Although I do have the Desert Sand colorway of these, initially I was quite skeptical of this shoe. The Nike React Element 87 Light Orewood are another pair of clear kicks with Nike’s new React cushioning, and I can finally admit, I’m a fan of the shoe.
You definitely want to go the jogger/track pant/tech direction with these. They tend to look a little odd with just denim although I’m sure someone could pull it off somehow. In terms of colors, I’d stick to greys and blacks rather than trying to wear a bunch of lime green and orange in your outfit. Although, if you want to pick a subtle accessory with lime or orange, that could work.
Overall I’m a fan of this shoe. I like when the 55s/87s use volt on the plugs on the midsole, and I’ve been really feeling the colorways that have been dropping recently. If you want a “different” shoe that provides lots of comfort while staying light and looking good, these or the 55s are both solid options.
How Are The Materials?
These don’t seem like good candidates to really judge materials on since the bulk of the shoe is a translucent plasticky upper. Still, there’s some smooth suede and leather on the eyelets and a cork insole to give these a bit of a premium feel and justify the price point. While you might not be blown away by the materials here if you are used to premium retro runners, the quality is adequate enough for what this shoe is trying to be.
How Do They Fit?
The Nike React Element 87 Light Orewood fit true to size or a half size down depending on your foot shape. I’m able to pull off either and the shoes are very comfy either way thanks to that aforementioned React technology. This tech is definitely a serious contender for Boost. That said, at a half size down, I do feel these on the top of my big toe a bit, but not in a bothersome way. One thing to avoid is getting these too big, as it will become very obvious thanks to the clear upper.
Where To Cop the Nike React Element 87 Light Orewood
As of the writing of this article, you can find these on eBay
Colorway: Light Orewood Brown / Laser Orange
Style Code: AQ1090-101
Year of Release: 2019
MSRP: $160