Nike Air Zoom Elite 6

Name: Nike Air Zoom Elite 6
Brand: Nike
Rating: 4.6 (38 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.1 oz

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Nike Air Zoom Elite 7 replaced it

How it ranks

The Nike Air Zoom Elite 6 ranks among the stronger daily trainers in our data. Looks and value are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 38 runner reviews and 4 other rated shoes in the Air Zoom Elite product line.

Good

Overall

Good 83

Appearance

Excellent 93

Value

Good 86

Durability

Decent 77

Comfort

Decent 76

Cushioning

Decent 76

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

92 High

High 92

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

Our ratings
Product line track record
External ratings

What runners say

“Zoom crash pad in the forefoot protects your forefoot unlike neutral trainers where the forefoot feels like a piece of paper”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon

“The cushioning is superb and has held up more or less unchanged for me through about 400 miles”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon

“The firmness of the shoe gives me enough support for longer training runs, but keeps feeling fast enough to do speedwork in”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon

“Zero plastic under the arch, which gives the shoe a nice predictable feel and allows it to flex as needed”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon

“I get between 400-500 miles out of a pair of Elite 6s”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon

“Relatively durable and lasts 400-500 miles, with the sole wearing away before the upper”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a marathon

“The nike zoom elite 6 is a lightweight, durable trainer, that is uncomfortable to heel strike in”

4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon

“Light enough for tempo runs and speed workouts, but has enough support for longer runs too”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon

“The out-sole does tend to wear out slightly quicker than other parts of the shoe”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon

“Love the responsiveness. Just the right amount of support with the small board last in the heel.”

5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon

“Very good for forefoot runners. Not a lot of cushion but lightweight and low profile.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon

“It was relatively firm and allowed me to feel like not only a runner, but an athlete”

4/5 Full review 75 mpw 3,911 miles in this shoe training for a half marathon

“Just don't last long. Shoes break down quick.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon

“The cushioning has lost some of its resilience and effectiveness”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon

“Feels too tight in midfoot”

2/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a marathon

“They are pretty stiff out of the box”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon

“The Elite is definitely more firm than the Pegasus”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon

Prefer this shoe over another

50% 5/10

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

A firm, responsive ride reviewers use for easy runs, long runs and tempos.
At 9.7 oz, reviewers call it light but supportive enough for distance.
Reviewers report 400 to 500 miles from a pair, and it lists at $110.

Cons

Three reviewers report the outsole wearing out before the upper.
Two reviewers find the midfoot tight or the shoe stiff out of the box.
One reviewer says there is not a lot of cushion underfoot.

Air Zoom Elite 6 rates 83. This shoe has high confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Nike Air Zoom Elite

Each dot is one version of the Air Zoom Elite, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

69 2012 83 2013 79 2014 86 2016 79 2017

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Air Zoom Elite 9

2017 · 20 reviews

79 Decent

92 Confidence
Air Zoom Elite 8

2016 · 11 reviews

86 Good

92 Confidence
Air Zoom Elite 7

2014 · 27 reviews

79 Decent

97 Confidence
Air Zoom Elite 6 This shoe

2013 · 38 reviews

83 Good

92 Confidence
Air Zoom Elite 5

2012 · 9 reviews

69 Below average

85 Confidence

Runner Ratings

38 ratings

5/5 26

4/5 9

3/5 2

2/5 1

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 9.1 oz
Men's / women's: Men's 9.7 oz · Women's 8.6 oz
Release: 2013
MSRP: $110

Runner reviews

Write a review

5/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Sep 19, 2014

40 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

5/5

Overall

Experience with Nike shoes is overwhelmingly positive. But things vary model by model. I like the version 7 of the Zoom Elite. But I use lots of different shoes. At any one time I have about a dozen shoes on the go from all the main shoe companies. I refer to the Nike Zoom Elite because (a) it is my go to shoe at the moment (along with Brooks Launch) and (b) I have a better experience with Nike than others.

Anonymous runner · Sep 19, 2014

60 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

4/5

Overall

A great shoe, Ive been searching far and wide for a shoe just right for me, and have finally found it! Previous pairs of shoes included the nike pegasus 29 (found had too little support), and then the asics cumulus 15 (too much!) . One problem i have faced with running is heel striking, which has resulted in several injuries. My research found that the nike zoom elite 6 is a lightweight, durable trainer, that is uncomfortable to heel strike in; often slowly forcing the occupying runner to adapt to forefoot running. Perfect! slowly but surely this is being made evident, and am now having less and less problems with heel striking! Also have the nike oregon project version which gives them a fashionable look that no one can compare with (as it is unavailable in nz stores, bought online for cheaper than the normal version!)

Peter_CUNTIS · Sep 14, 2014

35 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 4/5

5/5

Overall

Was recommended them by a local running store after struggling with my previous shoe (adidas tempos) as my gait changed due to an injury. I'm on to my 4th pair of them now and will look at purchasing more in the future. I find them light and responsive enough to work out in them for longer workouts or reps but cushioned and comfortable enough that I can do all o fmy long runs in them.

tg96 · Sep 13, 2014

28 mpw training for middle distance