Nike Swoosh 1 review: Toddler Shoes For New Walkers

Hello! I’m Sebastian, and I recently turned 1.5 years old – woohoo! Lately, I’ve been exploring everything from my dad’s sock drawer to the Kepler’s water bowl (Kepler is our dog, he’s a Border Collie and like to run lots with Dad).

One of my biggest achievements in life so far is walking (and, sometimes, wobbling) – I’m still trying to master it but I’ll have it nailed soon.

My feet are pretty busy these days, so I need shoes that let me move around without tripping over my own toes. Enter the Nike Swoosh 1. My dad, Alastair, found these on sale and thought they’d be perfect for my mini-adventures. Here’s my wiggly-foot review of them.

Key specifications

According to the grown-ups, the Nike Swoosh 1 is made for early walkers like me.

It has a soft Flyknit material upper that’s flexible and comfy, plus it uses recycled content, which apparently helps the planet. See the photo below to see how much they flex.

My size (4C) weighs only 1.6oz (45g), so it’s super light on my feet. The design is all about letting my toes flex, grip, and spread out naturally, and it even has some fancy approval from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

The traction-focused sole helps with grip, though it can’t help with my occasional lack of balance! hehe. They cost $62 RRP but you can usually pick them up in sales on the Nike website.

How they fit and feel

I can put them on (well, my dad can) really easily thanks to the big finger loop at the back which fits adult fingers nice and easily.

Some other Nike toddler shoes like the Air Max 1 EasyOn are not so easy to get on, and my parents had to modify them to make them easy to slip on.

They hug my feet without feeling tight, thanks to the very easy to adjust velcro straps, and the wide toe box means my chunky toes get plenty of wiggle room. The soft interior feels cozy, so I’m happy wearing them for all my daily “toddler tasks.”

What’s good

I love how light and bendy these shoes are. When I’m testing my speed (I call it “running,” but it might look more like toddling), the sole doesn’t weigh me down. I can feel the ground enough to keep my balance, which keeps me from falling too often.

The Flyknit upper is gentle on my skin, and the fact that it’s made with recycled materials seems to make my parents happy – they love the planet.

They’re not the most breathable which means my toes stay warm but they don’t get sweaty – and comfort is more important to me at this age.

One day, when I run up mountains with my dad then I think breathability will be important, but right now, it’s not.

The APMA seal means it’s good for my foot development, encouraging me to keep exploring without worrying that I may be damaging my feet.

Because it’s designed with traction in mind, I can stomp on my alphabet mat and still stay upright (usually).

Plus, I appreciate that this shoe doesn’t restrict my toes, so I can splay them out for extra balance. It feels like I’m almost barefoot, which is how I prefer to roam around the house but can’t do so when outdoors.

And of course, there’s the style factor. I may be small, and not even 2 years old yet, but I already know that colorful kicks get attention – and I love cool looking things like my Dad. The Swoosh 1 has lots of color choices (7 in fact), which is important if you’re a fashion-forward toddler like me.

What’s not so good

My dad complains about the price ($62). For something that I’ll outgrow in a few months (my feet are basically on a mission to grow daily).

But he managed to snag them on sale, so I guess we lucked out this time, and he always tell me “you’ve got to look good out there, kid”.

Also, some color choices seem to disappear quickly. I had my eye on a bright colorway, but Dad said they sold out and might not restock soon. So if you want a specific color, be prepared to act fast, wait or settle for another color.

My verdict

All in all, the Nike Swoosh 1 fits my busy lifestyle of toddler exploration, naps, and snack breaks. It’s comfortable, lightweight, and supposedly great for my foot development. Sure, it might be a bit pricey if you don’t get it on sale, and the color availability can be hit-or-miss.

But if you’re a fellow mini explorer (or the parent of one), these shoes could help with taking those big, exciting steps into the world, all while looking like one of the cool kids.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more walking practice to do—there’s a very interesting pile of blocks waiting for me in the living room. Maybe I’ll test out durability some more by stomping on them. It’s all in the name of toddler science, right? -Sebastian, out!

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