The Nike Zoom Fly ranks among the stronger racing shoes in our data. Looks and cushioning are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 90 runner reviews and 5 other rated shoes in the Zoom Fly product line.
Good
86/100
Overall
Good86
Appearance
Exceptional99
Cushioning
Excellent95
Comfort
Good84
Value
Decent76
Durability
Bottom-tier58
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.
Reviewers find the plate propulsive and favor it for tempo runs, long intervals and races.
It weighs 8.6 oz on a 40mm heel stack, and reviewers find it cushioned enough for marathon-distance runs.
Three reviewers say their legs feel fresher after long, fast efforts in it.
Cons
Six reviewers wear through the outsole or foam between 150 and 350 miles, while three get 400 miles or more.
Five reviewers find it unsteady on turns and uneven ground.
Four reviewers report poor traction in wet or snow and an upper that soaks up water.
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
5060708090100255075100
Better Shoes Rating
Zoom Fly rates 86.
This shoe has very high certainty.
See how we rate shoes.
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Nike Zoom Fly
Each dot is one version of the Zoom Fly, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Rating
406080100
642016862017672019642021922022812024
Release year
We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating.
See why.
I use this shoe primarily for workouts and long runs. Shoe feels great and really helps you pick up the pace. They are perfect for marathon pace and keep legs feeling fresh on 20+ mile long runs. It would be great if these shoes were lighter. I think the mid 7 ounce range would be ideal. Also, I found that this shoe can cause some heel pain, so better not to be used everyday.
Anonymous runner · Dec 19, 2018
60 mpw·training for a marathon
Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
4/5
Wowzah
5/5
Overall
This is, for the most part, a great shoe. There are a few defects that I will point out.
The good:
The midsole, plate combo. Gosh this shoe feels fast and comfy. From the first mile to the last it gives you what you need. Ultimately it is one of the most comfortable shoes I've run in this year.
The multi-use potential. From 15 mile slogs to 8 mile track workouts. This shoe can handle them all. It can tolerate concrete surfaces and light gravel without any change in traction.
General upper comfort. For not offering a lot of variability by the way of lacing the shoe, it still fits quite well and is comfy as hell.
The so-so:
The upper in general. Although it is incredibly comfy, on uneven surfaces or hills you might find that your heel slips out, and since you can't really lock down the shoe it makes it a nuisance. Going forward, Nike needs to figure out how to lock down the heel lock-down
The bad:
Stability of this shoe is/was lacking. I will say that with time the shoe feels more stable, but to start it definitely was way too tolerant of inversion of the foot. I felt like any misstep might cause me to severely role my ankle. In my opinion the solution is to raise the lateral outsole slightly, or offer a little bit more lockdown in the upper.
Durability of the outsole. Although the shoe offers good traction, at 100 miles the lateral aspect of the forefoot (my heaviest wear spot) is starting to show wear. I doubt it will make it much more than 200 miles. Going forward, I think Nike needs to use a more high-wear pattern or a more high-wear rubber either throughout the outsole or in high-wear locations. Similar to the NB Beacon, but maybe more rubber than that.
All in all a great shoe that I grab for every other day. Would recommend especially with a 10% off coupon.
The breaking 2 inspired "entry level" racer with a nylon and carbon fiber infused plate in the sole.
The Good:
Super snug fly wire upper prevents any slipping on the insole. Really light (8.7oz) considering how tall the shoe is. Very cushioned ride. The shape of the sole encourages a quick pace.
The Bad:
Not a lot of traction, so stick to the sidewalk and the streets (dry weather only). Sole durability is suspect. Might run a half size small for some wearers. Wear like platform shoes (10mm drop to boot).
This is a great shoe! For the first one hundred miles. Then it's just a shoe. The Lunarlon mid-sole breaks down pretty quickly and the plate is good for maybe a hundred miles max.
The plate itself isn't a spring as many think, it's there to keep the shoe as rigid as possible so that your step becomes more efficient on the toe push off and it works. Lunarlon is not a mid-sole a lot of serious runners will like because it compresses then disperses so there isn't a lot of energy return.
Verdict:
I fell in love with this shoe early and I still like it, but buy it on severe discount and race it for the first hundred. Then after the hundred, start using it in your training rotation to get your money's worth. This shoe is positioned as more elite than it should be in the Nike hierarchy. When you get to brass tacks, this should be priced right at or right below the Pegasus.
If you aren't looking for the discount then just spend the extra ten bucks and get the Zoom Fly Flyknit. Here's why:
React mid-sole (bouncier ride and more durable)
Full carbon fiber plate
If money is no object? Get the 4%, moneybags.
I guess you should buy these if...
You want to PR on a budget (I can't stress enough DON'T buy these full price).
Anonymous runner · Dec 16, 2018
52 mpw·training for a half marathon
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
1/5
This shoe sets the bar
5/5
Overall
I love these shoes!
I use them at least 2x a week doing track workouts and they get the job done. I've put in almost 150 miles in them and they're just now starting to lose their cushion. The thick sole of the shoe allows for a well-cushioned ride even though it is more of a 'racing' shoe. The plate in the sole 'rocks' you up on to your toes and propels you forward like none other. The price point might be a little high for some people but now you can find these shoes for pretty cheap (I bought a brand new pair for less than $40 the other day).
This shoe is the new standard for top-tier racing flats for road races.
I cant really think of a downside to these shoes. I guess maybe the thick sole gives the shoes a less-than-fashionable appearance, but who cares, right?
