Real fast racing shoes
4/5
Overall
Fast shoes. Really bad stability and no ways to run slow part on it.
Stan · Jul 2, 2023
10 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 3/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 2/5
- Appearance
- 2/5
- Value
- 3/5
Nike Vaporfly 3
Racing shoe · Neutral · Road · 6.4 oz · 38/30mm stack · 8mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Nike Vaporfly 4 replaced it
How it ranks
The Nike Vaporfly 3 is one of the strongest racing shoes in our data. Looks and cushioning are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 90 runner reviews and 4 other rated shoes in the Vaporfly product line.
Exceptional
99
Overall
99
Appearance
99
Cushioning
98
Comfort
96
Value
70
Durability
55
Confidence
98
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
98 Very high
External retailer ratings
We break apart ratings from mass-market retailers and specialty running shops since they serve different audiences.
The middle of the bar marks the typical shoe at each type of retailer. The dot shows where this shoe ranks in comparison.
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
- External ratings
- Product line track record
What runners say
“The etching in the sole to create that aerodynamic 3D-printed topographical look makes for just that many more edges to get rubbed off in a race.”
“Carbon fiber plate and foam are great and give back a lot of force—feels like a trampoline.”
“The moment I did a stride in the VF 3's I knew they were categorically better than the VF 2s.”
“Have helped me hit new marathon PRs with much less leg fatigue later in the race.”
“Runs 1/2 size small.”
“After 35 miles of work the bottom of these shoes are more worn than I would have expected.”
“At this stage, it's a light shoe, but it's unstable and has low energy return.”
“The only issue with it is the lack of durability when comparing to the price.”
“The VF 3's have the stability and cushion to make for an ideal half to full marathon racing shoe.”
“The Vaporfly has a lot of energy return and is incredibly light.”
“They all have been great for the first few months before the foam wears out.”
“Increased control around turns and corners on tight courses.”
“After that the energy return lowered until about mile 80.”
“Awesome for races and definitely lowered my times.”
“The VF 3's are a smooth, still sporty-responsive ride.”
“They are very cushioned so it distracts you from the fact that you're running hard.”
“It is light and fast, while still being comfy.”
“Really bad stability and no ways to run slow part on it.”
“The lockdown/upper is not ergonomic at all.”
“Uncomfortable when walking.”
Prefer this shoe over another
61% 14/23
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 23.
Pros
- At 7.1 oz in the men's build and 5.8 oz in the women's, on a 38mm heel stack.
- Reviewers report race PRs, strong energy return and quicker recovery afterwards.
- Four reviewers who have run earlier Vaporflys call this one an improvement.
Cons
- Durability is its lowest-rated dimension at 3.5 out of 5 against a $250 list price, and reviewers report the foam and thin outsole wearing out fast, one of them by 200 miles.
- Reviewers keep it for races and key workouts rather than easy or long runs.
- Three reviewers report it feeling unstable, particularly at slower paces.
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.
Confidence
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.
Rating
40
60
80
100
98
2017
99
2019
99
2021
99
2023
98
2025
Release year
-
2025 · 3 reviews
98 Exceptional
71 Confidence
-
Vaporfly 3 This shoe
2023 · 90 reviews
99 Exceptional
98 Confidence
-
2021 · 49 reviews
99 Exceptional
97 Confidence
-
2019 · 27 reviews
99 Exceptional
95 Confidence
-
2017 · 73 reviews
98 Exceptional
99 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 6.4 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 7.1 oz · Women's 5.8 oz
- Release
- 2023 Q2
- MSRP
- $250
- Stack
- 38/30mm
- Drop
- 8mm
Runner reviews
Fast and pricy
5/5
Overall
This is my race shoe. It is light and fast, while still being comfy.
Anonymous runner · Jun 16, 2023
10 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Tempo NEXT%
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 2/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 3/5
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jun 8, 2023
- Comfort
- 3/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 3/5
The best racing shoe I've ever run in, but expensive and a little fragile
5/5
Overall
I have worn the VF 3s for two workouts (one road, one track) and one race (Boston Marathon). I wore the VF 2s for the previous 5 races I did including the Chicago Marathon and countless workouts - and the moment I did a stride in the VF 3's I knew they were categorically better than the VF 2s. I thought the VF 2s were great, and they are still good, but the VF 3's have the stability and cushion to make for an ideal half to full marathon racing shoe. You could easily add in the 10 mile distance to that mix as well.
I still think the VF 2s may be best for 5k races on down due to their aggressive responsiveness and for track workouts, but the VF 3's are a smooth, still sporty-responsive ride. The 3's are just cushioned enough that they don't feel optimal for track work, so I stick to the 2's for track workouts. But for long road racing the VF 3's are your #1 choice.
7/10 for durability as the etching in the sole to create that aerodynamic 3D-printed topographical look makes for just that many more edges to get rubbed off in a race. I have a lot of stray strands and scrapes on it after the marathon. Same goes with the bottom of the shoe. I haven't put big miles on it yet, but after 35 miles of work the bottom of these shoes are more worn than I would have expected. My VF 2's lasted about 450 miles before I tossed them, but I'm thinking the VF 3's may not last as long.
7/10 for value/price as it being a $250-$275 shoe while the only somewhat less versatile VF 2 is on discount at ~$125 probably makes the VF 2 a more sensible buy for non-elite runners on a budget.
whid · Jun 5, 2023
26 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
5/5
Overall
I enjoy the comfort of the shoe and the faster pace I run with them on. I well. My recovery is faster when I wear them
Joel Pasternack · Jun 1, 2023
15 mpw training for 5K and 10K
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
More from Nike
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
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Best appearance
Lightest
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Newest
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Best cushioning
Shoe properties
Type
Racing shoe
Racing shoe
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
6.4 oz
6.1 oz
Lightest
9.9 oz
Stack
38/30mm
35/29mm
40/35mm
Drop
8mm
6mm
4mm
Release
2023 Q2
2025
Newest
2022 Q3
MSRP
$250
$260
$165
Best price
—
$111
$95
Lowest price
Ratings
Overall
99 Exceptional
98 Exceptional
99 Exceptional
Comfort
96 Excellent
86 Good
99 Exceptional
Best comfort
Cushioning
98 Exceptional
97 Exceptional
99 Exceptional
Best cushioning
Durability
55 Bottom-tier
53 Bottom-tier
97 Exceptional
Best durability
Appearance
99 Exceptional
Best appearance
98 Exceptional
75 Decent
Value
70 Decent
69 Below average
77 Decent
Best value rating
Nike Vaporfly 3 In Context
More on the Nike Vaporfly
- Nike Vaporfly 4 next version
- Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2 previous version
- Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
- Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2 5 runners
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40 2 runners
- Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 2 runners