Nike Zoom Fly 6 Multi Tester Review: 5 Comparisons

Nike Zoom Fly 6 ($170)

“Kipchoge examined and authorised”

Jen: Neglect what you thought you knew concerning the Zoom Fly from the Zoom Fly 5, and deal with #6 as its personal model new shoe. Nike has made some main updates and enhancements on this model, making a lighter, cushier, and bouncier supertrainer with most of the similar advantages however a cheaper price tag than its race-day counterparts. It drops considerably in weight whereas growing in stack top.

Professionals:

Instantly snug, dialed in true to dimension match: Sally, Jen

Noticeably lighter, softer, and snappier than the Zoom Fly 5: Jen

Nike did away with the unresponsive recycled zoom x foam of earlier variations: Sally

Good versatility, excelling at slower paces in addition to uptempo quicker paces: Sally, Jen

Good worth for a plated zoom x supertrainer: Sally

Easy rocker experience that traits quicker than your perceived effort: Sally

Cons:

Laces are too skinny; why not the unbelievable serrated edge laces Nike makes use of on their race footwear?: Sally

When you are likely to lose toenails within the Alphafly, you might have the identical difficulty with this one (runs brief/shallow): Jen/Sally

True to Nike kind, this shoe is a bit loud underfoot (though nowhere close to as noisy because the Alphafly): Sally

Most comparable footwear

Saucony Endorphin Pace 4 (Sally, Jen)

New Steadiness SC Coach V3 (Sally)

ASICS Superblast 2 (Sally)

Hoka Mach X 2 (Sally, Jen)

Nike Alphafly NEXT% 2 (Jen)

Please discover the testers full run bios on the finish of the article after Comparisons.

Stats

Spec Weight: W US8 – 7.69 oz / 218g // M US 10 -9.35 oz / 265g

Zoom Fly 5: W US8 8.54 oz /242g; M US10 11 oz / 314g

girls’s 7.5 oz / 212 g (US W8)

Stack Peak: males’s 42 mm heel / 34 mm forefoot ( 8 mm drop spec, earlier 10mm drop)

Zoom Fly 5 Stack Peak: Approx. 39mm heel / 29mm forefoot

Platform Width: 84 mm heel / 66 mm midfoot /108 mm forefoot (US W8.5)

First Impressions, Match and Higher

Jen: Instantly upon choosing up the Zoom Fly 6, I needed to double-check that it was certainly a Zoom Fly. The Zoom Fly 5 was a strong shoe, don’t get me flawed: properly rockered, sturdy, and a dependable selection for lengthy uptempo exercises. However the Zoom Fly 6 is essentially completely different, and in my view is nearer to the Alphafly NEXT% 2 than the Zoom Fly 5.

The higher is lighter and lies easily, locking your foot properly into the true-to-size match. The toe field feels huge sufficient, however after a number of runs I did discover the identical stress on the large toenail as within the Alphafly.

Sally: I personally was an enormous fan of the sooner Zoom Fly fashions, as I are likely to choose uptempo trainers for many of my miles. I didn’t run within the Zoom Fly 5, however from what I heard and browse, I didn’t miss something. The Zoom Fly 5 didn’t get a lot love in any respect, and Nike has had an actual void of their lineup for a efficiency coaching companion for Vaporfly and Alphafly followers.

I used to be intrigued and cautiously optimistic after I acquired the Zoom Fly 6; this can be a completely completely different wanting shoe than its predecessor.

And after I put it on my ft, wow, it felt nice.

It suits comfortably with a properly padded heel and barely padded gusseted tongue that stays obediently in place. Nike runs a bit slender which is ok for my slender ft, however I discover there may be loads of width within the toebox for the common foot.

I might name it true to dimension however leaning towards a snugger race-day shoe efficiency match, with the caveat that the toebox is a bit shallow on the entrance so that you may choose to dimension up half a dimension if you may be doing lengthy runs on this shoe (for those who worth your toenails).

The maintain of your foot is good and safe all through, and I’ve had no hotspots wherever after 35 miles.

The laces are a bit skinny – we all know Nike could make superb serrated laces that they use on their carbon-plates racers, so why skimp on the laces right here? In any other case the lacing system is easy and efficient.

There are two layers of woven mesh that holds the foot properly. It feels a bit plasticky on the skin, nevertheless it appears to work properly and I had no issues with breathability. Lastly, it’s a nice wanting shoe!

Midsole & Platform

Jen: With the addition of extra ZoomX foam, the midsole feels indulgently plush, one other placing distinction from the firmer experience of the Zoom Fly 5. The extra stack top on this model isn’t noticeable underfoot and I didn’t discover any lack of lateral stability round turns.

Sally: That is the place the magic occurs; this midsole is what makes this shoe such a flexible coaching and racing hybrid supertrainer. There’s a massive slab of bouncy ZoomX PEBA foam stacked on prime of a layer of firmer SRO2 foam; sandwiched between the 2 foams is a full-length carbon plate they name the Flyplate.

With a stack top of 42mm, there may be loads of foam. Whereas the texture underfoot is smooth and considerably bouncy, it isn’t a dramatic bounce however a managed responsiveness. The rocker geometry is kind of noticeable, which makes it enjoyable to run in however awkward to stroll in.

Heel strikers may discover a difficulty with stability within the heel as a result of cantilevered geometry.

All in all, the mixture of the 2 foams and the carbon plate make for a responsive, peppy midsole that seemingly returns again extra power than you give.

Outsole

Jen: The outsole has sufficient grip to not be slippery on moist pavement or hills, however doesn’t intrude with the experience. I wouldn’t change something on this one.

Sally: There may be loads of rubber with good waffle grip on the forefoot of the shoe, and two huge items of rubber underneath the heel. The grip is strong on leaves and moist roads. Like many Nike race day footwear, it’s a bit loud and noisy underfoot, however thankfully nowhere close to as loud because the tremendous noisy AlphaFly. Nonetheless, there isn’t any sneaking up on the runner in entrance of you. The waffle grips are substantial sufficient to imagine good sturdiness.

Trip, Conclusions and Suggestions

Jen: Supershoes can really feel like a responsible pleasure: that mixture of softness, spring, and somewhat extra velocity than you’re used to on the similar effort.

The hefty price ticket and restricted longevity of most supershoes lead many runners to limit their use to sure exercises and race day, however the Zoom Fly 6 presents itself as a really interesting various.

My impression is that it’s 80% of an Alphafly NEXT%: the identical mixture of marshmallow and trampoline, however with barely much less ahead propulsion on the toe-off.

The Zoom Fly 6 additionally feels pretty democratic in its advantages, at the very least in comparison with a number of the early supershoes that felt noticeably smoother the nearer you bought to elite male marathoners’ paces. It felt equally good from 8:30/mi warmup right down to 4:20/mi strides, and I discovered myself reaching for it with out hesitation for each speedwork and tempo days.

I wouldn’t be in any respect stunned to see it on some Turkey Trot begin traces this fall, although I doubt it can lure many marathoners away from race-day variations.

Kudos to Nike for a complete replace that turns the Zoom Fly from high quality to prime of the road for plated trainers.

Jen’s Rating: 9.8/10

(-0.2 for the match of the higher over the large toe),

😊😊😊😊😊

Sally: Nike wanted a win on this difficult yr and within the rising tremendous coach class and I believe they’ve one on this revamped Zoom Fly 6! It’s a large enchancment over its predecessor, and might now compete solidly with the opposite manufacturers’ profitable carbon-plated tremendous trainers.

It suits the invoice properly as an uptempo companion coach for the runner who races within the Alphafly or Vaporfly.

The great mixture of the Zoom X Foam and the firmer extra sturdy SRO2 foam with the full-length carbon fiber Flyplate make for a peppy, easy, nimble experience. It appears fairly versatile, working properly at slower paces in addition to quicker tempo paces.

In fact, all of us love a shoe that helps us run at quicker paces than our perceived effort would point out; my Garmin typically stunned me on some “simple” runs whereas testing this shoe. It’s tremendous snug and secure, and rolls easily and with good spunk. And at “solely” $170, it’s a nice worth as a carbon plated excessive stack supertrainer that appears and feels and performs extremely properly. Effectively accomplished, Nike, you’re again!

Sally’s rating: 9.7/10

Smiles rating: 😊😊😊😊😊!

5 Comparisons

Zoom Fly 5 (RTR Evaluation):

Jen: In addition to each being true-to-size, these footwear don’t have a complete lot in frequent. The ZF6 is lighter, cushier, and bouncier, with a redesigned higher and updates to the froth, as talked about above. The ZF6 is a marked enchancment – for those who wrote off the ZF5, you could need to rethink.

Hoka Mach X 1 and 2 (RTR Evaluation)

Sally: (W8 in each) Each enjoyable energetic footwear, however my achilles had a tricky time with the Hoka Mach X2. Zoom Fly 6 has extra stack top and I believe a bit firmer and extra propulsive really feel, and can also be extra versatile as a race day possibility. Zoom Fly 6 prices $30 much less, and will get my vote for because the choose right here.

Endorphin Pace 3 and 4 (RTR Evaluation):

Jen: Related footwear and these are direct rivals within the supertrainer class. The Endorphin Pace feels extra rockered to me, whereas the ZF6 has extra spring. The Endorphin Pace additionally feels firmer underfoot and I discovered the nylon plate tended to roll my foot in direction of the lateral aspect, whereas the ZF6 permits a balanced mid- or forefoot strike. The match is comparable for a W8.5 in each footwear (and in my view, each might use only a contact extra size within the toe field).Each are gentle, though the ZF6 feels lighter and the higher is extra minimal.

Sally: (W8 in each, toe size equally brief in each so I would like half dimension up for lengthy runs) I really like the Endorphin Pace household! However may I just like the Zoom Fly 6 extra? I believe so. I see the Zoom Fly 6 as nearer to the earlier Endorphin Pace trainers, the ES4 a bit extra “democratic” and universally interesting to extra runners with extra management and fewer pizzazz. The Zoom Fly 6 prices much less, has a carbon plate vs a plastic plate, extra stack top, and Zoom X foam. Each are superior footwear for uptempo runs, but when I can solely have one pair, I’ll go together with the Zoom Fly 6. And I might even race in it.

ASICS Superblast 2 (RTR Evaluation)

Sally: (W8 in each).The SuperBlast 2 could be very well-loved and has a formidable stack of enjoyable foam, however it may be polarizing. I beloved it till I didn’t – and that was a number of weeks in the past on a 21-mile NYC Marathon coaching run. Ouch, the blister underneath my huge toe is sort of healed. The Zoom Fly 6 feels lighter (test stats!) and prices much less. Each might be considered versatile trainers with the racing possibility, however the Zoom Fly 6 fits my operating model higher. And you’ll avoid wasting $$$.

Brooks Hyperion Max (RTR Evaluation)

Jen: My W8.5 suits the identical on this shoe as within the Zoom Fly (each true-to-size). Each are gentle and cushioned footwear well-suited for uptempo runs, however the Hyperion Max is firmer underfoot and fewer noticeably springy. It has calmly extra room within the toe, although. The Zoom Fly is equally versatile, however offers somewhat additional velocity enhance that the Hyperion Max doesn’t..

Tester Profiles

Jennifer discovered path operating in her mid-20’s and commenced dabbling on the roads a number of years later. Path 50k’s and street marathons are nearest and dearest to her coronary heart, however she loves chasing aggressive and private targets on any floor and over any distance. As of late, you could find her totally on the candy California singletrack round Auburn and Truckee, often averaging 70-95 mpw. Relying on the season, she additionally competes within the USATF street and XC circuits for Sacramento Operating Affiliation’s racing staff. She has a marathon PR of two:41 and was not too long ago chosen as an alternate for the USA staff for 50k world championships.

Sally is a lifelong runner and mom of 5 who agreed in opposition to her higher judgment to run her first marathon at age 54; she has since run the previous 11 Boston Marathons, two NYC Marathons, two Chicagos, and one London with the WMM Six Star Medal now in her sights. With a Boston PR of three:25:55 in 2022 (ninth place in AG) and two consecutive 2nd place in Age Group W60 awards in NYC, she competed within the Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group World Championships on the 2022 London Marathon and ran an all-time PR of three:24:02, putting sixth on the earth in her girls’s 60-64 age group. She additionally competes in USATF races with the Higher Lowell Highway Runners staff. So as to add which means to her Boston Marathon races she runs with Workforce Eye and Ear and has raised over $320,000 for Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital. Sally is 5’2’’ and 105 kilos and lives in Marblehead, MA, coaching open air yr spherical. She blames her love of snowboarding out West for any and all Boston Marathon coaching challenges.

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