Nike Running Clothing Explained

When selecting your running apparel there is a bewildering amount of choice, from race-ready layers to pieces designed for daily mileage. Add in names like Dri-FIT, Storm-FIT, Miler, Stride and AeroSwift and working out what you actually need for your run can become more complicated than it should be.

Fortunately, there is some logic behind Nike running clothing. Their technology names generally explain what a piece of clothing is designed to do, while names such as Miler, Swift, Stride and AeroSwift give you a better idea of what type of running it is intended for.

So, start with the technology.

Nike Running Clothing Technology Explained

Performance apparel can make a huge difference to the quality and comfort of your run, but only if you get the right gear for the conditions.

With their clothing range offering excellent weather protection, breathability or sweat wicking depending on the range, it’s important to understand the way Nike divide their tech so you can ensure you’re getting the most out of each piece.

Dri-FIT

Incredibly popular across the range of running clothing, Dri-FIT is a sweat wicking fabric that absorbs moisture from your skin and moves it to the outside of the fabric where it can evaporate quickly for a cooler, drier feel.

Nike also have Dri-FIT ADV for their top of the range gear which often includes targeted perforations or other clever tricks to improve its performance.

Sweat wicking gear is great in layers close to the skin, keeping you fresher and getting rid of any sense of clamminess. The downside is that it offers very little protection against wind or cold, so layer up in wintertime.

Therma-FIT

As the name suggests, Therma-FIT is all about keeping you warm. It works by helping retain your natural body heat and is commonly used in Nike running clothing built for colder conditions.

It is ideal for winter running layers where warmth is more important than maximum breathability, although exactly how much insulation you need will depend on the run. Easy miles on a freezing morning will require something very different to a hard interval session where you are going to warm up quickly.

Storm-FIT

Storm-FIT is designed to offer protection from the weather, with Nike using it in outer layers made to deal with wind and rain.

These are the pieces to look towards when the forecast is looking unpleasant or your route is particularly exposed. As with most weatherproof running clothing there is a balance between protection and breathability, so you probably don't need your most protective jacket every time there is a cloud in the sky.

Aero-FIT

Aero-FIT concentrates on airflow and cooling. Nike use highly breathable fabrics and strategically placed ventilation to help heat escape when you are running hard or in warmer conditions.

It is a technology that makes most sense on the days when you are going to generate plenty of heat yourself, whether that is a summer run, tempo session or harder workout.

What Does ADV Mean on Nike Clothing?

You will also see ADV attached to some of these technologies. Essentially, this represents Nike's more advanced version, normally adding more considered materials, ventilation or construction to the basic technology.

That does not mean you automatically need the ADV version. For plenty of daily runs, standard Dri-FIT will do exactly what you need. It simply gives Nike another level of performance clothing for runners looking for something more technical.

And that gets us to the slightly confusing bit. Once you understand what Dri-FIT, Therma-FIT and the other technologies actually do, you still have names like Miler, Stride and AeroSwift appearing on the same products.

These aren't another set of fabric technologies. They are better thought of as signposts for where each item sits in Nike's running range. As well as using the main technology in the name, Nike use the following terms to help explain each item's intended use.

Nike Running Clothing Terms Explained

Miler: Daily Mileage

If you see Miler in the name, it’s intended for miles, which keeps things simple. Ideal for your daily training sessions, these layers are lightweight, breathable and probably sweat wicking, but they are also built to take on long runs, and mile after mile of use.

For runners looking for straightforward kit to cover the bulk of their training, Miler is generally a good place to start. It is less about chasing every possible performance gain and more about having comfortable running clothing that you can keep reaching for throughout the week.

Swift and Stride: Women's and Men's High Performance

The Swift range for Women, and the Stride range for Men represent high performance running clothing built for extra practicality and performance.

Expect carefully considered design details from insights and testing with runners like you. Built to help make each run just a little easier.

That can mean lighter fabrics, improved ventilation, better storage or simply a fit that works better once you are moving. They cover a wide range of running too, from normal training through to faster sessions, so seeing Stride or Swift in the name does not automatically mean you are looking at race-day kit.

AeroSwift: Race Day

Incredibly lightweight, highly breathable and slim fitting, the AeroSwift range is built for race day.

This is where Nike strip things back and concentrate on reducing weight while increasing ventilation. The fit is generally closer and the construction more minimal than Miler, Swift or Stride, making it best suited to racing and faster sessions where you are working hard.

For an easy Sunday run you may prefer the extra comfort and practicality of something further down the range, but when the aim is simply to run as quickly as possible, AeroSwift is Nike's top-end option.

Choosing the Right Nike Running Clothing

Once you separate Nike's technologies from its running ranges, the naming system becomes a lot easier to understand.

Dri-FIT, Aero-FIT, Therma-FIT and Storm-FIT tell you more about how the clothing deals with sweat, heat, cold and bad weather. Miler, Swift, Stride and AeroSwift give you an idea of the kind of running it has been designed for.

From there, choose around the run you are actually doing. Miler and Dri-FIT will cover a huge amount of everyday training, Swift and Stride add more performance-focused details, while AeroSwift is there when race day comes around. If the weather turns, Therma-FIT and Storm-FIT help you add the protection you need.

There is still a lot of choice, but at least the very long product names should now make a bit more sense.