Our verdict

A mix of bouncy cushioning and planted stability becomes possible in Nike nike shoes image and price guide today. The shoe's amazing energy return kept us in awe the entire session. Even though it is a heavy boy, it doesn't feel as such thanks to its incredible responsiveness. The shoe also made us forget about ankle rolls altogether with its exceptionally supportive build. We do think that for $160, Nike could have improved a few things here and there but overall, we can recommend it as a solid contender in its price range.

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  • Excellent lateral support and stability
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  • Rockered heel makes heel-to-toes smoother
  • Very durable and thick outsole
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nike hyperdunk yellow and green color scheme Cons

  • Heavier than average
  • Not enough protection for toe drags
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Audience verdict

71
Bad!

Who should buy

Having thoroughly tested the Nike nike shoes image and price guide today, we believe that it will accommodate the following folks:

  • cheap womens nike thea
  • fans of Nike's bouncy Zoom Air units (there are two of them here!)
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Nike nike shoes image and price guide today review

Who should NOT buy

If you are someone who burns through tennis shoes with constant scrapes, slashes, and quick-drag movements, you may need a more reinforced option. We highly recommend the nike air safari royal white shoes free patterns and the ASICS Court FF 3 spizike jordans nike id number lookup florida.

And if you want a lighter Nike shoe that would be more grounded and speed-oriented, the Vapor 11 is your best bet.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 lab test 21281994 720

nike hyperdunk yellow and green color scheme | Breathability

The GP Challenge 1 features a plush and well-padded upper. It feels very cozy against the foot but, unfortunately, detracts from the shoe's ventilation capacity.

Towards the end of our playtest, we could feel some of the heat and moisture being trapped inside the shoe. Thus, we cannot recommend it for playing in extra-warm climates.

To stack the Challenge 1 up against other tennis shoes, we used a smoke-pumping machine to assess its breathability. As you can see, most of the smoke passes through the tongue area while the toebox mesh lets the air out very reluctantly.

But the good news is that the mesh material on this shoe still allows for better airflow than many other tennis shoes.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 microscope 21281990 720

Using a microscope, we discovered that Nike uses a higher-quality mesh for the Challenge 1. It has a mix of thick and thin threads which work together to create a strong but porous coverage.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today microscope upper

Even though it's not the most breathable tennis shoe we've tested (that would be ASICS Solution Speed FF 3), it provides decent ventilation like most tennis shoes on the market. On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most breathable, we rated it with a moderate 3.

Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 3
Average 3.1
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

We are happy to see that the GP Challenge 1 has extra protection in the most high-wear areas, especially the toe drag guard on the medial side.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today toe drag guard

But here is the caveat, if you happen to slash the shoe's exposed mesh against the court, it is not going to survive that long.

We turned to a Dremel with a sandpaper tip, set its speed to 5K RPM, and held the tool against the shoe's toebox for 12 seconds. For the record, the pressure remained consistent as well at 3.2N.

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Given that the Dremel left a nearly see-through hole in the fabric, we couldn't rate the shoe's toebox durability any higher than 3 out of 5.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 toebox durability test 21281958 720

For comparison, here is how much toebox protection is resent on the ASICS Resolution 9!

nike air safari royal white shoes free patterns Toebox durability

ASICS Resolution 9 

Another area of concern is the shoe's exposed fabric eyelets. Knowing how much toll regular toe drags can take on the medial side, we are surprised that a $160 shoe could not afford extra reinforcement in this area.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today toe drag guard

Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 3
Average 4.1
Compared to 23 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

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The interior lining of the GP Challenge 1 features a rather delicate mesh as well.

After only 4 seconds of applying our Dremel to the inner side of the shoe's heel collar, the tear was rather obvious.

This is surprising given that the cheaper version of this shoe (the Challenge Pro) did much better on the same test.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 heel padding durability test 21281959 720

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nike gp challenge pro heel padding durability test 21276476 720

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Not sure why Nike didn't use the same type of tear-resistant fabric on the more expensive version. We lowered the heel padding durability score for the Challenge 1 to only 3 out of 5.

Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 3
Average 3.3
Compared to 23 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
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5

Outsole hardness

Looks like Nike uses the same type of hard rubber for the Challenge 1 as it did in its other tennis shoes.

Pressing our durometer against it returned 87.3 HC which is the same result as we got in the Nike Vapor shoes. And this is good news considering how happy we were with the outsole durability of those shoes.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today Outsole hardness
Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 87.3 HC
Average 85.8 HC
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Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
73.4 HC
Outsole hardness
92.0 HC

Outsole durability

To put the shoe's outsole through its paces, we turned up the speed on our Dremel to the relentless 10K RPM. We also held its tip against the rubber for a longer period of 22 seconds.

We are happy to report that the rubber has met our expectations as the tool merely scuffed the surface of the outsole.

According to our tread gauge measurement, the dent is only 0.7 mm deep which is the category average.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today Outsole durability test
Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 0.7 mm
Average 0.7 mm
Compared to 23 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Even though there is no durability warranty for the outsole of this Nike shoe, we are not at all concerned with its longevity.

With an outsole thickness of 4.5 mm, the Challenge 1 has more than enough rubber to last longer than most tennis shoes.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today Outsole thickness
Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 4.5 mm
Average 4.1 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
3.0 mm
Outsole thickness
5.1 mm

Weight

Here is one major drawback of the GP Challenge 1 - it is one of the heaviest tennis shoes we've ever tested! A whale on the scale, based on the industry standards.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 weight 21281984 720

Weighing the shoe in a men's US size 9, we got 14.7 oz (417g). This is even heavier than such highly stable and cushioned shoes like:

  • ASICS Court FF 3 (14.3 oz/406g)
  • nike air safari royal white shoes free patterns (13.8 oz/392g)
  • Adidas Barricade 13 (13.4 oz/378g)

nike zoom gp challenge 1 medial side 21281997 720

But on the bright size, it doesn't feel as heavy on the foot thanks to its bouncy cushioning and propelling shank.

Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 14.71 oz (417g)
Average 12.84 oz (364g)
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
10.30 oz (292g)
Weight
14.71 oz (417g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

The nike mercurial 2014 futsal team names funny offers plenty of cushioning to rely on. Measuring its stack height in the heel, our caliper showed 30.0 mm.

This is on par with other cushioning-oriented tennis shoes that we've tested.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 heel stack 21281968 720
Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 30.0 mm
Average 29.3 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
25.3 mm
Heel stack
33.0 mm

Forefoot stack

The shoe's forefoot stack also happens to be thicker than average at 22.5 mm. There is very little court feel in this Nike shoe. It is more about bounce and impact protection.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today Forefoot stack
Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 22.5 mm
Average 19.7 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
17.0 mm
Forefoot stack
23.4 mm

Drop

The GP Challenge 1 has a moderate heel-to-toe drop of 7.5 mm. This is a little lower than average but most likely won't make a difference for the majority of players.

It is a perfect balance between heel support and feeling stable on top of the shoe. We experienced no toe jamming at all.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 drop 21281969 720
Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 7.5 mm
Average 9.7 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
6.3 mm
Drop
12.4 mm

nike hyperdunk yellow and green color scheme | Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The shoe's primary cushioning is made of a full-length Phylon foam. We are surprised with this choice, to be honest, as this foam is normally used in the brand's cheaper shoes given its rather basic feel.

It is also a firmer type of foam which is confirmed by our durometer measurement. The tool returned 30.2 HA which is harder than 50% of tennis shoes in our catalog.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 midsole softness 21281970 720

But we are not going to file a ailment just yet as the nike mercurial 2014 futsal team names funny also features two large Zoom Air units - one in the heel and another one in the forefoot. This is what makes it different from the cheaper nike zoom evidence 2 mens shoes clearance boots, by the way. That shoe only has one Zoom unit in the heel.

Thanks to these Zoom units, the GP Challenge 1 feels exceptionally bouncy and fun to play in. We got a great amount of energy return from them which made us feel rather quick on our feet. Split steps and hard dashes to the net all felt wonderfully supported.

Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 30.2 HA
Average 29.2 HA
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Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
21.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
34.0 HA

Insole thickness

The shoe's insole is sufficiently padded at 4.5 mm in the heel. It is slightly thinner than average but provides a good buffer from the stiff TPU shank which is placed right under the midfoot.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today Insole thickness
Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 4.5 mm
Average 5.3 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
3.9 mm
Insole thickness
8.5 mm

Stability

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With its wide platform, rigid shank, and extra supportive overlays, the nike mercurial 2014 futsal team names funny makes for a highly stable tennis shoe.

Its thick and steady platform also makes the shoe more of a baseline-ready option as opposed to a speedy all-court shoe.

Torsional rigidity

These days, tennis shoes rely on stiff TPU shanks to create a rigid and stable base.

The GP Challenge 1 features a rather wide and unforgiving shank in the midfoot which makes it practically impossible to twist the shoe. In our manual test, we rated its torsional rigidity with the highest possible score of 5 out of 5.

In addition to the shank, this Nike shoe also features TPU overlays to provide targeted support on the lateral side. Even the Swoosh is made of TPU in its model!

nike zoom gp challenge 1 tpu overlays 21281998 720

During our playtests, we never once felt as though the shoe would let our feet or ankles roll over the edge. Even when a lot of lateral pressure was applied on side-to-side movements.

Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 5
Average 4.2
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

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A stiff heel counter is another important component of a supportive tennis shoe.

Giving it a good push-an-squeeze, we rated the shoe's heel counter stiffness with a high score of 4. Add to that the incredible amount of collar padding and you get a nice and secure lockdown in the rearfoot.

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Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 4
Average 3.9
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
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5

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Even though the outriggers are not as aggressively protruded on the Challenge 1 as they are on the Challenge Pro, the shoe's platform is still rather wide and steady.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today outsole outriggers

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nike zoom gp challenge pro outsole outriggers 21282086 720

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Measuring the widest part of the midsole on the Challenge 1, our caliper showed 112.0 mm which is exactly the same as the average. For comparison, the Challenge Pro measures at 115.8 mm.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today nike free run 3 hot punch size 9.5
Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 112.2 mm
Average 111.7 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
105.3 mm
nike free run 3 hot punch size 9.5
117.4 mm

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In the widest part of the heel, both shoes have a similar width of 92.9 mm.

We have only good things to say about the platform width of the Challenge 1. No matter how aggressive our side shifts were or what angle our foot landed at, the shoe was always there to make us feel planted.

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Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 92.9 mm
Average 89.7 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
82.4 mm
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99.7 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

Even after hours of breaking in, this Nike shoe remains a stiff one. With its wide shank, it's not that easy to bend your foot naturally in the GP Challenge 1.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 flexibility 21281995 720

To put a number of it, we measured how much force it would take to bend this Nike shoe to a 90-degree angle. Based on our force gauge measurement, it took 43.2N which is 30% more than it takes an average tennis shoe.

What's the benefit of it? You get an amazingly propulsive ride that feels like you're jumping off a springboard at the swimming pool!

Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 43.2N
Average 30.1N
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Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
20.6N
Stiffness
44.9N

Grip / Traction

The Nike nike shoes image and price guide today features a herringbone pattern that gets wider and shallower on the medial side but is narrower and toothier on the lateral side.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today traction

We found that this combination works wonders on the court. It bit the ground hard when we needed to stop on a dime but also allowed us to slide when coming out of a shot.

It should be noted, however, that the shoe's grip is initially very strong and you get a better give after breaking the shoe in for a few sessions.

Size and fit

Toebox width at the widest part

According to Nike, the GP Challenge 1 is built on a new last which is by far the widest in the brand's tennis shoe lineup.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today fit

But as folks with medium-width feet, we cannot say that this Nike shoe is roomier than average. It's more like Nike finally got the medium width right.

Measuring the widest part of the shoe's toebox, our caliper showed 101.5 mm which is exactly the same as the average of tennis shoes. Not a particularly roomy fit.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 101.5 mm
Average 101.2 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
98.2 mm
Toebox width at the widest part
105.0 mm

Toebox width at the big toe

We also measured the toebox width around the big toe and found it to be 75.2 mm. Again, this is just the same as the average.

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nike zoom gp challenge 1 toebox width at the big toe 21281975 720
Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 75.2 mm
Average 76.8 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
74.8 mm
Toebox width at the big toe
79.8 mm

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We wish the GP Challenge 1 went for the same tongue design as in the Challenge Pro (which is gusseted).

nike zoom gp challenge 1 tongue gusset type 21281976 720

This tongue is a bit more fiddly as there are no attachments on the sides and it shifts around when lacing up the shoe.

It's not horrible but we think that Nike could do better.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 laces 21281996 720

Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today None

Comfort

Tongue padding

There is also not as much tongue padding in the Challenge 1 as we saw in the Challenge Pro. But at 7.9 mm, it is just the same as the average. And it buffered the lace pressure pretty well.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 tongue padding 21281978 720
Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today 7.9 mm
Average 7.8 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
2.5 mm
Tongue padding
13.1 mm

Heel tab

The Challenge 1 has no pull tabs or loops to hold onto when putting the shoe on. However, it comes with a very convenient U shape of the collar which makes it very easy to slide right into the shoe.

Nike nike shoes image and price guide today Heel tab
Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today None

Removable insole

If you need to level up the comfort of your tennis shoes with a pair of custom orthotics, you can easily remove the shoe's stock insole.

nike zoom gp challenge 1 removable insole 21281983 720
Test results
nike shoes image and price guide today Yes