Nike Men's Air Cinder Cone Shoe (Closeout)

ALFREDO MARRERO - 2006-01-25

GREAT SHOE
VERY COMFORTABLE, DRIES EASILY, SPORTY LOOKING, GREAT VALUE!

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Thad Theil - 2006-01-21

Excellent technical shoe!
The Air Cinder Cone is very comfortable right out of the box. The fit guide is right - they are a little snug so size up. They are lightweight and the Vibram sole is super sticky. I've done some light hiking and scrambling without any problems. I hope to use them for light rock climbing as well. Great shoe. And great service at Altrec. I hope Altrec continues to offer many Nike ACG shoes at such great prices!

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Quercus Climb - 2005-12-28

Great shoe
These make great tree climbing boots! Awesome to footlock or just scrambling around in the branches. I hope Nike never stops making these!

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> Read All 78 Reviews

Our Latest 75 Reviews

ALFREDO MARRERO - 2006-01-25

GREAT SHOE
VERY COMFORTABLE, DRIES EASILY, SPORTY LOOKING, GREAT VALUE!

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Thad Theil - 2006-01-21

Excellent technical shoe!
The Air Cinder Cone is very comfortable right out of the box. The fit guide is right - they are a little snug so size up. They are lightweight and the Vibram sole is super sticky. I've done some light hiking and scrambling without any problems. I hope to use them for light rock climbing as well. Great shoe. And great service at Altrec. I hope Altrec continues to offer many Nike ACG shoes at such great prices!

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Quercus Climb - 2005-12-28

Great shoe
These make great tree climbing boots! Awesome to footlock or just scrambling around in the branches. I hope Nike never stops making these!

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David from NH - 2005-11-09

Great Shoe!
If you like soft flexible lightweight shoes, these are perfect. Classic Nike fit, a little narrow in the toe box, but go up a half size and your good. I think it makes a great day hiker, very comfortable and forgiving, nice for those long days, say over 15 miles. The best part is the grip, simply amazing, if you are tired of sliding on smooth rock, this could be the cure. Very impressive!

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Martin Ritsi - 2005-11-07

All around awesome
This shoe is fantastic. I purchased it looking for something lightweight (like a tennis shoe), providing some ankle support, able to hold up off trail and most importantly good for scrambling up and down talus. The shoe needed a little stretching and was still tight on the toes, but no blisters on its maiden 150 mile journey through the High Sierra backcountry. It held up pretty well and was good for a couple more treks. I figured I'd rather have a comfortable shoe that holds on the steep rock faces and replace it, than one that lasts forever but is awkward. They hardly cost more than a good pair of tennis shoes, so why not? Well, we made our journey and didn't suffer from boot foot at the end of each day. And we scrambled like mountain goats. So these shoes get our highest recommendations.

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Derek - 2005-10-11

Outstanding shoe
I bought the Air Cinder Cone some time ago, and soon discovered that it was possibly one of the best do-everything shoes on the market. After more than a year of some pretty serious hiking, they are still going strong and show very little wear. They are very well constructed. The lacing system allows these hikers to fit like a glove on you feet, and I love the rigid sole that allows me to scramble over jagged rocks as though it were a city street. The soles grip great, even in wet and rainy conditions. I have enough confidence in these rugged shoes to through-hike the Appalachian Trail with 'em. I wish, however, that Nike would offer more color options. After my purchase, I soon replaced the bright yellow laces with more subdued black ones, and used some black shoe polish to darken the cream colored sides. But that's just me. I’m screwy like that. Even though these shoes will probably be lasting me another season or more, I'm planning on picking up another pair to keep in reserve.

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KDK - 2005-09-03

Great Shoe for Approach.
Excellent shoe for training hikes and minimle rock climbing. I have worn mine for all purpose including everyday shoe. I wish it were a bit more durable but it is still a great shoe. I even looks cool too. :)

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kevin bird - 2005-09-03

excellent
The perfect shoe for the terrain in my area. Comfortable, good support, outstanding traction

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Bob Fay - 2005-08-28

Excellent Product
These are excellent shoes that were designed for rock climbing. My son-in-law in a roofer and they are even better roofing shoes. He does not slip while working in extreme conditions.

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Roger Chung - 2005-08-20

Great Shoe
I bought this shoe and trekked the Inca trail. It's extremely comfortable and fits nicely. Highly recommended.

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josh webb - 2005-08-17

great shoes
I am a proffesional rescuer w/ a fire department in Colorado. These shoes are awesome approach shoes, and I have used them for some lead climbs. Good support on trails, and edgey and sticky enough for the climb. Wish I had 2 pairs.

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Chic Scott - 2005-08-08

An excellent, comfortable shoe
I have used my Cinder Cones on a number of scrambles in the Canadian Rockies and found they are perfect for the job. They fit my narrow foot well and keep the heel locked down. And on the rocks they have great friction. At the end of the day my feet still feel ready for more.

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Anonymous - 2005-08-02

GREAT SHOES
I really like these shoes.They have great tread and are very comfortable.

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Robert Andersen - 2005-07-12

Best all purpose shoe I have ever owned.
This is truly the most versatile and comfortable combination hiking, scrambling, approach, and climbing shoe I have ever owned. It is very effective on smear holds or slab climbs and even edges well to 5.6. I have put it through a lot of weekend approaches, wet boulder hopping, and short climbs, and will be using it in the Tetons soon. It appears that the rubber may wear out and separate from the top of the shoe, but I can live with that given its performance.

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Anonymous - 2005-07-05

great service at altrec!
Service at Altrec is great!

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Dave Stenzel - 2005-06-12

Love the Cinder Cone
I love the Nike Cinder Cone! I took it out of the box and went 10 miles hiking,scrambling and running. Excellent grip and comfort.I feel so confident that I plan on using them as the only shoe I take on a 6 day climbing trip in Colorado. They look great too.

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Anonymous - 2005-05-25

Nice Boot
Boot is nice with excellent feel. Toe box is narrow.

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Jeff - 2005-05-24

Great shoe
I don't always have a good experience with Nike shoes but this one is a winner...great fit...great design....best approach shoe I've tried

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Anonymous - 2005-05-13

This was the 2nd pair I bought.
need I say more. I love them.

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mark a - 2005-04-28

Great all around shoe!
Snug and comfortable fit. Lace system allows flexibility in adapting fit to whole foot. Narrow toe box, go half size up. Ready to use out the box. Sharp looking.

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Anonymous - 2005-03-07

Nice approach shoe
Sticky rubber even when moist. Comfortable once I sorted out the lacing and got a few miles on them. My feet measure 9.5 and usually I wear size 10 boots with wide toes and narrow heels. Size 10 in these seems to work fine. Haven't really racked up any long hikes yet, just bought them for approaches to multipitch rock routes where I'll have to walk off.

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Anonymous - 2005-02-28

The shoes fit and feel great
I have worn the shoes now for two weeks and have not developed and discomfort as reported by others. I have not test them on a trail yet. I would recomend these shoes, they are very lightand very comfortable

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John Hill - 2005-02-12

Awesome,Comfortable,Functional,Affordable.
These shoes are so good, I'm going to buy another pair just to wear "around"! Thanks, NIKE, for another great product.

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Kevin Graves - 2004-12-20

Great approach shoe. Great ankle support!
This is my second pair. I climb most weekends and this shoe gets me over boulders, up steep, slabby approaches as well as back down the trail with no worries of 'rolling my ankles'. They are also light enough to clip on my harness or throw in the small haul pack for gully descents. I also use them to aid climb and the sole pattern holds my etrier loops without having to fiddle around as well as offering great support for top stepping or stemming. Great for climbing up to 5.7 or for a general backpacking shoe.

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Anonymous - 2004-12-17

Great Fit
These Nike ACG shoes needed no break-in period. They felt great the first time I wore them.

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Anonymous - 2004-11-08

Great and Comfortable
I bought these to wear instead of tennis shoes when just messing around town during the cooler months. Great looking and very comfortable acutally more comfortable than the shoes I wear to the gym!

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Lin Dargis - 2004-11-01

Great shoe!
These shoes are extremely comfortable out of the box. They feel like they mold to my foot. I train for strength and conditioning using rather unconventional methods and i needed a shoe that would not slip on concrete or asphalt. When you are pulling a Jeep or flipping a large tractor tire, slipping on the surface could lead to serious injury. i have tried every kind of shoe, from running shoes to basketball shoes to hiking boots. The Cinder Cone works the best.

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Anonymous - 2004-11-01

Versatile shoe and quite comfortable
I took these out for the first time in Sedona, AZ last month (10-04). Took them out for a little class 4 climbing on some of the sandstone rock formations with never a slip. Most of the sandstone slab is completely without hand holds or foot holds and at 45 degrees. The shoes stuck like glue. Took them out on a 8 mile trail hike with a small climb up to some more Sedona rock formations. Again, perfect. Next day was some rather rough going cross- country hiking over some steep terrain...again, perfect. No blisters at all. All around excellent shoe. Next will be a technical climbing trial.

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Karl Wilcox-- Guide - 2004-09-27

Great Alpine Rock Shoe
Great shoe for both approaches and climbs up to 5.7. I use the shoe almost exclusively for guiding at Red Rocks and in the Sierras. Durability is great.

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Anonymous - 2004-08-18

Wow!
I was skeptical of this shoe, but it came highly recommended from a friend in the know. They ahve been comfortable from the start, and are now my prefered hiking shoe. I hike mostly off trail through tundra, scree and lots of dirt. They stick to rock really well too, though they are too big for me to use as climbing shoes. My one recommendation to Nike - MAKE THESE FOR WOMEN! The men's size 7 is a little big for my women'ts 8 feet. If Nike made a women's version I'd buy a pair in a heartbeat.

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Hans Florine - 2004-06-28

THE BEST!
I've used these shoes for over 7 years now. (previously named Lava Dome? and Air Exum). They are FRICKEN FANTASTIC! I've climbed The Nose in these shoes several times. Super nice for the Stove Legs! YES! I free climb in them sometimes up to 5.11. They outlast Five Tennies, which isn't saying much, but having a sticky rubber shoe that you CAN climb in AND hike in is very hard to make subtle for use AND durable for hiking. Nike ACG has done THE BEST you can do given what I use these babies for. - Approach, climbing, aiding, scrambling, hiking. Get two pairs, you'll love em!

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Anonymous - 2004-06-08

Great
Great performing shoe

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Fernando Learreta - 2004-06-07

Great Approach / Multi-pitch moderate rock shoe
The shoe is a superb performer in long approaches and long days of multi-pitch moderate rock (up to 5.7/5.8). Its quality is evident in its Vibram sole, construction and finish. I think it might even replace my La Sportiva Mega for long climbs in moderate rock. I've tried other approach shoes before and this is the best so far. As recommended by Christian Santelices, Exum Guide, I've sized it half a size smaller than my regular Nike running shoe size. Thanks, Christian! You were right on target.

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Anonymous - 2004-06-04

Great shoe
I've got to give Nike their due here. You don't think of Nike as a company tremendously in tune with the needs of climbers but they've hit on a great shoe with the Cinder cone. It is very comfortable and has lacing right down to the toe like a high performance rock shoe. You can wear them with a regular lace up and they make a great hiking shoe or really crank the laces and get a surprisingly good feel on small toe holds. The Vibram sole is also much stickier than your average hiking shoe. I was also concerned that they would take a while to break in. My first use was an 8 mile hike with a 5500 ft vertical...The shoes performed great and my feet were super comfortable first time out.

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Anonymous - 2004-05-06

Versitile and Lots of Fun
When I purchased this shoe I was looking for a shoe that would meet my every need. From hiking in the woods, to scaling rock faces, to running, to a pick-up game of basketball. This shoe has proven to perform in all situations. I love the snug fit and the mid-height ankle support. I was weary of the high price, especially just coming off a very disappointing experience from another pair of "ACG" shoes, but I am glad I took the chance. I did order a 1/2 size larger as advised from other comments, and due to the round shoe laces double knots or some other type of lace securing device is a must. I was also encouraged by very quick delivery. I choose regular mail and received these shoes in two days.

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Anonymous - 2004-03-30

Great shoe. Great service.
I bought these for fashion, not function. They're comfortable and great looking. Unique. I live in a small town. No one's wearing them here, no one's selling them here. COOL!! Altrec.com provided great service. I had to return the first pair for a larger size. Fast deliver on my initial order. Fast and smooth exchange.

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Anonymous - 2004-03-04

Nice Product
Great approach shoe. Very versatile.

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Anonymous - 2004-02-29

fit like a glove
These shoes are like gloves for your feet. They lace up tight right down to your toes. They take a little breaking in. The rubber isn't super sticky on rock when it's really cold, but they still give good grip.

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Anonymous - 2004-02-03

Very Good Shoe!
I have only worn these three times but really like them. They grip to the rock real nicely and feel good. I did break them in a little bit walking around for about an hour before I went scrambling. I have had a little rubbing around the ankles but nothing more and no blisteres formed. My longest hike was a little over our hours so far. It is nice to be able to walk right up some bouldering sections and not worry about slipping. I have heard of quality problems with these shoes but so far they are holding up like new.

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David - 2003-12-16

Great design
Love this shoe. I was skeptical at first about the purchase, but decided to buy them anyway. When they arrived they fit great with great style to them no matter what you wear. Sorta look like a boxers shoe. I would buy another pair if a great deal was offered.

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Anonymous - 2003-12-10

excellent cross trainer
find these to be an excellent cross trainer. billed as an approach shoe, but find these great for mild climbing and light hiking. the fit is narrow and the size seems to be true. the lacing is great you could actually cut off your circulation.

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John David Douglas - 2003-10-05

Great product with two concerns
SUMMARY: PROS: Great boots. Good support. Light weight. Custom fit with laces. CONS: Longer break required for me. Separation of rubber around toe. A bit hot. No waterproofing. No crampons. RECOMMEND: YES, HIGHLY BUT MAKE SURE TO MAKE TIME TO BREAK THEM IN PROEPRLY, SWAP THE LACES AND MAKE CERTAIN DETAILS: ORDERING While preparing for a trip to the Kalahari and Waterberg of South Africa, I found my old faithful boots had been damaged during a recent move. I was frantic to find a perfect pair of boots suitable for 20 to 25 mile days, but light weight and safari quiet. I was a bit suspicious about purchasing Nike's as a hiking boot. Sure, Nike is a trusted name in running shoes -- but boots? I just never imagined such. So I started doing my hone work, and finally purchased a pair (with overnight shipping to boot). When the boots arrived, I did not know what to think. They were so light they felt fragile, but boy did they feel good on my feet. Just like the previous reviews said, they almost felt like tennis shoes, although a bit hotter. I still felt it was important to break them in properly. So, I started wearing them on my daily runs and stair stepper routine, and never had a problem. A few weeks before the trip, I decided to test the boots on some prolonged hikes carrying weight at our cabins in Colorado. BLISTERS Although I believed the boots had already been broken in (after about 80 miles of running and stairs), boy was I wrong. I developed huge blisters on my heels and toes, even while wearing multiple socks and other safe guards. Finally, I settled on a wicking pair of socks, cotton pair of socks and wool pair on top. That solved the blister problem, until the boots were properly broken in -- it took about half the trip to the Kalahari before they felt comfy. Now they really do feel like tennis shoes. ** WARNING ** DON'T FORGET TO BREAK YOUR PAIR IN PROPERLY BEFORE THE TRIP!! ** SEPARATION OF RUBBER I also experienced separation from the rubber around the toe. This rubber is important for smearing while climbing on rock, but it started to separate in the sands of the Kalahari. This issue was reported before, but was supposed to have been corrected. GENERAL USE Once I got around the blisters and rubber issues, the boots were wonderful. They are very light weight, but provide excellent support although probably not as much as your over the ankle pair. The tread, while unusual, held its own against my experience with Viabram. LONG HAUL Now, the purpose of my trip required that I walk about 800 miles in thirty days over a variety of terrain from the hot sands of the Kalahari to the rocks of the Waterberg. But the boots held up well, even when averaging over 25 miles a day over hellish terrain. The ONLY issue I experienced was the separation of the smearing rubber around the toes of the boots. SAFARI QUIET Now, for my purposes, it was important that the boots not only be tough, but also be quiet. I have found typical, heavy duty boots are too clumsy for me to use my stealth approach to hunting. But, these boots were super. Now, that does not mean you won't hear limbs crack if you can not make your feet go where they should, but with proper maneuvering, you can be as stealthy as any seal. That is if your opposition is blind . . . get rid of the neon yellow laces. OTHER ITEMS You may have read that these boots are not water proof and they don’t support crampons. Now, while all that might be true, you don’t use a front end loader to clean your family grill. Come one, who would wear these boots to climb Denali. These boots are perfect for what they are made for, and you should have other boots to under take other adventures. If you like putting miles on your boots, in a relatively dry environment and if you can afford more than one pair of boots, these should be on your list. BUY A PAIR – I PURCHASED ANOTHER PAIR WHEN I RETURNED FROM AFRICA!!

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Jackson - 2003-10-03

treeclimber
As a professional tree climber, I give these shoes a thumbs up. Now I feel sorry for those arborists that climb and prune trees in heavy work boots. All the action of a sneaker with all the support and strenth of a high-tech hiking boot. Great for footlocking rope. Comfy from day 1 .02

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Anonymous - 2003-09-14

Good. Comfortable approach shoes
Great Shoes. Summited Grand Teton with very little breaking in. Very comfortable. Only 1 small blister after 14 hour day of climbing.

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Wave - North Pole Solo.com - 2003-09-12

Great for approach to final climb
These shoes are great! Incredibly sticky soles, as good as many climbing shoes out there. The big benefit being they're constructed to allow you to wear on approach, and then do the climb, all with just the Air Cinder Cone. The high rand on the toe box and heel area allow for good hooking while climbing. Excellent fit and feel.

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Thomas Kennedy - 2003-09-09

Instant Comfort
It's a feel unlike any other shoe I've worn. So much so, that I won't buy anything other than Nike ACG. They grip the ground I walk on, and are snug the way shoes are meant to be. A must have for anyone that spends any amount of time on their feet.

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Anonymous - 2003-08-29

Best tree climbing boot/shoe ever produced.
As a climbing arborist, a person who spends a great deal of time aloft in trees, both professionally and recreationally, I have spent much of my 15 year career searching for comfortable and effective footwear. The discovery of the Air Cinder Cone 2 years ago brought that search to an end, with a narrow profile eminently suited to gaining footholds between close knit branches and "sticky" rubber above the sole providing chipmunk like "kung-fu" grip, the Cinder Cone frees the inner squirrel in all who dare try it. Unfortunately, it is my understanding that Nike is, or perhaps already has, discontinuing/discontinued this shoe of my arboreal dreams, thus my search will begin anon, but for the moment I will jealously guard my precious Cinder Cones, and attempt to extend their "branch" life as long as possible.

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Anonymous - 2003-05-27

The One
I bought one pair and take it straight to the rock an guess what?... As soon as I came back i bought another pair. Their great!

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Anonymous - 2003-05-20

Best for guiding
These are simply the best approach and guiding shoe you can buy. Unfortunately, these shoes are not well marketed to climbers, but as a guide I can attest to their superiority. I've used them guiding up to 5.8 here in Red Rocks, climbed aid routes in them,etc. They are light enough for hauling, sticky enough for slabs, and beefy enough for alpine rock. I bought two pairs in the early 90's, and I'm still using one pair with re-sole. I just bought the new version... may they long continue!

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Anonymous - 2003-01-12

awesome clutter shoe
I owned 6 pairs of the air lava domes and was frantic when they were discontinued,then I saw a pair of cinder cones last week..how can such an all around shoe be hidden from the lime light,if you find a pair and like them buy 5 pair! Oh by the way I have not found a better driving shoe.

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Christian Santelices-Exum Mountain Guide - 2002-11-24

The best approach shoe available
The Air Cindercone truly is an awesome shoe. I wore them all summer guiding in the Tetons of Wyoming. They're the perfect shoe for the 5000 ft approach as well as the 5.5 rock climbing on the Grand Teton. This past spring I spent two weeks in the Red Rocks near Las Vegas, NV. All the approaches were done in these shoes, as well as descents. In fact, any climb that was rated 5.7 or under I wore them the whole climb...my feet were comfy all day and I felt secure with the extremely sticky rubber. I've climbed up to 5.10a in these shoes comfortably. If you are in the market for an approach shoe, do yourself a favor and pick up a pair of Cindercones.

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Seth @ LOKI - 2002-06-17

The best for years!
My brother and I have been in fear for years that this basic shoe would be nixed from the Nike line. We have bought four pair each in the last 6/7 years. They are all you need to do anything from the Exum Ridge on the Grand Teton to lengthy pack trips to 4/5 clas scrambles on the Colorado monument. Carl Skoog is now a wise and lucky man. P.S. my brother and I have an extremely light weight solution to make these a greater mountain shoe. More on that later. Thank you Backpacker and Mr. Skoog for promoting and hopefully keeping an excellent product alive.

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G. Skoog - 2002-06-14

Hot like a cinder.........these shoes smoke!
I just had my first chance to try out the Cinder Cone on a summit bivy after work last night. In short these shoes "smoked" and by far exceeded my expectations. They performed in every aspect: They were comfortable out of the box and easy to transition from trail to snow to rock. They stuck well on trail boulders and were good to mid-5 class rock. A couple of bonus surprises were that they edge well in snow, have a reasonably snug cuff to keep the snow out, foot glissade well (almost too well) and the high rand really keeps the foot dry. I have done a lot of general mountaineering in light trail hikers and the Cinder Cone is everything that I had always wished the hikers would be and more. As I came back down early this morning I met a collection of Mountaineers heading off in their heavy boots, gaiters, and such. I couldn't help feeling fortunate that that wasn't me.

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Anonymous - 2006-01-29

Good Allarounders
These are great all around hiking, scramble on scree and hiking slickrock kinda light boots. I like the support and they seem to be holding up well. Only four stars for the minimal traction on the tread.

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Paul - 2005-12-18

Above average
Overall very pleased with shoe. Purchased one month ago, so too early to address durability concerns voiced by others. Comfort on shoe is about a '4' -seems to have good cushioning, although I wear orthodics and this reduces comfort level in foot bed. Toe box is snug, as expected, and ordering 1/2 size up worked perfect. I am experiencing a bit of pressure on top of toes where shoe naturally flexes, but this may very well be from the fact that my orthodics do raise my foot in the shoe. After a bit more of a break-in period I anticipate this resolving itself. I primarily use the shoe for work during rescue training and have found its ability to grip rock the best I've encountered. I do use it as an approach shoe in my free time as well and would even consider short 5.6's with it. I was introduced to this shoe by a friend in both the rescue and guide fields. I believe he is on his second pair in 3 years and spends a significant amount of time in them. If the durability I experience is on par with his, I will be very pleased and would elevate overall rating to '5' from '4.'

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RChun - 2005-08-31

As advertised
Very snug fit; I used with light weight hiking socks. Great traction. Plan to use in Yosemite at end of Sept. Breakin period now seems ok. Read fit tips section at Altrec to be sure this is the shoe for you.

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Jim Clarke - 2005-08-29

Great Approach and Climbing Boot
I've worn through two pairs of the Cinder Cone and have found it to be one of the best all-around approach/climbing boots made. Super-comfortable and great for long hikes and treks, but then has the ability to "stick" to boulders/talus as well as climb technical rock up to the 5.6/5.7 range. Also found these boots very durable and long lasting. Needless to say, I'm incredibly disappointed that Nike has chosen to stop production; grab them while you can!

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Anonymous - 2005-08-10

Nike ACG Air Cinder Cone
As the FIT TIP says, the shoe is definitely a bit snug toward the toes. They scramble fine, but they don't perform well edging on more advanced routes. Overall a very good approach shoe.

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Caleb Bottrell - 2005-08-09

A Great Hiker for the money
This is a good shoe for heavy activity. Nike should have included a gortex lining. I have not experienced any problems.

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Shelly - 2005-07-31

A great buy & well made
I ordered a size larger which was suggested because of the narrow toe box and the fit was fine.They are light weight & cool looking but I wouldn't wear them on a long hike with a heavy pack on....but maybe that's just me?

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Anonymous - 2005-07-07

good all around hiker
Good stability and ankle protection. Normally Nikes are too narrow for my foot, but these, even with the narrow toe, are comfortable enough for hiking and scrambling around in. Rugged enough for hard use, yet light enough for all day work.

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DAN DORRIS - 2005-06-27

continuing the Lava Dome tradition
Nice mid-weight hikers especially good for scrambling talus and boulder hopping. A little tight for high-volume (arch and in-step) feet, had to use some creative lacing for a good fit.

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steve - 2005-05-30

Good shoes
I am very pleased with these shoes. I like the look and they hold up very well under pretty strenuous conditions

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Jerry - 2005-03-20

Durability Issues
I've nearly worn these shoes out after only using for less than a year. The rands are delaminating and there's a hole in the sole. Otherwise good performer with solid, snug fit.

Was this Nike Air Cinder Cone Shoe (Closeout) Review Helpful? - Yes - No

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Anonymous - 2004-09-18

Post-Grand Teton Ascent
I was amazed at the "stickiness" of the rubber sole as I went charging up the Grand Teton. Wedging, stemming, smearing, whatever the technique, this shoe delivered exceptional grip on the multipitch ascent. The lightweight design is to be complimented and praised, especially since there was no sacrifice in support. However, this shoe does have an "Achilles heel". As mentioned by few individuals below, the upper aspects of the sole had begun to separate from the shoe after a few hours of use. Although the peeling away of the sole is very minor in nature(for now) I was a little surprised to see this, especially in a shoe designed for this sort of activity. Upon speaking with an Exum Guide -they helped design the shoe- I learned that NIKE has switched to a water-based solvent to bond the sole to the shoe in order to become a more "Greener" company. The caveat: when considering the soft sticky sole, the new water-based solvent used in the bonding process isn't as effective as the previous solvent. So, after 48hrs of mountaineering, I'm purchasing a second pair because they're lightweight and provide tenacious grip. Afterall, Idaho was a long way down.

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Anonymous - 2004-08-18

Great shoe - really sticks to the rock
Used right out of the box to climb up to the upper saddle between the Grand and Middle Teton. When bolder hopping the shoe really stuck to the rock.

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Bill - 2004-05-14

Good deal midweight, approach shoe
I'd been schlepping in Vasque Sundowners and wanted something lighter that I could wear around town comfortably. The La Sportiva Trango S was pricier, so I went for the Cinder Cone on the strength of price, appearance, and the Exum Guides' hand in the design. I can't testify as to how they would do on rock or around muck (no waterproofing) or under a pack, but around town they're good. I ordered a full size pair and find plenty of toebox room -- my feet are on the wide side. The yellow laces drew adverse comments from my family, so I traded them out for some black ones. Now the shoes are reminsicent of the EBs of old in appearance but not (thank God) in feel. A good approach/descent shoe.

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Kevin Kang - 2004-03-16

Buy one size small!!!!!!
These shoes are great but if you buy them true to size then you are in for some toe rolling action! I think the cinder cone is a great approach shoe even better than most approach shoe made by la sportiva and borreal, but if you plan on doing anything above a 5.2 then you should plan on buying them small or true to climbing size.

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Chris Wallen - 2004-02-05

A great shoe
I bought these shoes for orienteering and general mucking around in the woods. Positives - It is important in orienteering to have shoes that can get a good bite on both rock, unimproved trails, snow, mud and provide moderate ankle support. These shoes have been outstanding. I can move from surface to surface confident that I won't have my feet go out from under me. I have been very impressed with thier ability to go through mud and snow and not have the tread get filled up. Also the level of support is on par with a light hiking boot. Negatives - They require some getting used to in the fit and breaking in to avoid blisters. The shoe box is generous in length but is a snug fit on the sides of the foot. It took about two weeks of every other day walking (three miles) to get them to broken to the point that they didnt cause blisters. Others have noted that they seem to have blisters and pain on the little toe and top of the big toe where it inserts into the foot. I did not experience this at all. However, I did get blisters on the heel and outside of my foot where the ball of the foot begins to narrow into the heel area. I would recommend the standard two sock approach to breaking in these shoes even though it didn't help me at first. Summary - I would certainly buy these shoes again and hope that Nike keeps on making them! They perform as advertised and provide excellent traction in varying conditions. I would have given these shoes 5 stars except for the blistering that I experienced.

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Anonymous - 2003-12-09

A very good all day multi-purpose rock/trail shoe
The usual Nike quality and fit but with a sticky sole for light to medium rock climbing. Durability of the sole may be a factor but time and use will tell. The perfect shoe for rocky areas when a hard rubber lug boot makes climbing interesting.

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Walt Corvington - 2003-11-05

A Great Shoe
I really like this shoe although it needs breaking in. I had the same problem that Dr. Kalei Campbell had, moderate discomfort to the metatarsal joint on both feet. I also wanted to see how well they would feel on a climb. On a 5.8 climb they worked wonderful.

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smolderin joe - 2003-10-30

perfoemance excellent, some comfort issues.
A friend raved about their performance, and my skepticism turned to envy when he did Uto peak ( Rogers Pass BC ) car to summit and back, trail, scree, steep dirt sidehilling, bit of snow, and rock to 5.6 while I struggled behind in lightweight mountaineering boots (Trango S) got my own pair and was amazed at their performance on low technical rock, cracks as well as slab, as well as uphill hiking comfort and support. I have a wide foot and had to stretch the metatarsal area with a ski boot stretcher. Another weakness for me (over 40) was shock absorbtion was not as good as other approach shoes I have had. The air cinder cones performance on rock and snow makes it my prefered approach shoe for most trips. For long boulder hops or downhill beats others are better.

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David - 2003-09-03

Great Shoes!
Comfortable right out of the box, but they get better as they conform to your feet. Great lacing system lets you snug the Cinders up for that "like a glove" fit when the going gets dicey. Excellent traction on rock (and outdoor basketball courts if you happen to be on one after your next climb:-) Shallow lugs mean you should wear your Tumalos for the muddy stuff. Overall, highly recommended as a summit approach shoe.

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Dr. Kalei N. Campbell - 2002-12-20

Some short comings...
These shoes felt like they needed to be broken in, rather than having that "feel" already. They also caused moderate discomfort to the dorsal surface of each foot at the region of the proximal metatarsal joint of each first digit. I could not recommend these shoes for comfort. Dr. Kalei N. Campbell

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wd reddin - 2005-04-05

nike acg
These shoes look a lot better than they feel. They are real skinny in the toe kinda like a climbing shoe except that they are mushy like a slipper i would have sent them back but wore them outside. I would choose another shoe

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