7 Best Nike ZoomX Running Shoes in 2024

The third time’s a charm as Vaporfly 3 established its dominance among all Nike ZoomX shoes we ran in. Its unmatched speed took us farther and faster than we ever imagined, smashing PBs more stably and comfortably. Rain or shine, it delivered excellent traction and sublime breathability in our runs.

The midsole cleverly combines the ZoomX and Flyplate, which are both designed for maximum speed and energy return. The foam has a velvet touch, giving a buttery smooth ride without feeling overly plush to enhance stability. Our legs felt fresh despite pushing our pace to the limit and we cornered with no second thoughts with its steady ride.

Taking comfort to the next level is the Flyknit upper that feels like it’s barely there. Its design is well thought of as the knit weave pattern changes drastically along the upper so a specific area can serve its purpose. The forefoot area has a denser pattern for support, while it’s less compact in the toe and midfoot areas for more airflow and flexibility.

The outsole offers excellent grip on both wet and dry pavements, yet its waffle-like pattern and midsole cutout collected small debris along the way. We recommend avoiding paths with small pebbles for a more seamless running experience.

After combining the results from our lab with data from our actual runs, we found the 5th version of the Nike Zoom Fly to be buttery smooth, insanely cushioned, and superbly grippy. It blends speed, comfort, and traction—making it our choice for the best speed trainer among Nike ZoomX running shoes. 

The Nike Zoom Fly 5 has an uber-soft midsole but it gives a firm ride. The ZoomX is extremely soft—55% softer than the average for road running shoes, yet the carbon plate and the second layer of EVA foam give the shoes its energetic and propulsive feel. During our lab's stiffness test, the shoes were found to be 132.79% stiffer than average. Sure enough, we felt like the shoes effortlessly pushed us forward on our runs. 

The heel stack of 36.9 mm in the Zoom Fly 5 is 3.7 mm higher than the average of road running shoes. This massive stack height, along with the soft midsole provided us with much-needed cushioning and comfort during long training runs.

The grip on the Zoom Fly 5 is absolutely top-notch. We ran from the treadmill to the tarmac, on wet and dry roads but the Zoom Fly 5 grips onto them like no other. The outsole rubber was measured to be 11.9% softer in the lab, confirming its grippier nature. 

Unfortunately, the upper's breathability hinders the true potential of the shoes. It scored a mere 2/5 in the breathability test, confirming its limitations in the hotter climates.

The ZoomX Streakfly is a non-plated shoe that is extremely lightweight, incredibly fast, and supremely comfortable. For these reasons which we verified on outdoor runs and lab tests, the Nike Streakfly is the best ZoomX running shoe for 5K and 10K distances.

If "lightness" had a photo, it would be the Streakfly. Weighing in at an airy 171g (6.03 oz), it is a stunning 97g (3.42 oz) lighter than the average road running shoe. In shorter races where every ounce (or lack thereof) matters, the Streakfly definitely has the advantage. We're talking about demolishing old PBs.

As it is the renowned ZoomX foam, it is indeed soft, bouncy, and comfortable. It’s super plush and soft—50.6% softer than the average of road running shoes. It also feels extremely bouncy which elevated our speed sessions.

The shoe’s engineered mesh upper is completely ventilated—garnering a brilliant 5/5 on our breathability test. Its fully gusseted tongue and heel area are also amply padded so blisters and hotspots are on the zero count thanks to this magical upper.

Sadly, the fact that it doesn't have a full-length carbon plate nor a rockered geometry limits the shoe to be an all-out racing shoe. Runners should skip these if looking for hyper-propulsive super shoes.

Our runs reveal Alphafly 3 exhibits unwavering resilience, top-of-the-line speed, and much-needed comfort for many miles. Among Nike’s ZoomX line, our lab proves it’s the ultimate racer for breaking marathon PRs because it maintains high performance and groundbreaking stability for long hours.

This shoe shines in lengthy distances—giving boundless energy that maintains our pace with less effort. The Air Pods and rigid FlyPlate work together to propel us forward. Our flex test validates it's 144.7% stiffer than average, transforming to insane responsiveness.

The midsole eases the pain of long miles with its seamless blend of energy, comfort, and stability. Its dual-density and stacked ZoomX foam has a plush feel on the 18.1 HA bottom layer—crucial for dampening the impact of endurance runs. Meanwhile, the foam closer to our foot is a firm 29.3 HA—providing much-needed support for tired legs in the final stages of a marathon.

Our legs feel fresh with the shoe’s airy build of 7.1 oz (201g). Even with its mega stack, it’s 6.1% lighter than the average race shoe. Its well-ventilated Atomknit upper keeps us sweat and blister-free even during heated ultras. Our breathability test validates this with the highest rating of 5/5.

This high-quality shoe comes at a hefty price of £300. We recommend checking other options if budget is a priority.

The Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 3 boasts a humongous amount of midsole foam that provides steadfast comfort. It also has a bouncy midsole and a stable platform making it simply the best for all-day wear among Nike ZoomX running shoes—our runs, walks, and lab tests all corroborated to choose it.

The enormous slab of soft midsole foam feels incredibly comfortable. From our durometer test, we found that it is a whopping 40.3% softer than the average road running shoe. Meanwhile, its 35.2 mm heel stack height is 2 mm more than the average (33.2 mm), explaining the lovely cushion we felt with every step during long runs or even walking around a new city all day.

Aside from the superior midsole, the Invincible 3 also has a wide platform, a snug fit, and a heel clip that brings the shoe some stability. It measured 121.8 mm on the forefoot (9 mm wider than average) and 102.1 mm in the heel (12.2 mm wider).

Although marketed as an easy day shoe, we were still able to pick up the pace when we wanted to. It is 4.9% less flexible than the average road running shoe, which also contributes to a bouncier feel.

However, the Invincible 3 lacks the grip needed to tackle wet terrain. If traction on wet ground is a priority, there are other options with better grip.

The Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature is an extremely reliable and smooth-riding running shoe with a magnificent outsole. Given its pedigree and that it’s made with recycled materials, it is definitely our pick for the best sustainable Nike ZoomX running shoe.

The Next Nature moniker means that the Pegasus Turbo is made from 50% recycled materials from post-manufactured waste. This is definitely the shoe to go with for making an impact on the environment.

However, even if this shoe helps reduce carbon footprint, it doesn't skimp out on performance. The Pegasus Turbo Next Nature, with its 10 mm drop, gave us a smooth ride that felt like we were being propelled forward. 

The outsole of the Pegasus Turbo Next Nature is both grippy and durable. At 2.76% softer than the average road running shoe outsoles, this balance in the softness produces an outsole that gives both adequate traction and durability.

The recycled flyknit upper is padded for comfort and protection. However, it makes the shoe lack ventilation and is not recommended for running under the sweltering sun.

Among Nike’s ZoomX models we tested in the lab and on our runs, Ultrafly is the best for trail. It’s a performance-driven shoe that offers unmatched speed, grip, cloud-like comfort, and impressive stability for long distances and races. It deviates from the traditional trail shoe with its world-class energy return and bouncy ZoomX foam.

Ultrafly feels ultra-stiff with its full-length carbon plate embedded in the midsole — driving the shoe’s power with every stride. Our bend test shows it's 31.5% stiffer than average. We can tackle easy to moderate trails with finesse as the Vibram outsole features 3.0 mm lugs that ensure traction.

Unlike other trail shoes' brick-feeling we’re accustomed to, Ultrafly offers a plush and bouncy ride. It holds a superior combination of an above-average stack and a soft Pebax foam, ultimately leading to comfort. Our durometer shows one of the softest readings at 9.8 HA — 63.7% plusher than average! The platform makes long miles roll by and protects our legs from impact.

Ultrafly feels exceptionally stable in our runs — driven by the carbon plate’s rigidity and the vast platform that enhances steady strides. Our caliper shows there’s an extra 10.6 mm space in the forefoot and 3.9 mm room in the heel, catering to all foot strikers.

Unfortunately, the Vaporweave upper felt stuffy during our warmer runs. The mesh has a comfort-focused fabric that limits airflow.