Summary
This is just an overview, not a review. We did not test the ZoomX Vaporfly Next % yet.Latest iteration of the line that started for the Breaking2 project, the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next % is the shoe that has dominated the marathon world in 2019 and does not seem intentioned to stop for 2020.
The incredible mix of technologies in the sole of this shoe account for most of the magic: Nike uses its revolutionary ZoomX foam for a great combination of cushioning, energy return and lightweight. Contrary to a traditional racing flat, the Vaporflys sport a lot of midsole, with stack heights of 40 and 32mm and therefore a heel drop of 8mm.
The real star of the shoe, though, is the carbon-fiber plate that runs all along the midsole, providing a distinct “snap” that propels the foot through the gait and especially at the toe-off.
On the upper, we find a new construction by Nike: Engineered Woven Mesh, paired with an offset lacing that reduces pressure and creates a more tailored fit.
All this is a package that weights just 6.6 ounces and had been proved time and again to be the maker of many runners’ personal bests in both the Marathon and the Half Marathon.
Somebody complains about the high price of the shoe, but this is a shoe that is leaps and bounds above its competitors at the moment and if you are serious about beating your PR, the $250 list price should not stop you.
