I don't see what all the hype is about
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jan 24, 2019
55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike LunaRacer 4
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 2/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 3/5
Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%
Racing shoe · Neutral · Road · 6.9 oz · 39/29mm stack · 10mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% replaced it
How it ranks
The Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% is one of the strongest racing shoes in our data. Looks and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 73 runner reviews and 4 other rated shoes in the Vaporfly product line.
Exceptional
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.
Confidence
99 Very high
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
- Brand rating
- External ratings
What runners say
“These shoes are fast, and it was hard to dial the goal pace in because they want to go so fast.”
“On my first run in the shoes I immediately noticed some extra pop, more so than anything I had run in before.”
“The combination of the carbon plate with ZoomX midsole cushioning provides just the right amount of feedback and forward propulsion.”
“Normally the quads feel like rocks by that point, especially going uphill. But they felt much better in the 4% .”
“These do what they are advertised to do, help you really roll/pop off your toes with the plate. It was a stressor that my achilles, ankles, and calves just couldn't handle, leaving me extremely sore.”
“This is the single best shoe i have ever run in, there is a genuine difference in comfort, road feel and speed.”
“The cushion technology has my legs feeling great far into long runs and better than ever after runs.”
“The first mile was downhill, and I could feel a lot of cushioning and springiness for each step.”
“They aren't too durable; after about 5 miles of wear, I can already see how the soles are grinding out on the street.”
“The cushioning can be comparable to a Hoka One One but quite honestly this is more plush.”
“After about 25 miles, the foam in the heel literally started to chip away and fall off.”
“The carbon fiber insole propels, no, launches you forward at mach speeds.”
“Fit is amazing. I have a bunion on right foot. Always hurts because most shoes are too snug. Not the Vaporfly.”
“After 26 miles, the carbon fiber plate started to dig into my foot, leaving an unusual callus and blister in that location.”
“After 2 marathons, sole started cracking and peeling apart, maybe 200 miles total.”
“It was like I was suddenly running barefoot on concrete.”
“The durability is the only weak point as the white foam that is exposed on the outsole of the shoe wears down faster than the reinforced black blown rubber sections.”
“These shoes don't work for forefoot strikers because that big bouncy heel is no longer doing anything.”
“Although they feel amazing to race in, I have already noticed the sole of the shoe is becoming damaged.”
“The sole is noticeably smaller. Providing a smaller landing surface and a feeling of instability.”
“Feels spongey and kind of clunky but firms up at pace.”
“I personally think this shoe is great for racing and up-tempo training, maybe still OK for fast easy. But it's not meant for slow recovery run.”
“Durability is the biggest question but I don't believe Nike will make it more durable since it is designed to be a racing shoe.”
“Best when running fast; slow jogging diminishes their efficiency.”
“I believe the shoe is purely for the racing component. No training for me in these shoes.”
“I feel VF 4% is probably half size bigger than Zoom Fly.”
“I like them just as much as any other flats, but I'm not sure if my body actually responded to them.”
“Fits true to size.”
“I think the plate is just for stiffening purposes to make the ZoomX foam work.”
“This shoe is made for racing.”
Prefer this shoe over another
51% 34/67
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Reviewers repeatedly report legs feeling fresher after races and long runs in it.
- At 6.9 oz on a 39mm heel stack, and reviewers call it incredibly cushioned for the weight.
- Reviewers report race PRs at distances from the 10k to the marathon.
Cons
- Durability is its lowest-rated dimension at 3.3 out of 5, and reviewers report the outsole wearing and the sole peeling, one after about 200 miles.
- Value rates 3.7 out of 5 against a $250 list price, and reviewers who like the shoe still call it too expensive.
- Reviewers say it feels unstable at slower paces, and eleven of seventy-three find it runs small.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Nike Vaporfly
Each dot is one version of the Vaporfly, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
2025 · 3 reviews
98 Exceptional
71 Confidence
-
2023 · 90 reviews
99 Exceptional
98 Confidence
-
2021 · 49 reviews
99 Exceptional
97 Confidence
-
2019 · 27 reviews
99 Exceptional
95 Confidence
-
Zoom Vaporfly 4% This shoe
2017 · 73 reviews
98 Exceptional
99 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 6.9 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 6.9 oz · Women's 6.9 oz
- Release
- 2017 Q3
- MSRP
- $250
- Stack
- 39/29mm
- Drop
- 10mm
Runner reviews
4%
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Dec 9, 2018
2 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Tracer 2
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Loving these Vaporflys!
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Nov 11, 2018
75 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Best Running shoe ever made commercially available
5/5
Overall
dbsquirtNXC21 · Oct 2, 2018
40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 2/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
The best racing shoe
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Oct 1, 2018
60 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Streak 5
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
More from Nike
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% In Context
More on the Nike Vaporfly
Compare every Vaporfly versionReviewers Also Ran In
- Nike LunaRacer 4 5 runners
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33 4 runners
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36 2 runners