Picked up the Nike Dualtone Racer in noble red during a 12.12 sale on Zalora, discounted off the SGD 149 list price. This is the unbiased version of that review, heel tab and all.
First impressions were good — the red colourway looks sharp enough to wear casually, not just for a run, and the build is genuinely light: mesh upper, textile insole, rubber outsole, dual-density foam, lace-up.
On foot, snug and light, exactly what you want out of the box. Took it out for a run too — a bit loud on landing given the durable double-density rubber rather than an air sole, but it ran well into the kilometre mark.
Then partway through the run, the heel tab started rubbing. Not a minor annoyance — a real burning sensation that got worse the longer I kept going (didn’t help that I’d worn ankle socks instead of a taller pair). That one design detail undid a lot of what the shoe got right everywhere else.
Verdict: good on colour, good on looks, good on general everyday function — but I wouldn’t recommend these for actual running. The heel cushioning isn’t there, and that heel tab will make itself known. Casual wear only.
