Type a shoe name, like Pegasus, Clifton or Kayano.

Nike Air Zoom Elite 6

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.7 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 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Looks and value are its strongest sub-ratings. Cushioning scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 38 runner reviews and 4 other rated shoes in the Air Zoom Elite product line.

Nike Air Zoom Elite 6

of 2

Excellent

93/100
Overall
93
Appearance
97
Value
91
Cushioning
81
Durability
83
Comfort
84
Confidence

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 will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

92/100

92

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
“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

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 Sep 14.


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.

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
50 60 70 80 90 100 25 50 75 100

Better Shoes Rating

Air Zoom Elite 6 rates 93. This shoe has high certainty. 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

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.
  • Air Zoom Elite 9

    2017 · 20 reviews

    84 Good

    89 Confidence

  • Air Zoom Elite 8

    2016 · 11 reviews

    90 Good

    88 Confidence

  • Air Zoom Elite 7

    2014 · 27 reviews

    85 Good

    93 Confidence

  • Air Zoom Elite 6 This shoe

    2013 · 38 reviews

    93 Excellent

    92 Confidence

  • Air Zoom Elite 5

    2012 · 9 reviews

    69 Below average

    71 Confidence

Reader Ratings

38 ratings
5/5 26
4/5 9
3/5 2
2/5 1
1/5 0

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight
9.7 oz
Release
2013
MSRP
$110

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 1–5 of 38 written reviews

Reader review

5/5

Overall

been running in this line of shoes since college (9 years). best shoe for real runners that need a little support and good forefoot cushion on long ones (that i've found) also have run in: ds trainer, kayano, mizuno wave rider, some books that were free,

Anonymous runner · May 11, 2015

came from the ASICS DS Trainer 17

Comfort
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
3/5

Reader review

5/5

Overall

stack819 · Mar 22, 2015

50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Elite 5

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

Reader review

4/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Mar 22, 2015

70 mpw 14,599 miles in this shoe training for middle distance

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

Reader review

5/5

Overall

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

Anonymous runner · Sep 22, 2014

35 mpw training for a half marathon

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

Alternatives

Other shoes worth considering.

More from Nike

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
Choose a model
Best appearance / Best value
Lightest
Newest / Best overall / Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
9.7 oz M
8.3 oz M Lightest
8.5 oz M
Stack
40/35mm
Drop
8mm
5mm
Release
2013
2017 Q3
2023 Q1 Newest
MSRP
$110 Lower MSRP
$120
$145
Best price
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Excellent (93)
Good (84)
Exceptional (99) Best overall
Comfort
Good (84)
Below average (66)
Exceptional (99) Best comfort
Cushioning
Good (81)
Good (82)
Exceptional (99) Best cushioning
Durability
Good (83)
Decent (74)
Very good (92) Best durability
Appearance
Excellent (97) Best appearance
Excellent (96)
Very good (91)
Value
Very good (91) Best value
Good (90)
Good (88)
Specific shoe

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