Nike Discontinued the Lunar Cross Element January 2017
REASONS TO BUY
Soft midsole is comfortable for running and jumping movements
REASONS TO AVOID
Unsupportive for weightlifting
No protection for rope climbs
Nike Lunar Cross Element Review
Credit: Nike
Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
Hands-On Review
The Nike Lunar Cross Element weighs in at 5.8 ounces (164 grams). It has a 3 mm heel to toe drop and ripstop mesh uppers.
This shoe was a solid performer for running and jumping. It was not one of our awards winners, however, due to difficulties we had with rope climbs and weightlifting movements.
Credit: Audrey Hammond
Weightlifting
The Nike Lunar Cross Element was not our go to shoe for weightlifting workouts. The soles were far too soft and squishy and did not provide the stable platform needed for heavy deadlifts and Olympic lifts. The Reebok Sprint 2.0 is a better choice if you are looking for a solid running shoe that can also be used for light to moderate weight lifts.
Running
We gave this shoe our highest rating for running. While the soft sole causes problems for weightlifting movements, it makes the shoe very comfortable for running. One tester that is really not a fan of running stated she "felt light and fast in these."
The "Lunarlon" material in the midsole of this shoe was great for running. It provided a springy and comfortable feel during our sprint testing.
Credit: Audrey Hammond
Sensitivity
It was difficult to feel where our weight was on our feet in this shoe. This lack of awareness made it hard to stay back on our heels when cleaning and snatching, causing us to miss lifts at weights we normally don't have trouble with. In our search for a good running shoe that can also be worn for some light lifts, the Reebok Sprint 2.0 was a better match.
Support
Although comfortable, this soft shoe did not provide enough support for what we were looking for in a general CrossFit shoe. When performing heavy squats it was hard to keep our feet in a solid connection to the ground while still allowing us to press our knees out. In contrast, when lifting in the Nike Metcon 1, we were much more grounded in our lifts.
During heavy kettlebell swings at 1.5 pood (53 lbs) it was difficult to keep our weight back on our heels because of the soft sole in this shoe.
Credit: Audrey Hammond
Protection / Durability
There is decent toe protection in this shoe due to the synthetic overlay covering part of the toe box. When missing a few double unders our feet didn't suffer. However, on rope climbs these shoes were slippery. A lot of shoes that are marketed towards CrossFitters have extra grippy protection on the sides on the shoes just for the purpose of rope climbs, such as the "Rope Tech" on the Inov-8 F-Lite 195 - Women's. Not so on this model. We also noticed that the nylon uppers seemed to pucker from the friction of the rope sliding on the shoe.
The slick, ripstop mesh upper on this shoe did not give our feet traction during rope climbs. With our feet slipping on the rope we had to rely too heavily on our arms.
Credit: Audrey Hammond
Breathability
This shoe ranked slightly above average for breathability. However, for a more breathable shoe that is also more versatile than the Nike Lunar Cross Element, our Best Buy winner, the Reebok Nano 2.0, is a consistently well liked option.
Comfort
This shoe was quite comfortable for long days on our feet. According to one of our testers these shoes "were like clouds for my feet." This shoe does have an interesting tongue design that some testers didn't really like. The tongue is asymmetrical and wraps around the top of the foot, versus a traditional tongue that lies on top of the foot.
A few of the shoes in our review have creative tongue designs. This asymmetrical tongue wraps around from the side of the shoe.
Credit: Audrey Hammond
Best Applications
Running, box jumps, burpees and double unders felt great in these shoes. At 5.8 ounces (164 grams), they are on the lighter side for cross trainers which is beneficial for plyometric movements. The foam in the midsole nicely cushioned our feet when jumping and running.
Tara Ross takes off for a sprint after heavy kettlebell swings during a team workout. We loved this shoe for the sprinting component of the workout. Meanwhile Lisa Ray prepares to test out our Editors' Choice winner, the Nike Metcon 1, for her next round.
Credit: Audrey Hammond
Value
Retailing at $100, these shoes are about average in cost for the models in this review. However, since they do not perform well in all of the categories we are looking for in a cross training shoe, you might find yourself needing to purchase an additional pair of shoes to fill in the gaps. Spending the same amount of money on our Best Buy winner, the Reebok Nano 2.0, will get you a more versatile shoe.
Conclusion
The lack of support for lifting movements held this shoe back in its overall ratings. However, we loved how cushioned our feet were while running and jumping. This shoe would be great for plyometric workouts, but not a good option if you are looking for one shoe to wear to all of your CrossFit workouts.
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Audrey Hammond