Epic React

Nike’s Epic React was unveiled in January of 2018 and launched the following month as what was essentially the Swoosh’s answer to the UltraBOOST. The first shoe to employ Nike’s energy-returning React foam cushioning, the Epic React is billed as a running shoe that can do it all and pairs the proprietary sole unit with a simple one-piece Flyknit bootie inspired by the Flyknit Racer. Because React is significantly softer than traditional EVA-based foams, Nike made the midsole both taller and wider than more prototypical designs to prevent bottoming-out during runs. The Swoosh also used computational data-driven ideation to design the midsole, which allowed Nike to keep weight to a minimum and ditch any carrier, cement or glue.