Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%

Name: Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
Brand: Nike
Rating: 4.8 (24 reviews)

Racing · Neutral · Road · 6.6 oz · 8mm drop · 40/32mm stack

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. The rating rests on 27 runner reviews and 4 other rated shoes in the Vaporfly product line.

Exceptional

100/100

Overall

Exceptional 100

Appearance

Exceptional 99

Cushioning

Exceptional 99

Comfort

Exceptional 98

Value

Decent 75

Durability

Bottom-tier 59

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

100/100

Very high 100

What runners say

“Anyone who doesn't acknowledge that these shoes are crazy fast is kidding themselves.”

5/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Zoom Streak LT 4

“The extreme platform and narrow silhouette of the shoe would cause my foot to topple over the inside with each step.”

3/5 Full review 80 mpw training for a marathon

“It feels easier to run in, my splits are better, I run with better form, and I recover faster.”

5/5 Full review 85 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%

“You feel how soft the foam is walking around, but the ride is perfect once you're up to speed.”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 5

“Shoes seriously have some pop and fantastic cushioning for the distance of the marathon.”

4/5 Full review training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2

“Not a very durable shoe and too expensive to be replacing often.”

5/5 Full review 10 mpw training for a half marathon

“High cost for low durability.”

4/5 Full review training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2

“It seems everyone feels like if they size down it is too small and if they size up it is too big.”

5/5 Full review 85 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%

“Significantly more durable without giving up the socks with springs feeling that I love in the vaporfly.”

5/5 Full review training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%

“Speed work and long runs were immediately easier.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 10

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 Sep 14.

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.

ZoomX Vaporfly Next% rates 100. This shoe has very high certainty. See how we rate shoes.

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

99 2017 100 2019 99 2021 99 2023 98 2025

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Vaporfly 4

2025 · 3 reviews

98 Exceptional

91 Confidence
Vaporfly 3

2023 · 89 reviews

99 Exceptional

100 Confidence
ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2

2021 · 49 reviews

99 Exceptional

99 Confidence
ZoomX Vaporfly Next% This shoe

2019 · 27 reviews

100 Exceptional

100 Confidence
Zoom Vaporfly 4%

2017 · 73 reviews

99 Exceptional

100 Confidence

Reader Ratings

27 ratings

5/5 22

4/5 4

3/5 1

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 6.6 oz
Release: 2019 Q3
MSRP: $250
Stack Height: 40mm heel - 32mm toe
Drop Height: 8mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Very fast

5/5

Overall

Not a very durable shoe and too expensive to be replacing often so I save this shoe for when I'm peaking or looking to time trial. Very fast shoe that really propels you forward. Pushes you onto your toes when walking and makes you feel like running. The support and cushioning is excellent and it really keeps your legs much fresher than my other running shoes. I train in more minimalist shoes to strengthen legs and you fly along in these after that. Best running shoe I have ever tried and lives up the hype. Cushioning is so bouncy but enough firmness to support you.

tadhgok · May 8, 2020

10 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 4/5

Worth the Hype

5/5

Overall

Haven't run a long race in these just yet, but even after running just a mile TT and a tempo run can tell they're the real deal. Amazing bounce and cushioning at a race-ready weight. For 10k and under you could probably run as fast in some racing flats, but these will save your legs and feel great.

THOUGHTSLEADER · Apr 20, 2020

50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas adizero Boston 7

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 4/5

Major Pain

3/5

Overall

This shoe is NOT made for everyone. I only wore it three times--a 10k race, a half marathon, and a 15 mile MP tempo. Each time, I had varying levels of ankle pain. I have flat arches, and the extreme platform and narrow silhouette of the shoe would cause my foot to topple over the inside with each step. In the half marathon, I severely strained every muscle in the my calf and ankle that is associated with stabilizing the ankle and I couldn't run for 2 weeks. That being said, I did have two major PR's in this shoe, even with having to drag around my damaged ankles. I would have raced a marathon in them too if my physical therapist didn't threaten to kill me if I did.

Anonymous runner · Jan 29, 2020

80 mpw training for a marathon

Comfort: 1/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 3/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 3/5

Fast Kicks!

4/5

Overall

I have run a half marathon and a full marathon in the new Nike Vaporfly Next% shoes. Shoes seriously have some pop and fantastic cushioning for the distance of the marathon. They do seem a little unstable at first, but after a mile or so you're ankles adjust and it feels natural. There is no question they save the legs from a beating after a hard marathon. I would recommend these every single time for a half marathon or above distance. My only negatives are the high cost for low durability. I've limited my use of these to only a few short runs prior to races so that I can get as much "pop" as possible in races. They also seem to run a little smaller in size than normal. I wear a half size bigger than I would in the Turbo or Pegasus and might could get away with a full size bigger. Overall, fantastic racing shoe!

Anonymous runner · Jan 28, 2020

training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2

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

Fast shoes for race day

4/5

Overall

There's something about these shoes which makes them fast. The carbon plate, the lightness, the shape of the out soul...... all contribute to a rather peculiar-feeling running experience. But they help maintain the pace even when you feel as if you're flagging. I've used them for 1/2 marathon, full marathon and 70.3 triathlon (you'll need to put socks on before the run) and every race has been successful in terms of bettering my predicted time in regular race shoes. However!! They are expensive and I rather doubt they'll last the 500km suggested by Nike. Oh, and don't try to go round corners too quickly in them - you'll fall off the earth into outer space

Anonymous runner · Jan 24, 2020

training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Fastwitch 9

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 2/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 4/5

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Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%

Exceptional