Nike Zoom Fly Flyknit

Nike Zoom Fly Flyknit – For the days you want to run fast

More photos

The Zoom Fly Flyknit offers much of the technology of the Vapor Fly 4% without the hefty £250 price tag. It's sock-like upper provides an extremely comfortable fit, and the shoe encourages a fast, fluid pace.

The Zoom Fly Flyknit has cemented itself as my first choice for fast training and racing.

Pros           

• Very responsive
• Provides cushioning and speed
• Incredibly comfortable sock-like upper

Cons

• Not as light as many racing shoes
• Question over durability of sole

Introduction

Before beginning this review, I feel that I should confess that I’ve never run in a Nike shoe.

It’s not that I’ve had anything against Nike; I’ve read the hype, seen the die-hard Nike addicts swear allegiance to their manufacturer-of-choice and the despair of those trying desperately to secure a pair of Vaporfly 4% shoes each time Nike release another batch.

I’ve generally found however that a combination of New Balance and Brooks suit me well for road running, with Inov8 delivering everything I need off-road. Despite this, I really felt that I should try a pair of Nike running shoes, and then I saw the release of the Zoom Fly Flyknit.

This is the second version of Nike’s Zoom Fly – a kind of "affordable" version of the Vaporfly 4% which now incorporates the same full-length carbon-fiber plate that was instrumental in the 2017 sub-2 hour marathon attempt. I figured that it was time to give them a go.

Appearance

I have to hand it to Nike the Zoom Fly FK looks like a fantastically fast shoe. One you also know you could happily combine with a pair of jeans or casual shorts should you wish.

Taking it out of the box, I couldn’t help admiring the streamlined look of the shoe right down to the way that the midsole is formed to a point at the back of the shoe. The upper looks and feels great, and even the "Nike Racing" branded insole and aglets are designed to inspire a "let’s go out and do this feeling."

Nike offers the Zoom Fly FK in a range colorways including an aptly named "Bright Crimson" which appears more like an orange, and a "Blue Orbit."

Each of which will help you make a visual statement that will see you stand out from the pack unless you happen to be at the front end of one of the marathon majors when most of the elite field are often sporting bright orange Vapor Fly shoes!

I chose the rather understated Black/White/Gunsmoke colorway and was immediately impressed with the shoe. In reality, I’m sure that it’ll come as no surprise that Nike has once again designed a great looking shoe.

Weight & drop

The Zoom Fly Flyknit is listed as 238g (8.7oz). This certainly isn’t as light as the premium end Vaporfly 4% which comes in at 184g, or similar racing shoes such as 1400v6 Racing Shoe at 204g.

The key, however, is that I don’t feel that this is a shoe that stays in its box until race day, but rather one that can be used for more regular tempo and fast training sessions. And so, it compares favorably to other light training shoes such as the Fresh Foam Zante v4 at 244g.

As expected, my UK 13.5 (US14) shoe weighed in heavier than the standard shoe, at 335g. I don’t have a picture of the shoe sitting on a pair of scales, so you’ll need to use your imagination.

In the case of the Zoom Fly Flyknit, in consideration of the weight of the shoe, one must take into account the overall way in which the shoe works. This will be considered further below.

But how the carbon fiber plate works to help propel you forward certainly outweighs the effect of a few extra grams of weight. The heel stack is 33mm with a forefoot height of 23mm, providing a heel to toe drop on this shoe of 10mm.

Fit

The Zoom Fly Flyknit fits true-to-size. In my case, that’s a UK 13 (US 14) which is the same size I’d wear in Brooks, Inov-8, and ASICS.

For reference, I’d tend towards a ½ UK size larger in New Balance shoes, as well as Hoka and Salomon. US readers, please note that despite the variation in sizing across manufacturers, I almost always require a US 14 / EU 49. It’s quite possible that the differences in sizes, therefore, are due to conversions from US to UK sizing.

Aside from the sizing, the Zoom Fly Flyknit fits uniquely, certainly with respect to any running shoes I’ve worn before. When I initially picked up the shoe, the Flyknit upper felt very thin and light, and I anticipated that the shoe would feel loose, and expected that I’d have to tie it tight.

Putting the shoe on, I found that tongue is formed from an elasticated mesh which serves to hold the upper snug around the foot, whilst an elasticated section at the top of the heel cup provides a similar role around the ankle.

Many manufacturers claim a "bootie-like construction," but this shoe is almost sock-like in its fit and the way it wraps around the foot seamlessly. I’d be inclined to think that the shoe could be worn without laces such is the manner in which the tongue works to hold the foot.

Indeed, the way the lace loops are formed from the Flyknit upper means that it is difficult to pull the laces through to tighten. As such, I didn’t worry about tying the laces too tight, and instead allowed the tongue and the mesh upper work together to hold the foot.

In summary, I’d agree with Nike’s claim that the "Flyknit upper delivers ultra-lightweight support that fits like a glove."

Construction

Upper

The Flyknit upper is essentially a single piece of knitted engineered mesh, in which the density of knit and elasticity of the mesh varies in different parts of the upper to provide breathability, flexibility and hold just where you need it.

More than any other running shoe I’ve worn, putting on the Zoom Fly Flyknit feels more like pulling on a sock that stepping into a shoe. 

Nike themselves explain that "fusible yarns create zones of structure and support without adding weight." There’s certainly no overlays other than the Nike swoosh, and there are no seams within the upper: as described above, the tongue is seamlessly knitted into the rest of the shoe.

At front of the shoe, there’s no toe bumper to speak of except where the outsole rolls over the front of the upper. There is no rigid heel counter, though a felt-like liner is glued inside the Flyknit, which also incorporates a small section of padding where the cup wraps around the Achilles.

A pull tab at the back helps to pull the shoe on around the heel, and as mentioned above, the top of the heel cup is formed from an elasticated piece of Flyknit which extends from the tongue and provides a comfortable, snug fit to the ankle

The result is an extremely comfortable breathable sock-like upper which holds the foot naturally and which inside which I’d be more than happy to run without socks.

Midsole

The midsole of the Zoom Fly Flyknit comprises of the same full-length carbon-fiber plate as the Vaporfly, sandwiched between Nike’s React foam. This React foam replaces the lighter, and somewhat more responsive, Zoom X foam used in the Vaporfly.

Other than that, the depth of midsole and drop are very similar across the two models of shoe.

Nike explains that their React foam was developed to provide the desired absorption and cushioning at the same time delivering energy return 13% greater than its forerunner Lunarlon foam which was incorporated into the original Zoom Fly shoe (with a plastic plate).

Without extensive testing facilities at my disposal, I can’t really confirm these claims except with the running equivalent of a car buyer "kicking the tyres" pressing in the midsole of the shoe it certainly feels firm, yet cushioned.

There’s no doubt that the foam very quickly and forcefully returns to its original shape once released.

The carbon-fiber plate means that the shoe doesn’t have the same flexibility as other shoes; there’s no point trying to bend the front of the shoe as the plate just won’t let you.

Amongst other things, the carbon-fiber plate prevents the toes from bending to begin the spring off and instead encourages the foot to rock forward. The effect of this is discussed within the "performance" section below.

Outsole

The outsole of the Zoom Fly Flyknit has been tried-and-tested in the original Zoom Fly and the various iterations of the Vapor Fly shoe.

The heel section incorporates five sections of high-abrasion rubber to protect the React foam, while the entire forefoot section of the outsole is made of foam rubber. While this will similarly protect the midsole, it also provides greater traction and adds a little more cushioning and spring to forefoot landings and take-off.

Durability

To date, I’ve run approximately 100 miles in these shoes, and there is very little wear to the shoe. I do have a tendency to brush the outside of my heel as I land, and on the photo, you will see a little wearing to the React foam where this occurs.

For me, this tends to occur in any shoe with an exposed foam sole, and I usually remedy this with the application of a little Shoe Goo. In any case, this is unlikely to affect the durability of the shoes.

What is difficult to determine is the durability of the carbon-fiber plate. I certainly haven’t experienced any degradation in its performance to date, though there is anecdotal evidence of the plate in the Zoom Fly shoe having a limited lifespan.

As a mid-pack runner, I would expect to run these shoes for at least 500km, though at this stage I can’t say how much more I’ll get from these shoes.

Performance

Running shoes are highly personal, and so my experience of shoe performance should always be balanced against my own characteristics. As mentioned above, I’m more of a mid-pack runner at 48, 6’2” and currently around 87kg (190lbs), running 50-60 miles pw.

My road running goals for this year are to achieve a sub 3:10 marathon and a sub 19’ 5k. My view of the performance of these shoes should, therefore, be balanced against my own level of performance.

As mentioned at the top of the review, I haven’t previously run in a Nike shoe. As such, I can’t compare these to the previous version of the Zoom Fly, nor the shoe’s older (and more expensive) brother, the Vapor Fly.

The first time laced them up and walked to where I’d begin to run; I immediately began to understand the difference that the carbon-fiber plate makes. Even as I walked, I found myself being rocked forward into the next step.

The stiffness of the sole/plate means that instead of waiting for the toes to bend and the calf to contract to begin the push off, the plate causes the foot to rock forward into the next step. And at this stage, I was just walking!

I’d initially planned an easy run to try out the shoes, but it soon became evident that these shoes are not designed for easy running. I tend to find myself running in a more upright position at slower paces, but in the Zoom Fly Flyknit, found myself being propelled forward.

As a result of this, I naturally increased my pace and whilst I can’t claim that a faster pace was any easier, I certainly felt encouraged to run more quickly!

It is difficult to explain the difference between these and more traditional shoes to anyone who has not worn a shoe with this type of plate. As the foot lands, it feels as if the carbon-fiber plate "rocks" the foot forward through a quick transition and a feeling of “spring off” into the next stride.

Since then, I’ve used these shoes primarily for faster training sessions, both tempo and interval, and for a recent half-marathon race. I’ve found that the shoe performs exceptionally well in these situations.

During fast sessions, the shoe delivers a stable, cushioned landing followed by a fast transition and a springy push off. It’s easy to get up to speed in the Zoom Fly Flyknit, and I have to agree with Nike’s marketing that the shoe provides a "smooth, responsive ride."

To date, I have only worn the shoe in one race which was the Chester half marathon (I only managed to find one photo where I hadn’t hidden behind other runners!)

During these longer races, the shoe seems to make it easier to maintain a fluid stride even as fatigue sets in towards the end of the race. I’m looking forward to wearing them for my next road marathon later this year.

It should be noted that these shoes offer no structural support, and so are designed purely for the neutral runner.

Summary

Nike is currently marketing these shoes under the tagline "Beyond your Fastest" and I’d love to be able to claim that the Zoom Fly Flyknit has helped me to achieve a handful of personal bests. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case in the short time I’ve been wearing these shoes, but I’m living in hope!

In terms of performance, I am really enjoying having the Zoom Fly Flyknit in my rotation, and it has become my go-to shoe for fast training sessions and races.

\

In that sense, it has replaced my previous choices, the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon and  Zante v4, although fortunately, the versatility of these shoes means that they will continue to find a use for other sessions.

For many, the Zoom Fly Flyknit will be seen as a lower cost alternative to the Vapor Fly. Whilst the shoes share some of the same technology, the Vapor Fly retails at £250 (when you can get one) whilst the Zoom Fly Flyknit is widely available at the time of writing for less than £100.

At that price, I’m sure that I won’t be the only one to decide that I’m more than happy with my Zoom Fly Flyknit! Furthermore, I’m confident that the lower price point and the differences in design make this a shoe for fast-paced training sessions as well as races.

On top of the performance aspect of the shoe, I’ll finish with the fact that this is a great looking shoe which fits like a glove and will find plenty of use casually once it’s been retired from running.

Experience one of the most fantastic running shoes ever—Nike’s Zoom Fly Flyknit!

More photos

In my first 50 miles in this road shoe, I was very impressed even after just two sample runs. I did a casual 7 miler and a training run, which was a half marathon distance.

When I ran 13.1 miles, the weather conditions were very hot. Maybe I shouldn’t have been pushing it due to the conditions. Nonetheless, the feel and transition of the shoe make it effortless running.

I decided to run 13.1 miles as I wanted to test myself for a race: the Garstang Half Marathon 2019.

This is down to the shoe with the full-length carbon fiber plate in the midsole that helps propel you forward as efficiently as possible.

The shoe has a great push off feel to it. Currently, it is the most impressive running shoe that I have trained and raced in.

The react foam in the shoe works well with the transition whilst you are running at a slow or fast pace.

I opted for the blue colourway, and I wasn’t disappointed upon arrival of the shoe. The flyknit material has superb breathability and keeps your feet cool even during racing.

The shoe has a sock-like fit with the tongue built into the actual shoe itself as illustrated below.

The laces of the shoe are thin, and the lacing style used is a “Ghillie" style. This looks unique, and it is as comfortable as you would require.

On the rear, there is a pull tab for ease when stepping into or out of the shoe. This also helps when you want to secure that comfortable lockdown before your run commences.

The sizing of the shoe was true to size as I always order half a size up to allow enough space for movement when running. The toe box of the shoe is spacious and is great during your running transition.

Pros

• It is an excellent value for money.
• The flyknit material of the upper is breathable.
• It has a super smooth transition from heel to toe at a fast or slow pace.
• It has a full-length carbon fibre plate

Cons

After two runs, there are visible signs of wear on the outsole. I agree with other runners who have bought this shoe when they claim that at first, the support around the ankle seems a little weak and unprotected.

I can attest to this claim when the shoes failed me when rolled my ankle in February during a cross country race for my running club.

Having raced in this shoe up steep slopes out in the countryside, I don’t think that the carbon fibre plate is of any use, especially trying to tackle really steep incline.

I admit if I had known that the incline was so severe, then I may have chosen an alternative option.

There is very little flexibility in the shoe on a very steep slope. This is especially as you are on your front foot, racing against your fellow competitors, and you are pushing everything to the maximum.

Thankfully, in most races, the incline is for just a short period. Once you are over that hill, you can then step on it once again, totally utilising the shoe and tracking at a fast pace!

Score

I'm giving this a 95/100—my best score to date for an awesomely manufactured product.

Summary

Having second thoughts on whether or not to purchase this shoe? If you want to improve your race results or just train more efficiently, then the Nike Zoom Fly Flyknit will 100% tick both boxes.

The shoes' design and performance are all about running fast and reaping the rewards of a PB.

Order the product and enjoy the experience!