with a higher level of comfort in the way of support and stability as well.

Style

The slim cut of the overall shoe provides the wearer with a better level of aesthetic appeal while the shoe is on foot. The Odyssey’s design is one that has several minimalistic features embedded throughout that allow the shoe to be worn in a variety of places while giving the wearer very little trouble in terms of style. These minimalist shoes come in a variety of colors that allow the shoe to be worn even in places outside of the shoe’s intended use; the shoe can be worn just for lounging around or for work, the design allows for that.

Durability

The sole unit of the Odyssey is rather durable. The hardened rubber and the Air Zoom cushioning used throughout the shoe’s design allow the wearer of the shoe to have a pretty good level of longevity while owning the shoe. The use of the Air zoom cushioning and the waffle patterning on the outsole of the shoe protects this portion of the shoe from immediate damage while in use on the more strenuous terrains. The same can’t be said of the upper of the shoe and the fly mesh used throughout; this portion of Nike Air Zoom Odyssey 2 breaks down relatively easy with constant use because of the surprises that come with running on roads.

Protection

The sole unit of the shoe provides the wearer with an average level of protection during use. The sole unit of the shoe is relatively thick and can handle a wide variety of surprises with very little in the way of damage or harm coming to the foot of the wearer during their time using the shoe; the support provided to the heel and other subtle curves of the wearer’s foot is also something that makes the Odyssey somewhat protective during use. The upper of the shoe has very little overlays and doesn’t do much to protect the wearer’s foot during use on the more strenuous terrains; the snug fit does do its job by ensuring that the wearer of the shoe has control over their movements while in the shoe.

Responsiveness

The Air Zoom cushioning and hardened rubber that make up the midsole of this shoe ensure that the wearer has a higher level of responsiveness while the shoe is on foot; the midsole of the shoe is impact absorbent and does it’s best to ensure that the wearer of the shoe feels as little of the road while running as possible. A side effect of the impact absorbing nature of the material is that it provides the wearer of the shoe with a little bounce in their step while the shoe is on foot; this is accentuated by the grip of the outsole of the shoe and allows the wearer to have relatively smooth transitions while the shoe is on foot.

Support

The midsole of Nike Air Zoom Odyssey 2 is one that provides the wearer of the shoe with a relatively supportive feel during use. The Air Zoom cushioning does it’s best to give the wearer of the shoe a good level of support by conforming to the size and shape of the curves o the wearer’s foot; this then translates into added comfort and less fatigue of the foot while the shoe is worn. The upper of the shoe and the snug fit that is provided also works to this effect by giving the wearer of the shoe a decent level of comfort and support for the outer portions of their foot while the shoe is worn.

Terrain

The sole of the shoe is one that allows the shoe to handle a wide variety of terrains but is best when used on terrains such as roads. The sole unit of the shoe is designed primarily from a hardened rubber material; this material allows the shoe to achieve a great level of grip and provides the wearer of the shoe with much needed functionality when used on road surfaces. The somewhat level patterning on the outsole of the shoe also ensures that the sole unit wears down relatively slowly and retains the high-level grip.

Price

This shoe has various features that allow it to provide for it’s wearers. With that, the Odyssey is not the most expensive shoe in the world, even with the various features that have been placed throughout the shoe. The Odyssey can be found anywhere between the low end of the spectrum, in terms of price, to the high end of the spectrum. The one thing to keep in mind when considering this shoe is the ability that it must provide the wearer with all the functionality that is necessary to allow one to really soar while in competition.

Traction

The sole unit of the shoe features a waffle patterning that runs the length of the sole unit; this patterning is fashioned from a hardened rubber material that allows the shoe to provide for the wearer in terms of grip during use. The use of the waffle patterning ensures that the grip of the sole unit is placed evenly throughout the sole of the shoe and allows the wearer to have a high level of functionality while used for high-speed movements.

Flexibility

The entirety of the Odyssey’s design allows the shoe to provide the wearer with a high range of movement during their time wearing the shoe. The sole unit of the shoe is fashioned from Air Zoom cushioning with a thin layer of hardened rubber that acts as the outsole of the shoe; the combination of these materials allows the shoe to move easily and provide the wearer with a good level of movement during use. The upper of the shoe is rather minimal and is fashioned from both Flywire and fly mesh materials. The use of these materials in the shoe’s design allows the shoe to bend relatively easily to the will of the wearer’s foot and get into the nooks and crannies of the terrains with ease.

Stability

The design of the Odyssey, while being minimal, is one that allows the wearer of the shoe to retain a high level of stability during their time wearing the shoe. The upper of the shoe, due to the Flywire and fly-mesh make, allows for a snug fit to be provided to the wearer; this fit keeps the foot in-line and gives the wearer a good level of stability in their movements. The sole unit of the shoe has a solid cushioning placed throughout that allows the shoe to provide for the wearer of the shoe in terms of stability as well.

Drop

The drop on the Odyssey is somewhat high due to the level of cushioning that was placed in the heel of the shoe. The heel-to-toe ratio on the Odyssey is about 12mm give or take; this still allows the shoe to provide the wearer with a great level of transitions and doesn’t take away from the natural feel of the shoe in any way.

Key Features

• Waffle pattern on outsole
• Duralon cushioning
• High abrasion rubber
• Fly mesh
• Flywire

Verdict

Overall, the design of the Odyssey is one that allows it to provide for the wearer in terms of comfort and traction. It is primarily a road running shoe that fits snug enough to give the wearer a pretty good level of stability and flexibility in use. While the price of the shoe may be a bit much for some, it does have some decent features that accompany it. One thing to watch out for is the upper of the shoe and the flimsy design that it has. The Odyssey is a decent enough shoe for the price though.