Nike Zoom Rival Waffle 5 review
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all track & field shoes.
This shoe has a 5% penalty on its user ratings because it has fewer than 50 ratings. It also has a 5% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn moreVerdict from 40 users
Pros
- Lightweight
- Fast and snappy ride
- Grippy
- Supportive fit
- Comfortable sole
- Breathable
- Durable
Cons
- Not for wide feet
93% say it's true to size.
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Rankings
- Our 1st pick in best cross Country shoes
- Top 15% most popular tracking shoes
Comparison to similar track & field shoes
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Who should buy the Waffle 5
The Zoom Rival Waffle 5 is a cross-country spike that's perfect for athletes who want to set PBs or win the race. It's a great value shoe that can go fast and go the distance.
Who should NOT buy the shoe
If you want to get the most lightweight XC spike out there, have a look at the Nike Zoom Victory XC 5 or the Saucony Carrera XC4.
Nike Zoom Rival Waffle 5 vs. 4
There's not much change made to the fifth version of the Nike Zoom Rival Waffle. Its predecessor was just as highly lauded by many; hence the very mild updates:
A more secure lockdown
Instead of using traditional laces, the Zoom Rival Waffle 5 features thin laces that are way better at keeping the foot in place. Even more, they do a better job of staying tied through the run.
Amped-up durability
Sporting a new overlay design, the shoe also dons an enhanced level of reinforcement. This upgrade hits two birds with one stone — better fit and strength.
An athlete who runs 3-6 miles, 3-4x a week reports that it is a highly durable XC option.
Nike Zoom Rival Waffle 5: set new records
The Zoom Rival Waffle 5 from Nike is an update to the Nike Zoom Rival Waffle 2019. Like its precursor, it's made light and traction-ready to grip all types of cross-country surfaces. As one reviewer points out, he loved "how easily they help [him] maneuver the dirt courses."
And with its responsive cushioning, it will push you forward. "Improved my running time by 3 minutes," shares one of the happy athletes. Another one joyfully reports: "ran a 3-mile race for my high school and broke 17 minutes on it."
Light and speedy
The Rival Waffle 5 weighs 4.6 oz (130 g) which is 10% lighter than the average 5.1 oz (144 g). This contributes greatly to the shoe's capacity to speed up.
According to a runner, "it really feels like you’re wearing nothing." It also turned out to feel much lighter than some people expected.
Not for wide footers
This cross-country shoe from Nike is reported to run tight in the toebox, especially when worn straight from the box. It is unlikely to break in and fit a wide-footed runner. Even for average-sized feet, going half-size up might be necessary, in addition to a break-in period.
Flashy colors, stylish design
A good number of comments hold praise for the shoe's visual appeal. Runners love all of the colorful options.
Facts / Specs
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