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Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%

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.

Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%

of 5

Exceptional

100/100
Overall
100
Appearance
99
Cushioning
99
Comfort
98
Value
75
Durability
59
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

100/100

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.

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

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

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

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

Showing 6–10 of 24 written reviews

Nike vaopory next% review

5/5

Overall

This is the best racing shoe that I’ve ever run . Absolutely glorious.

Anonymous runner · Jan 23, 2020

45 mpw training for a marathon came from the adidas adizero adios 5

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

Nike vaporfly Next percent

5/5

Overall

Very comfortable shoes , nice support for fast workouts on the track.

Anonymous runner · Jan 23, 2020

65 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2

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

Vaporfly NEXT%

5/5

Overall

It’s an amazing marathon racing shoe. I wouldn’t run a half or a marathon in anything else!

Anonymous runner · Jan 19, 2020

5 mpw training for a marathon came from the adidas Ultra Boost 2018 - 4.0

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

Flying on springs

5/5

Overall

I have become a shoe snob because of these shoes. I first tried the 4%s and fell in love, but I hated how expensive they were for only a few races. When I tried the next%s I found them significantly more durable without giving up the socks with springs feeling that I love in the vaporfly. The side laces are genius which makes the shoe fit my foot so naturally.

Anonymous runner · Jan 17, 2020

training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%

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

Believe the hype

5/5

Overall

Until another company figures out how to implement a carbon plate in newer foam tech like Nike has, without waking up patent lawyers, this is the racing shoe for distance runners of all levels. I'm 57 and only a 3:46 marathoner, but bought these for the last month of my training cycle for a winter marathon. Speed work and long runs were immediately easier. My recovery is better. The shoes are astonishingly comfortable, though the feel is very different from my Kinvara 10s. Will see how I perform in an actual marathon wearing these, but I'm optimistic. The shoes make subtle nudges towards better form--you have to pay more attention to toe off at first. Felt a little extra strain in calves on first long run. But these shoes feel happy when you get below 8 minute miles. Worth the high price tag, though too early (one week) to tell about wear. Nike needs competition on this so price declines and everyone has access.

Anonymous runner · Jan 10, 2020

50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 10

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.

Current shoe
Choose a model
Best overall / Best comfort / Best cushioning
Lightest / Newest / Lowest price
Best durability / Best value
Shoe properties
Type
Racing
Racing
Racing
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
6.6 oz M
4.9 oz M Lightest
7.7 oz M
Stack
40/32mm
36/30mm
Drop
8mm
6mm
8mm
Release
2019 Q3
2025 Newest
2024 Q1
MSRP
$250
$260
$295
Best price
$109.99 Lowest price
$142.82
Ratings
Overall
Exceptional (100) Best overall
Exceptional (98)
Exceptional (99)
Comfort
Exceptional (98) Best comfort
Good (89)
Excellent (95)
Cushioning
Exceptional (99) Best cushioning
Exceptional (98)
Exceptional (97)
Durability
Bottom-tier (59)
Bottom-tier (51)
Below average (65) Best durability
Appearance
Exceptional (99) Best appearance
Exceptional (98)
Excellent (96)
Value
Decent (75)
Below average (67)
Good (84) Best value
Specific shoe

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