Nike Revolution 8 vs Run Defy

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Nike Revolution 8
Nike Run Defy

Tested using Methodology v0.12

Updated Aug 18, 2026 02:57 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon

Tested using Methodology v0.15

Updated Sep 22, 2026 08:17 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon
Nike Revolution 8 Picture

Track

Nike Run Defy Picture

Track

Our Verdict

Nike Revolution 8

Nike Run Defy

The Nike Revolution 8 and Nike Run Defy are very similar entry-level shoes. They provide a firm, stable ride and perform similarly for daily training, but they're both overall better suited to walking, gym use, and occasional short runs than consistent mileage. The main difference is fit, where the Run Defy fits more true to size and provides more toe clearance, while the Revolution 8 runs slightly short and has a shallow toe box. Get the Run Defy if you need the roomier fit; otherwise, buy whichever shoe you can find for less.

0 

Variants

  • Revolution 8 (Black/Anthracite - (Men - US 9))
  • Revolution 8 (Black/White/Black - (Men - US 9))
  • Run Defy (Black/Anthracite - (Men - US 9))
  • Run Defy (Black/Anthracite - (Women - US 7))
Read more

Main Differences for
Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing 
 

5.0
4.8

Heel Stack Height 
 

36.4 mm
33.0 mm

Weight  

5.7
6.1

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

5.2
3.9

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

3.6
4.7

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

5.7
6.1

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Revolution 8 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Run Defy Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Revolution 8 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Run Defy Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

267.6 g (9.44 oz)
258.9 g (9.13 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Revolution 8 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Run Defy Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

36.4 mm
33.0 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

24.6 mm
22.9 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

11.8 mm
10.1 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.0 mm
10.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
Nike Revolution 8 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
Nike Run Defy 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

92 mm (3.6")
89 mm (3.5")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

71 mm (2.8")
68 mm (2.7")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

112 mm (4.4")
111 mm (4.4")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.53
2.70

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

4.55
4.85

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Nike Revolution 8 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
Nike Run Defy 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

276 mm (10.9")
279 mm (11.0")

Internal Heel Width 
 

59 mm (2.3")
63 mm (2.5")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

92 mm (3.6")
94 mm (3.7")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

10
10

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Revolution 8 Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Run Defy Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

-0.2 mm (-0.009")
0.3 mm (0.011")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-0.6 mm (-0.024")
0.5 mm (0.018")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

3.3
7.5

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Revolution 8 Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Run Defy Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-7.8 mm (-0.308")
-3.0 mm (-0.118")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

8.7
7.5

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Revolution 8 Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Run Defy Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-2.4 mm (-0.094")
-4.0 mm (-0.156")

Length Fit 
 

7.0
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Revolution 8 Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Run Defy Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

7.2
7.4

Heel Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Revolution 8 Heel Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Run Defy Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

25 mm (1.0")
21 mm (0.8")

Heel Apex Position 
 

28.6%
19.9%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

16.2°
19.3°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

4.1
4.7

Forefoot Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Revolution 8 Forefoot Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Run Defy Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

29 mm (1.1")
36 mm (1.4")

Toe Apex Position 
 

65.1%
70.1%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

15.4°
21.8°

Foam 
 

Primary Foam Picture  

Nike Run Defy Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture  

Nike Run Defy Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name 
 

Not Advertised

Primary Foam Type 
 

Unknown

Secondary Foam Name 
 

No Secondary Foam

Secondary Foam Type 
 

No Secondary Foam

Laces 
 

Laces Picture  

Nike Run Defy Laces Picture

Lace Type 
 

Flat

Width 
 

6.0 mm (0.2")

Thickness 
 

1.4 mm (0.1")

Stretch 
 

3.5%

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Revolution 8 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Run Defy Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Fully-gusseted
Fully-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return 
 

2.1
1.9

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Revolution 8 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Nike Run Defy Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

68.1%
67.5%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

3.6
4.7

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Revolution 8 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Nike Run Defy Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

70.1%
71.5%

Heel Cushioning 
 

5.8
5.6

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Revolution 8 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Run Defy Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Revolution 8 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Nike Run Defy Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

2.67 J
2.37 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

7.35 J
7.16 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

13.11 J
13.47 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

4.6
4.5

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Revolution 8 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Run Defy Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Revolution 8 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Nike Run Defy Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

2.95 J
2.81 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

5.06 J
5.02 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

7.50 J
7.54 J

Heel Firmness 
 

9.0
9.2

Heel Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Revolution 8 Heel Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
Nike Run Defy Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N 
 

51.8 N/mm
58.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

66.7 N/mm
71.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

92.8 N/mm
96.1 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

9.9
10

Forefoot Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Revolution 8 Forefoot Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
Nike Run Defy Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N 
 

91.4 N/mm
96.1 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

120.1 N/mm
123.9 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

166 N/mm
170 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

4.2
4.2

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Revolution 8 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Nike Run Defy Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

4.70 J
4.64 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

4.63 J
4.56 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

4.58 J
4.53 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

4.54 J
4.49 J

Rocker Stiffness 
 

3.4
3.7

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Revolution 8 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph
 Preview Graph
Nike Run Defy Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

24 N
27 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

5.2
3.9

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Revolution 8 Forefoot Bending Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Nike Run Defy Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

57.5%
53.2%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

5.5
6.3

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Revolution 8 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Run Defy Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
Nike Revolution 8 Forefoot Bending Resistance
 Preview Graph
Nike Run Defy Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

6.7 N/mm
6.0 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

220 N
325 N

Heel Compression Depth 
 

4.5

Heel Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Run Defy Heel Compression Graph

Heel Compression At 550N 
 

9.4 mm

Heel Compression At 1100N 
 

15.4 mm

Heel Compression At 1900N 
 

19.8 mm

Forefoot Compression Depth 
 

3.6

Forefoot Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Run Defy Forefoot Compression Graph

Forefoot Compression At 800N 
 

8.3 mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N 
 

10.5 mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N 
 

12.0 mm

Nike Revolution 8

Nike Run Defy

Comments

  1. Comparison

Nike Revolution 8 vs Nike Run Defy: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Members have direct access to buying advice on our member forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones