NIKE FLYKIT TRAINER CHUKKA FSB REVIEW

 

When we first heard the words ‘Winter Olympics’ and ‘knitted tie-in merchandise’ you won’t be surprised to hear that we started having nightmarish images of terrible woolly jumpers and ridiculous multicolour hats with flaps – not stuff that we get excited about here at The Drop Date.  Thankfully we were wrong, as the product in question is a Nike development that’s right up our toboggan track: the NIKE FLYKNIT TRAINER CHUKKA FSB.

Whilst seeing Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah become legends in the 2012 London Olympics was nice, us footwear fiends were more interested in the shoes that became synonymous with the event – and you couldn’t miss the bright neon volt Flyknit racers that adorned the feet of the team USA athletes both on track and the medal stands.  Obviously keen to ensure a repeat victory at this year’s Winter Olympics, once again Nike has decked out Team USA in a bespoke knitted shoe, and we’re happy to report that it’s a belter.

The regular Flyknit Chukka was one of our favourite shoes of 2013, but being lightweight, woven and full of holes, it’s not exactly suitable for wet, cold or snowy conditions.  So as you’d expect, it’s undergone a bit of a revamp to make it suitable for use on the cold Russian slopes.  Gone is the flimsy Lunarlon midsole, and in its place is the technical ACG-esque unit first seen on the Nike SFB (Special Field Boot) which, as the name suggests, was designed as a grippy, high-mobility do-anything shoe for first response medics and military use.

With the traction sorted, the Chukka’s upper has been bolstered by a waterproof asymmetric toe bumper and heel guard, ensuring that moisture gets repelled.  Up top the knit takes over, with the now familiar woven fleck having more wool in the mix and being lightly lined with insulation to keep out the cold.

The overall result is a shoe that’s plenty rugged enough but still easily part of the Flyknit family: lightweight, comfy and with a great slimline shape that’s not bulky on foot (like the other Flyknit Chukkas, we went half a size down to get the perfect fit).

While we’re still not sure why these are called FSBs instead of SFBs – maybe a nod to Mother Russia’s secret police? – what we do know is that these are another great chapter in the Flyknit series, and we’ll be eagerly Putin on our pair (sorry) to brave the elements, snow or no snow.  Hit the link-through below to shop the NIKE FLYKNIT TRAINER CHUKKA FSB.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By @Slangwerks