Discontinued— we no longer see this shoe in stock.
How it ranks
The Nike Zoom Fly SP (Special Project) rates in the 98th percentile overall among daily trainers. Its strongest dimension is looks (97th percentile); its weakest is durability (7th). Of 16 runners who came to it from another shoe, 12 preferred it to what they ran before.
Based on 19 runner reviews.
Exceptional
i
Overall rating
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a
shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related
product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely
rating range.
Better Shoes Rating
Exceptional
(98/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 98% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
98/100
Overall
Overall rating
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a
shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related
product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely
rating range.
Better Shoes Rating
Exceptional
(98/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 98% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Exceptional98
Appearance
Appearance rating
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a
shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related
product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely
rating range.
Better Shoes Rating
Exceptional
(98/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 97% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Exceptional98
Cushioning
Cushioning rating
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a
shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related
product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely
rating range.
Better Shoes Rating
Excellent
(93/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 91% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Excellent93
Value
Value rating
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a
shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related
product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely
rating range.
Better Shoes Rating
Good
(79/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 64% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Good79
Comfort
Comfort rating
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a
shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related
product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely
rating range.
Better Shoes Rating
Good
(78/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 62% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Good78
Durability
Durability rating
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a
shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related
product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely
rating range.
Better Shoes Rating
Below average
(57/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 7% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Below average57
What runners say
“The shoe seems to propel you forward. Like the Kinvara, but MUCH better.”
I got the Fly SPs mostly because they were very inexpensive on ebay, I paid $65 for them and since I'd enjoyed running in the regular Zoom Fly I figured it was a safe bet. They are a touch smaller than the regular Fly shoes so I have to wear thin socks but other than that the fit seems to be the same.
I know it may be just marketing, but I've also felt like the Fly has been easier on my legs than regular shoes. It isn't the 4% but in training for the marathon last fall and then racing it, I was very pleasantly surprised at how my legs felt during and after long runs and the race.
The shoe has also held up pretty well, I usually get 300-350 miles out of a pair of shoes and these seem to be ok at least through 200-250. So I rated the "value" high since I got them so cheaply.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5
Fast Shoe, great for road racing
2minmaster · Jul 3, 2019
5/5
Overall
Picked these up for bargain price in a Nike Outlet and use them for all road racing. Nice lightweight, feels fast. Went back to try and pick up some more pairs, but no more and had to settle for the standard Nike Zoom Fly.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
4/5
Unicorns do exist!
Anonymous runner · Jun 6, 2019
5/5
Overall
I was in the market for a new Clifton...and by "new" I mean: old. I tried the Altra Duo which is decent enough, the Sketchers Go Run Max which was terrible , the Saucony Kinvara 8 (good for 5'10k) and a few others.
As a big guy (205), I need a bit more cushion and structure...but I can also run a 23:00 5k. Not hyper speed, but fast enough that I don't want a fat pig of a shoe. I really liked Clifton 1 (and ATR and Speedgoat for trails), but I thought subsequent versions got watered down and fatter. I really like the Altra footshape deal, but I don't like the zero drop all the time. The Kinvara had a feeling of propulsion and I felt really great and fast in them...but I was feeling beat up after wearing for more than a 10k.
So I was looking for a shoe that combined the Hoka cushion and lightness with Kinvara's speediness and propulsion. Turns out, I'd find this unicorn in the most unlikely of places: The Nike Outlet. I really like Nike clothing, but I had no love for Nike since the Lunar Trainer debuted like 10yrs ago, so Nike runners weren't even on my radar.
I went to the Nike Outlet to get my kid some shoes and I saw a pair of FlySP in my size (14) for $79. To my surprise, they felt pretty small. Luckily, there were a pair of 15s for only $43! I tried them on and they felt good. The are amazingly light for a shoe this big; they are also incredibly ugly...in white/white. When I strolled around the store, I thought: man...these are really stiff/harsh. But I figured at $43...what could go wrong.
So my first run was about 5k...and started out not great. That harsh feeling in the store was there...the first mile or so, but was also very fast. It wasn't just its lightness...the show seems to propel you forward. Like the Kinvara, but MUCH better. The next day I ran a 10k. Again the first mile, maybe two, was like running in a flat...then the shoes magically found cushioning. I was speeding along, propelled forward...yet still cushioned.
The best part, I woke up on morning 3 and: no soreness. The shoes were not only fast, but I wasn't beat up or sore after running two fast runs. I now have about 150k in them and they still have that unique combo of cushioning, lightness, and speediness. These have rocketed up to the top of my "favorite shoe of all time" category.
In rating this with the stars it's a bit wonky. The cushioning I gave an 8. I think it's perfect, but if you're expecting a Bondi or GoRun Max, you'll be sorely disappointed. One of the reasons I hated the GoRun Max was that it's very marsh-mellowey. It wallows and, despite its cushion, I always felt beat up after wearing it. You'll get none of that from the FlySp...it's FAST.
I also gave it a bit low in appearance and value. First value...retail is $150...that is simply too much money for a shoe (to me). However, they're routinely available for about $80-90. At that price, I'd give it a 8-8.5...and if you can find it for $43, mark it as 11 stars. I also bought a second pair a few weeks later for $79...I think that's a fair price and give it a 9. For the appearance, the white/white combo is just not appealing, but I think some of the other colors (like the baby blue and camo) are cool and would give them a 9.
In short, the Zoom Fly SP is a great shoe. My longest run in them has been 20K and, even at that distance, my impressions remain true. It's fast yet cushioned, cushioned yet light, light but doesn't beat you up. It's a magical unicorn!!!
I'd definitely size up though.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
3/5
Not Nike’s Best Work
beansbeansbeans · May 1, 2019
4/5
Overall
Although this shoe was touted as Nike’s “Latest and Greatest” upon release, it didn’t live up the wildly high expectations it had been thought to have.
This shoe is for fast, and fast deserves comfort. The comfort was less than desirable due to a stiff forefoot with minimal give to it. The forefoot “rock” you felt moving from the ball of your foot to toe-off was significant and something to get used to. For comfort, the most notably sub-par aspect was the upper’s material. If you are a runner who doesn’t use socks, you’re in trouble - it will tear your Achilles region to shreds...goodluck. The shoe runs small in the SP edition (which I hand) and doesn’t stretch due to the type of material it is made of. That being said, go a half size up.
The Vaporfly is most definitely the version someone should be investing their time and miles in due to the wildly improved quality and comfort it has vs the Zoom Fly SP.
Comfort
3/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
4/5
Fast Shoe!
Anonymous runner · Jan 16, 2019
5/5
Overall
I really like this shoe, go up a half size! I have worn the standard Zoom Fly, and the Zoom Fly Flyknit as well. I like this one the best. It is the lightest of the three. The overall look of the shoe to me, its ugly. Terrible. But I care about how it runs. The standard Zoom Fly was ok, just felt like a lot of shoe. This upper is much better and lighter. I also ran in the Zoom Fly Flyknit, it has the flyknit upper and instead of lunar it has react soles with the carbon plate. I can see why they did this, this shoe is stiff, stiff, stiff. They take a little breaking in. But the Flyknit is heavier and has no structure, it feels like a brick on your feet. This shoe is for fast days, it wants to go fast! I would grab some Pegasus for slow days, and break this out for tempo runs, repeats, and race day.
