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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 Review}}
The Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 is a great shoe, providing good cushioning at a low weight. The Streak is billed as a 'racing flat', but I consider it an optimal shoe, providing everything most runners need without the weight penalty of the futile over engineering that traditional running shoes suffer from. I've used the Streak as an everyday trainer for a couple hundreds of hundred miles without ever considering the need for more. The Streak is a relatively cheap shoe, with a recommended price of only $80. The third generation is similar to its predecessor, the [[Nike Zoom Streak LT 2]], with virtually the same weight and cushioning was before. The updated shape is a little better, and the upper might be fractionally more comfortable, but the two generations are far more alike than they are different. The While the Streak does not quite have the cushioning-to-weight ratio of the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]], it's superior shape, longevity and versatility allow me to rate it as good as my the "best of the best" shoes, but I rate it "Highly Recommended". {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
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=Characteristics=
* {{H:cushioning}}. The Zoom Streak has a small Zoom Air unit in the heel, along with a single foam density over the full shoe. This combination is makes a well cushioned shoe, with quick bounce back. It could be my imagination, but I feel like I can detect a certain unevenness in the cushioning from the Air packs. It's not intrusive enough to cause me any problems, or even really to be a distraction, but I think I prefer the cushioning of a foam-based midsole.
* {{H:drop}}. The 4mm drop is a tad higher than I'd like, but isn't an issue.
* {{H:structure}}. There is no noticeable "arch support" that can weaken your arch or cause plantar fascia issues.
The Streak has rapidly become my "go to" shoe for traveling. It's a nice, light shoe, and the lack of heel counter allows it to fold flat in my luggage. I'll normally wear my [[Hoka Tor Ultra]] boot and put the Streak in my backpack. The shape has allowed me to run in the Streak without cutting the toe box open, so I can use it as a casual shoe as well without looking quite as weird. Being thin, it also makes a great shoe for driving, an important factor when I'm traveling. I ran 250 miles in the Streak before I reassigned the [[MilestonePod]], and I estimate I've put another 50-80 miles on them after that. So this update is a bit more than a 200 mile interval, but I'll try to be more prompt in future reviews. There is a little bit of compression in the forefoot foam, about 3 mm, but only the very slightest of where signs in the outsole. The exposed midsole foam under the arch has gone a little wrinkly, but nothing more, and the upper is in perfect condition. The more I wear the Streak the more it impresses me, especially given the use and abuse it's undergone.
[[File:NikeStreakUpdate.jpg|none|thumb|300px| This is a heavily enhanced image to bring out some of the details. You can see some slight where in the outsole at the heel, but almost none in the forefoot.]]
=How Far Can I Run in the StreakLT? =
Different runners want different levels of cushioning, so this shoe may not suit everyone. Some runners want a [[Maximalist]] shoe when they run a 5K, while others will run a 100 mile race barefoot. Most people find that as the distance increases, they want a little more cushioning to protect their feet from the pounding and to offset a little of the fatigue that sets in over time. You can see from the charts below how the cushioning compares with other shoes I've tested for some comparisons. Remember that a thicker, firmer shoe would have the same cushioning rating as a thinner, softer shoe, but would feel rather different. Personally, I'm happy running in the Streak for the marathon distance, and I'd use it in a road 50 mile race without hesitation. For longer distances I'd probably use the [[Hoka Clifton]], either for the entire race or for the last portion.
=The Streak LT As A Trail (& Travel) Shoe=
The Streak LT is clearly not designed to be a trail shoe. The outsole soul has relatively little grip, so if you run on slick cross or mud, you're not going to get much traction. The midsole is thin and flexible, so there is not much protection from stones provided by the thin sole. However, I've found myself using it as a trail shoe a number of times. While it's far from ideal, it's can act as a surprisingly functional, if somewhat minimalist trail shoe. It doesn't provide the tank like "charge over or through anything" that you get with the [[Hoka Mafate]], so you have to watch your foot placement more carefully. It's a little closer to running trails barefoot than I'd like sometimes, but it makes the run a lot more mentally challenging and engaging. So why do I use the Streak LT when I have the Mafate? It's mostly because the Streak LT is the shoe I nearly always choose when I'm travelling. I don't have to cut open the toe box, so I can wear it socially. Its thin sole makes it a wonderful driving shoe, something that's vital when my only other footwear is the [[Hoka Tor Ultra]] hiking boot. It is extremely light and the upper collapses for packing in a tight space. It works well on many surfaces, and I'm happy to run further than the marathon in them.
[[File:Nike Streak Trails Norway.jpg|none|thumb|500px|Me in my Streak LT running trails in the Norwegian Fjords.]]
{{FastBlr|nike/zoom-streak-lt2-1090|1090|Nike Zoom Streak LT}}
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=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
