Stretchy Nike Free

Helen Jung
The Oregonian

The new Nike Free sneaker, hailed for its unstructured form, might be a little too unstructured.

Customers have been returning the slipperlike sneakers, which are designed to mimic being barefoot and strengthen feet, because of rips in a swatch of sheer fabric around the heel.

It's not a fatal flaw, said Robb Finegan, a store manager for Fit Right Northwest, who "cut the rest off and kept running."

Still, "it's kind of frustrating," he said, noting that about half his customers have returned the sneakers.

Retailers are now cautioning customers before they buy the sneakers, said Jay Schrotzberger, a store manager for Portland Running Co. who owns three pairs. He also cut out the mesh material.

Still, at $85 a pair, not everyone is going to be happy with a solution that turns a running shoe into a slingback sandal. Not to mention that the shoe insert tends to slip out the gaping hole in the back when you run, he said.

And Nike, which declined to comment, can't be too happy with that solution either. When people cut out the stretchy material, they're also cutting out a swoosh.