Fast, Fun, but the Fit could be Improved
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Dec 28, 2019
85 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
Racing shoe · Neutral · Road · 6.6 oz · 40/32mm stack · 8mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2 replaced it
How it ranks
The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 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. Most runners who compared it with another shoe preferred it. The rating is based on 27 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
95 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.
- Product line track record
- Our ratings
- External ratings
What runners say
“Anyone who doesn't acknowledge that these shoes are crazy fast is kidding themselves.”
“The extreme platform and narrow silhouette of the shoe would cause my foot to topple over the inside with each step.”
“It feels easier to run in, my splits are better, I run with better form, and I recover faster.”
“You feel how soft the foam is walking around, but the ride is perfect once you're up to speed.”
“Shoes seriously have some pop and fantastic cushioning for the distance of the marathon.”
“High cost for low durability.”
“Not a very durable shoe and too expensive to be replacing often.”
“It seems everyone feels like if they size down it is too small and if they size up it is too big.”
“Significantly more durable without giving up the socks with springs feeling that I love in the vaporfly.”
“Speed work and long runs were immediately easier.”
“They also seem to run a little smaller in size than normal.”
“I severely strained every muscle in my calf and ankle that is associated with stabilizing the ankle.”
“The support and cushioning is excellent and it really keeps your legs much fresher than my other running shoes.”
“I run 30 seconds faster per mile in these.”
“I rather doubt they'll last the 500km suggested by Nike.”
“I do wish the toe box was a bit wider and that the fit was a little more snug around the ankle.”
“The side laces are genius which makes the shoe fit my foot so naturally.”
“Amazing bounce and cushioning at a race-ready weight.”
“They do seem a little unstable at first, but after a mile or so your ankles adjust and it feels natural.”
“This shoe is NOT made for everyone.”
“These shoes feel happy when you get below 8 minute miles.”
“Don't try to go round corners too quickly in them—you'll fall off the earth into outer space.”
“The carbon plate, the lightness, the shape of the outsole all contribute to a rather peculiar-feeling running experience.”
“Felt a little extra strain in calves on first long run.”
Prefer this shoe over another
68% 21/31
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Reviewers report faster race times and fresher legs afterwards.
- Bouncy cushioning at 6.6 oz suits half marathons and marathons.
- Cushioning is the highest-rated dimension across twenty-seven reviewers, at 4.9 out of 5.
Cons
- Durability is its lowest-rated dimension at 3.7 out of 5, and reviewers say the outsole wears fast enough that most keep it for racing.
- Three reviewers want a wider toe box, and two of twenty-seven find it runs small.
- Three reviewers feel unstable on the tall platform, one of them badly enough to stop running for two weeks.
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
-
ZoomX Vaporfly Next% This shoe
2019 · 27 reviews
99 Exceptional
95 Confidence
-
2017 · 73 reviews
98 Exceptional
99 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 6.6 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 6.6 oz · Women's 6.6 oz
- Release
- 2019 Q3
- MSRP
- $250
- Stack
- 40/32mm
- Drop
- 8mm
Runner reviews
Believe the hype
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Dec 28, 2019
70 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 5
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Live up to the hype
5/5
Overall
runhaags · Dec 12, 2019
45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Zoom Streak LT 4
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
One run so far
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Sep 24, 2019
60 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Training with next
5/5
Overall
Martymart · Aug 9, 2019
5 mpw training for a marathon came from the HOKA Bondi 6
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
More from Nike
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% In Context
More on the Nike Vaporfly
- Nike Vaporfly 4
- Nike Vaporfly 3
- Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2 next version
- Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% 5 runners
- Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2 2 runners
- adidas Ultra Boost 2018 - 4.0 1 runner