Analysis: Nike Intoduces the ACG Ultrafly Trail Racer and Radical AirFlow Cooling Shirt

Now we all know extra as Nike pronounces the ACG Ultrafly and Radical AirFlow equipment coming Spring 2026.

In a associated growth Nike additionally rebranded its elite path operating gear to ACG and introduced its elite path athletes below a brand new crew umbrella “The All Circumstances Racing Division” with 22 athletes representing 22 international locations and 5 US states.

ACG Ultrafly (pricing TBD)

The ACG Ultrafly is an evolution of the unique Ultrafly Path (RTR Overview). The unique Ultrafly was principally a highway tremendous shoe with a Zoom X midsole, a really stiff full size carbon plate and in a really welcome first for Nike, a Vibram Megagrip outsole.

The brand new ACG Ultrafly went via 13 rounds of testing and trdy 30,000 miles, essentially the most ever for a Nike shoe with Racing Division athletes (after all) and different athletes collaborating.  

The result’s a 37mm heel / 28.5mm forefoot  (barely much less the UF 1’s 38.5 mm / 30 mm) path supershoe with: 

a twin density ZoomX newly tuned midsole  foam with high path (or seemingly for any highway shoe as nicely) power return of 85%, 

a ⅞ size carbon plate break up down the center to higher conform to terrain and with some flexibility (we requested to Nike to indicate us the flex throughout the media name). 

The  Vibram MegaGrip Litebase with 3mm lugs outsole continues.

The outsole sample exhibits broader longer contact floor lugs in a less complicated structure with much less multi angular lug shaping (see UF1 pic under). 

ACG Ultrafly 

Ultrafly Path 1

We count on the brand new design, together with many small holes via to the midsole, will present improved clean terrain really feel and help with extra technical terrain really feel and general flexibility if possibly with a bit much less free terrain grip. 

In Nike spec US M 10 the burden is 10.12 oz / 287g with the ladies’s 228g US8. Our US males’s 10 check samples of the Ultrafly 1 have been 10.6 oz/ 304g so we see a welcome weight drop to a aggressive weight for a shoe in its class. 

Now we have fewer particulars on the higher (though the muddy pairs within the PR photos look fairly a bit like Matryx however with skinny overlays and never woven in help)  however Nike tells us the UF 2 is on a wider but final than v1 (and v1 was very broad and never precisely safe) particularly on the toe field so we hope maintain isn’t impacted. 

The higher is claimed to be faster-draining and extra breathable. factor as V1’s ripstop-like materials wasn’t that good in that division  The whole lot factors to a state-of-the-art path racing shoe for elites with a extra accessible design for the remainder of us and nice versatility. Actually Nike tells us Eliud Kipchoge can also be an enormous fan (and examined)for his runs in Kenya, totally on grime roads. 

Radical AirFlow

Whereas Caleb’s footwear have been a bit onerous to see his high was not. Holy Holes!

Nike and its labs, once more joined by a lot testing by athletes got down to create a high that successfully cooled athletes with a spotlight initially on the at all times tremendous sizzling Western States situations. 

The 100% recycled knit is constructed right into a system of basically air ducts to direct the move of air to the physique and speed up evaporative cooling. Athletes report a “breezy sensation” and that it’s like “stepping right into a fridge”. I think about particularly if dosed with some ice water alongside the way in which!

The arm openings are after all designed for movement but additionally help in growing air move. 

I are inclined to run sizzling and don’t care about seems to be and suppose the mixture of a free match and all of the air shifting holes can actually help in cooling on the go.  I additionally suppose when worn below a shell in moist or cooler situations the evaporation might make these runs but extra comfy. Nike can also be engaged on how the know-how is perhaps utilized to different sports activities.

These progressive new merchandise, their current success at Western States, and the formation of the All Circumstances Division for certain level to Nike’s now much better outlined and we hope executed dedication to off highway operating.

RoadTrailRun can be updating this text and can have a video after we see each in particular person and do a demo run within the ACG Ultrafly Sept. 28 at UTMB

Sam is the Editor and Founding father of Street Path Run. He’s in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th 12 months of operating roads and trails. He has a a long time outdated 2:28 marathon PR. Nowadays he runs halves within the simply sub 1:43 vary if he will get very, very fortunate. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week principally at average paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, mountain climbing or on nordic skis. He’s 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he’s not having fun with too many tremendous New England IPA’s.