Facts

  • Terrain

    Road

    Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.

    Trail

    Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.

    Good to know

    As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.

  • Arch support

    Neutral / cushion / high arch

    Shoes for runners who do not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with normal, high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.

    Stability / overpronation / normal arch

    Shoes for runners who need mild to moderate arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a low arch. See the best stability shoes.

    Motion control / severe overpronation / flat feet

    Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.

    Good to know

    - Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
    - More about arch support in this video.
    - Find your arch type by following steps from this video.

  • Price
    $250
  • Heel to toe drop
    Men: 10mm
    Women: 10mm

    The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.

    There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.

  • Heel height
    Men: 39mm
    Women: 39mm
  • Forefoot height
    Men: 29mm
    Women: 29mm
  • Width
    Men: Normal
    Women: Normal
  • Release date
    Oct 2018
Show more facts

Rankings

Bottom 43% overall
Best running shoes
Bottom 39% Nike
Best Nike running shoes
Top 17% most popular
Most popular road running shoes

Expert Reviews

Experts are runners, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.

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89 / 100 based on 2 expert reviews

  • 90 / 100 | Believe in the Run

    Nike has created the best underfoot construction of any shoe out there – plenty of cushioning for long distances, with just the right amount of stiffness to propel you forward. I just love this shoe.

  • 88 / 100 | Believe in the Run

    The Vaporfly will help you hit your best times, don’t worry about who is watching you get there.

  • First look / Unboxing | Jacques Slade

  • First look / Unboxing | Run Sherry Run

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  • The Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% Flyknit is a road companion that’s meant for those who have neutral pronation. When it comes to the build, this shoe isn’t different from its counterpart, the original Zoom Vaporfly 4%, save for a Flyknit upper and a one piece opening, both of which aren’t constituents of the precursor model.
  • Underfoot cushioning is the responsibility of the ZoomX, a full-length foam that’s touted to be highly responsive and lightweight. A carbon fiber plate is implanted into the foam to help with durability and foot propulsion. Abrasion resistance is given by a rubber heel layer while extra energy return is the responsibility of foam rubber in the forefoot.

The Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% Flyknit is a bit smaller than the usual sizing expectations, so runners are encouraged to get half-a-size bigger than the usual or to try on the shoe first. Widthwise, the available option is D – Medium as it is a unisex shoe that follows men’s measurements.

The heel section of the outsole unit is made up of a rubber compound that is highly resistant to abrasion. It protects the contact points from wear and tear. It also provides traction through its grippy nature and its patterned surface.

The forefoot section of the platform utilizes foam rubber, which still has traction capacities. But its primary purpose is to provide additional cushioning for the underfoot through its spongy disposition.

The ZoomX is a full-length foam that’s responsible for carrying the foot throughout the running session. It has a bouncy nature that energizes each step. It’s also touted to be lightweight and durable.

A carbon fiber plate is placed inside the ZoomX, acting as a protective layer and as a propulsive medium that further boosts the forefoot lift.

The upper unit of the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% Flyknit features the Flyknit technology, a material that evokes the texture and elasticity of a sock. It has an open construction that welcomes air into the foot-chamber.

A bootie design removes the traditional tongue unit and replaces it with a one-piece opening. Such a configuration allows the wearer to feel a smooth and non-irritating coverage.

A pull tab is placed on the back part of the collar. This fabric loop makes it easy to put on or remove this running shoe.

Comparison