Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% Shoes

Mike Westover

Anyone tried these? Reviews from trusted sources seem to confirm that they are faster than other performance-oriented running shoes, maybe even by 4% as claimed. There are tradeoffs (hard to find, expensive, wear very fast, unstable feeling, don't corner well, higher injury risk), so this is not an everyday shoe. But for the right race, it might be worth the tradeoffs. Fellrnr's summary: "After many hours of consideration, and hundreds of miles of running, I've rated the Vaporfly as 'best of the best' in spite of its many flaws. It's expensive, almost impossible to find, and risks injury, but it's just so good that I think if you can handle the extra stress, it's worth it."

Normally these are very hard to find except at inflated eBay prices, but Nike is releasing a new color tomorrow so they may temporarily be in stock.

Brian Quarton

If you can get the 4%s, do it. But if not it might be worth trying the $150 Nike Zoom Fly first? They are a little heavier and more supportive, but available and close enough. But, As I said to the guy I passed at mile 22 "They don't help you if you're walking!"  

Patrick Large

Maybe the best quote of all endurance sports-

"But, As I said to the guy I passed at mile 22 "They don't help you if you're walking!""

Brian Quarton

PSA: as of 4/12/18 10PM Central the 4% are available on Eastbay.com.

Robert Sabo

Was he walking 4% faster?

Robert Sabo

But seriously I would like to try them on at a store first.  I would also feel uncomfortable spilling Gatorade on them ( let alone peeing on them).

Mike Westover

The trick is finding a store that has them available (unless you have a specialty store nearby that just got a good-sized shipment; I've heard that people have had success in Boston this week). My solution was to order a couple of sizes from Nike.com, which has free shipping and returns.

Tim Sullivan

I  think  @Donnacha Holmes runs in those shoes and he saya they are faster and worth the money. I haven't tried them

Donnacha Holmes

Great thread guys.
IMO The Nike 4%’s are both the best and worst shoe ever made! They’re like a drug you can’t have all the time!! I’m on my 2nd pair and a 3rd pair is en route. Some points on why;

Yes - they’re faster than ANY other running shoe I’ve ever tried. (I’ve tried them all) 
Yes - they’re very expensive but considering what your bike parts cost per watt I think they’re worth it. 
Yes- they're incredibly hard to get hold of and this will only get worse as people realize how good they are and why lots of Pros are not renewing or breaking their shoe sponsorships to run in these instead. 
Yes - initially they feel like your balancing on a narrow sole of foam, like a roller blade-ish feeling but i quickly got used to it. Fast cornering just requires a little more focus as the upper sole is a very light material and moves around a little bit.
I recommend going a Half size up on your normal shoe size. 
Yes - they only last Aprox 400-500km before the ZoomX foam bounce really leaves them(I still put 1500km on mine and still use them for some training) I found normal wear on the sole for 1500km. I’ve seen some online complaints but I’ve had none of those such sole wear concerns. 
Yes - they make you run faster! They really do! It’s not just another marketing line. 
They’re so cushy underfoot that you recover way better. But then you want to wear them ALL the time but then you realize you can’t a get another pair to replace them. So do you keep them for racing or hope Nike release more before your next race? It’s so hard to leave them alone!! 

Btw I also have 2 pairs of Zoom Flys and sorry but they’re just not the same. Not even close in my opinion. They’re heavier and don’t share the same characteristics as the 4%’s.
Nike Pegasus or your regular trainers are just as good. (I use Nike Streak 6 for faster training tempo & z4 runs and Zoom Flys or old Vaporfly 4% for long runs). I’ve got Hokas, Sauconys, Asics & Mizunos. 
 
So to sum up and after 2000km on both pairs I can’t recommend them highly enough. It’s the frustration of trying to get a new pair once you’ve had a taste of them is the problem!
Expect to see LOADS of your competitors racing them this year. I’ll report back in a little over 6 weeks on how they translate on the IM run but I think they’ll be great especially as my legs tire later on in the race and i heel strike more and form begins to break down. 

hope this helps the team but don’t tell anyone! Mums the word everyone!!  :-) ha. 

Brian Quarton

-@Robert Sabo Do you walk 4% faster? I can only speak for my experience with the Zoom Fly and say I am not sure. But you will feel yourself pitch forward a bit when you put them on, walk and the first few strides I noticed a difference. Was I faster? Not 4%, but these are the Zoom Fly, so I can't speak to the Vaporfly 4%.
-@Donnacha Holmes You like these shoes a lot! I am tempted to dismiss your glowing recommendations as placebo effect and say you bought the marketing hype etc. BUT then I agree with your candid assessment of the Zoom Fly completely. Really nothing too special there. That's what I thought too. So I am really interested to get the Vaporfly and try them out. One thing I have learned from my time here at EN is to respect the opinions of the team. We are a lot smarter than I. 
-My current IM running shoe is the Nike Lunaracer. I like light, cushioned shoes. Several questions I am looking to answer when I get these: 1. How do they fit? 2. Are they comfortable enough for IM? 3. How is the tongue? 4. Will they work with speed laces? 5. Will they work as my stride breaks down in the last 10K? 6. Do they hold water? 7. Am I faster in these?

Robert Sabo

I was joking about the walking. I think I have to try a pair.

Sent from my iPhone

Donnacha Holmes

Hi @Brian Quarton  In terms of speed I think the Zoom Fly is just the same as any other run shoe you feel comfortable or fast in.
The Vaporfly 4% are in an entirely different ball park. The way the Zoom X foam and carbon sole work together it propels you along like nothing I’ve ever tried before, ever. In fact the faster you go in them the more they help you along to maintain pace.
They were purposely designed to help you maintain pace as your form breaks down and you revert to heel strike later in a marathon or long runs. Having done several long 20-30km runs I can vouch for this. 
They’re very comfortable over long distances and I’ve had no issues with the tongue. I’ve raced a few Duathlons in these with elastic laces and no problems at all either. (Ok a heel loop for quicker transition would be nice but I’m being picky ) I have run in the rain in them and they were fine, I’m not sure about holding much water as it was a short run. These shoes are incredibly light and this helps a lot too. My Nike Streak 6 are about the same weight but they definitely require more effort to keep the same paces as the Vaporfly 4% and they don’t have the cushioning & carbon sole spring type effect.
Theyre great shoes but just not the same as the 4%’s. I keep them to shorter runs only. I’ve tested them both a lot!
Bottom line Yes they will make you faster. :-) 

Mike Westover

Went out for my first run in these. It was a very different, bouncy sensation, most noticeable on the downhills. 

On sizing, I wear a 10.5 in Mizuno Wave Riders, and 11 in the ASICS Gel Hyper Speed 7. Size 10.5 fit me best in the Vaporfly. 

Tom Glynn

One of my friends won his AG in Boston wearing these shoes and said all the fast guys had them on.  I'm tempted to try them but the cost per mile and lack of availability is a tough thing to get over!

Mark Hickman

I just got a pair via someone on slowtwitch who ordered multiple sizes..just in case.  I do think I'm a bit faster at same effort in the shoes.  Placebo effect?  I don't know. 

Reference sizing; I wear a 12 in just about everything Nike, but 11.5 for these fit just right.  I've seen many recommendations to go down a size, so @Donnacha Holmes' advice reference sizing, that might be an N=1 thing.

Haven't worn them for tri racing as I'm not yet comfortable with no-sock feeling in these, as well as a bit tougher to get on them my normal sprint shoe.

Mark