Review of the record-breaking shoes: Nike Vaporfly 4% Flyknit

Nike Vaporfly 4% Flyknit shoes have been worn by all the runners who have set records (world, European, etc.) in road running events over the past two years. Does this mean they represent a decisive advantage for breaking records? Do they have a place in the equipment of a short, medium, or long-distance triathlete?

By Jean-François Tatard – Photos: All rights reserved

I admit, I succumbed. Perhaps out of mimicry, but I let myself be charmed by the supposed technology of the Nike Vaporfly 4% Flyknit. I wanted to test the shoes that run fast to see if the results lived up to their reputation. But to speak of technology concerning running shoes is a step that some find difficult to take, especially since a brand like Nike is not the last to master all the codes of communication.

The price is not today’s topic. At €250 a pair, they are expensive. But in running, we also know that ranges are renewed very often, and it’s easy with a little patience to find good promotions. You can already find them for less than €200 on the official Nike website, for example (not in all sizes, it’s true…). So why talk about them again? Here, it’s just about checking their benefits. It was during Black Friday and an exceptional 30% discount at NIKE that I finally gave in.

An acquisition in stages

In a month and a half, this is the second pair of Nikes I’ve bought. I proceeded, despite myself, in stages. A few weeks ago, I bought their little sisters: the Nike Zoom Fly, with which I ran a marathon in Lausanne as a pace-setter.

If I chose them, it’s because they share some common characteristics with the VaporFly. Quite circumspect, I thought, “we’ll start small“. Seduced, I shifted into second gear, and therefore ordered the famous running stars, in their older versions: The Nike VaporFly 4%. Don’t panic. It’s not an old model. At Nike, like others in running, they are very good at small cosmetic evolutions, but which change nothing fundamentally.

If we compare them with the Zoom Fly, we can say that the Nike Vaporfly are much more aggressive! Here, we’re driving an F1! Nevertheless, I find them very soft and ultimately more comfortable than what I had been told. It’s undeniable, these are shoes focused on competition and performance…

They even force a midfoot stride! We won’t reopen the debate on the correct stride in terms of efficiency. What I observe is that for those who heel strike, “clack-clack-clack“, they hit the ground like a plexiglass school ruler. What I mean by that is that these shoes are very demanding. To bend the carbon plate that is supposed to propel you by energy return, you have to give it your all.

The ultimate shoes for running very fast!

Are they suitable for all strides? Are they suitable for all runners? I repeat, these Vaporfly are excessively demanding. Not everyone is Kipchoge! Personally, what I notice is that if I run at 18 km/h, I love them, but if I run at 15 km/h, I hate them! Indeed, as soon as my pace drops a little, I have bad sensations…

I was sold a soft rubber. What I notice, contrary to what one might believe, is that the VaporFly do not have good cushioning. Indeed, this heel is absolutely not made for cushioning. What is it made for? Rather to store energy via a very special foam called ZoomX. As for the carbon plate, its function is to return this energy at the moment of propulsion. If you don’t run fast enough, the VaporFly will prove to be particularly unstable. And very uncomfortable. At slow speeds, the dynamism of the shoes is therefore non-existent for me. It even gives the impression of running with wooden clogs, albeit light ones.

The upper is nevertheless very breathable and consists of an ultra-light, extremely thin but above all very breathable woven mesh. Nothing to say, it ensures a secure and comfortable foot hold.

On the other hand, another weak point: the lacing system is really not great. I find the pressure distribution on the foot and on the arch inappropriate.

As for aesthetics, nothing to complain about! They have flow! And with the asymmetrical Swoosh, they benefit from a very aggressive look that reflects a sense of speed and performance. I like it!

And even more demanding

With the Vaporfly, there can be an additional problem: synchronization! It’s not easy to explain, but Marc Lozano, a coach and specialist in the field, also wanted to verify the effectiveness of these shoes. He sheds light on an essential point that we hadn’t thought of: “If you are not mechanically coordinated between the moment the shoe stores energy (in the ZoomX foam in the sole) and the moment the carbon plate unfolds to return that same energy in the push, there will be an ambivalence that can even be very disturbing or limiting.” This confirms that these shoes are more suited to very good runners, and for us, to fast triathletes, for shorter distance events, as we know that over long distances, especially at the end of an Ironman, the stride deteriorates due to fatigue.

Are the Vaporfly all flaws? No, of course not. When it rains or the road is slippery, we all want to maintain good grip under our feet! It’s a matter of safety. But also for maintaining efficiency. Generally, on wet ground, with the foot slipping, the stride deteriorates, the gluteal and hamstring muscles are more recruited, and ultimately: seconds are lost. With the Vaporfly, it seems that you grip better and can continue to focus on performance.

Shoes for whom?

The use of VaporFly only concerns fast runners with a solid and dynamic stride. For them, and only for them, there will be proven effectiveness. But to gain 10′ in a marathon, perhaps one should not exaggerate. For the majority of 3bikes.fr readers, I advise you not to break the bank and if you love the swoosh brand as much, invest instead in Pegasus or Zoom Fly.

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