Again in 2017, when the unique Zoom Fly was launched, it was the very first coaching companion and it was designed to be a extra sturdy, cheaper model of the revolutionary Vaporfly 4% racer.
Since then, different coaching companions just like the Endorphin Velocity, FuelCell TC, Tempo Subsequent%, Deviate Nitro and the Boston 10 have additionally joined this comparatively new class. The unique Zoom Fly was method forward of its time and was a trendsetter.
So far, I’ve by no means been a giant fan of the Zoom Fly sequence. I’ve discovered the Zoom Fly midsoles to really feel underwhelming underfoot and their uppers uncomfortable. To me, all of the earlier variations of the Zoom Fly have been poor coaching counterparts to the Vaporflys.
The identify “Zoom Fly” additionally isn’t an excellent identify for it and it’s deceptive as a result of it has neither Zoom Air nor ZoomX in its midsole. A extra becoming identify for it might have been the “React Fly” or the “React Vaporfly”.
The Zoom Fly 4 has been 2 years within the making and surprisingly, it maintains the identical midsole-outsole because the Zoom Fly 3 and it solely receives a brand new higher.
2021 actually is the yr of the higher for Nike with the Pegasus, Vomero, Construction, Miler, Vaporfly Subsequent% and Infinity Run additionally solely receiving simply an higher change. Nike ought to plan the launches of their widespread sneakers’ main and minor releases extra rigorously as a result of 2021 seems like a yr during which Nike isn’t even attempting to excite us.
The Zoom Fly 4 weighs 0.7 oz (20 g) greater than the Zoom Fly 3, it nonetheless measures 39 mm within the heel, 31 mm within the forefoot and prices $160 which is a superb worth for a full-length, carbon plated coach.
Nike Zoom Fly 4 First Impressions
image of Nike Zoom Fly 4
After the frustration of the Zoom Fly 3, I hoped that the 4th model could be utterly totally different so after I noticed leaked photos of the Zoom Fly 4, I used to be a bit annoyed to search out out it was simply an higher change.
After I put the Zoom Fly 4 on for the primary time, the brand new Flyknit higher conformed to my toes. The only real felt barely softer and extra forgiving underfoot than the final model which is odd as a result of it’s the very same midsole and outsole because the Zoom Fly 3.
It should have been the brand new, softer higher that gave me the notion that the Zoom Fly 4 felt softer underfoot.
My first run was 10 km at a 5 minute per km regular tempo. I used to be actually taken again at how way more snug and fascinating the journey was in comparison with the Zoom Fly 3.
image of Nike Zoom Fly 4
It felt actually snappy and straightforward to choose up the tempo due to how inflexible the carbon plate was and I felt like I wasn’t expending a whole lot of vitality to succeed in the speeds that my watch was indicating.
This was complicated for me as a result of the Zoom Fly 4 has the identical sole because the Zoom Fly 3 so it ought to have the identical journey but I preferred model 4’s journey way more than model 3’s.
I’ve been doing a whole lot of exercises within the Vaporfly over the previous 2 months and the journey of the Zoom Fly 4 was probably the most comparable feeling to it. It was nonetheless way more secure due to its firmer midsole and never as bouncy.
In the course of the first run, the Fly 4 lastly felt like a correct coaching companion to the Vaporfly Subsequent% 2.
Nike Zoom Fly 4 Sole Unit
image of Nike Zoom Fly 4
The Zoom Fly 4 is an effective coaching companion to the Vaporfly Subsequent% 2 as a result of they each have the signature forward-tipping sensation when working in them.
Whereas different carbon-plated sneakers utilise a rocker to propel you ahead, the Vaporfly Subsequent% 2 and the Zoom Fly 4 have a novel forefoot which is angled upwards and never rounded.
If you transition from the midfoot to the forefoot, it feels as should you’re stepping off the sting of a ledge. That’s what makes them really feel so quick, nonetheless the tipping sensation within the Zoom Fly 4 is muted in comparison with the Vaporfly Subsequent% 2 due to the totally different midsole foams used.
The React foam that the Zoom Fly 4’s midsole is made from is firmer and denser than the tremendous mushy, tremendous bouncy midsole of the Vaporfly Subsequent% 2 which is ZoomX foam. This makes the journey really feel much less vigorous within the Zoom Fly and likewise makes it not as snug for lengthy distance runs.
The Zoom Fly 4 is a maximalist coach and is sort of on the 40 mm stack peak restrict for World Athletics races so though the shoe rides agency, it’s nonetheless very effectively cushioned and may simply deal with full marathon distances.
Versatile the Zoom Fly 4 shouldn’t be as a result of it doesn’t deal with gradual paces effectively. Throughout simple runs, I Iand additional again on my toes and the shoe feels barely unstable because of its slender midfoot and rearfoot. At paces above 5.30 per kilometre, it additionally seems like my toes are attempting to bend the carbon plate as a substitute of rolling over it which makes the journey really feel awkward.
It shines whenever you’re doing regular or tempo paces as a result of its agency midsole makes it simple to faucet into its pace and when going quick, you may lean ahead and cargo the forefoot. This propels you ahead like a spring-board.
image of Nike Zoom Fly 4
The carbon plate within the Zoom Fly 4 is about the identical stiffness because the plate within the Vaporfly Subsequent% which supplies it an unnatural journey due to how inflexible it’s so I desire to make use of the Zoom Fly 4 for sooner efforts solely, somewhat than as a day by day coach for the majority of my mileage.
After lengthy runs within the Zoom Fly 4, I can positively really feel some stiffness in my calves due to the inflexible carbon plate. I usually expertise the identical stiffness after lengthy runs within the Vaporfly Subsequent% so the Zoom Fly 4 is nice for getting your legs used to the jarring journey.
For me, the Zoom Fly 4’s outsole has the proper placement of outsole rubber however the rubber shouldn’t be thick sufficient. The outsole design is similar because the Vaporfly Subsequent% with the whole forefoot lined and the perimeters of the rearfoot additionally lined by longitudinal rubber strips.
The dense React midsole foam which types a part of the outsole is uncovered and is extra abrasion resistant than the typical midsole foam so that you don’t have to fret about foam chips and scuffs like with the Vaporfly Subsequent% 2.
The outsole rubber can be exhausting however not as sturdy because the rubber used on the Vomero and Pegasus. The rubber is recessed into the midsole foam so it’s not as thick because the Pegasus/Vomero’s rubber and it doesn’t stick out of the midsole.
I’ve put 93 kilometres on my pair and the outer heel space rubber has smoothed and nearly worn right down to the midsole foam already which is a bit disappointing.
Traction shouldn’t be superb on moist surfaces due to how flat the outsole is and its lack of aggressive protruding lugs. Grip is okay on dry surfaces however you’ll wish to preserve the Zoom Fly 4 away from trails.
Nike Zoom Fly 4 Higher Unit
image of Nike Zoom Fly 4
The brand new, modified higher of the Zoom Fly 4 is well the most effective Zoom Fly higher to this point and it makes it a a lot better shoe. It’s a bootie building but it surely feels extra performance-oriented than every other bootie building I’ve tried.
The up to date light-weight mesh is rather a lot softer and extra snug than the Zoom Fly 3’s Vaporweave higher and it consists of two layers. It’s additionally extra porous so it breathes a lot better. I might usually really feel the crisp, Johannesburg early-morning spring breeze on my toes, by means of the mesh.
“Flyknit” is printed on the facet of the higher however solely a really small portion is definitely Flyknit. The tongue and the collar are made from this stretchy, knitted Flyknit which is denser and fewer breathable than the mesh.
image of Nike Zoom Fly 4
There at the moment are midfoot Flywire cables that present extra assist. These cables are stretchy and mushy so that they don’t dig into your foot like in earlier Pegasus iterations. I want Nike would use this setup on all of their sneakers.
A mushy foam pod on the within of the heel retains your Achilles locked in place. There aren’t any double final row eyelets for a runner’s knot however there isn’t any heel slippage.
The Zoom Fly 4 suits true to dimension and the brand new higher is extra accommodating than earlier Zoom Fly variations but it surely’s nonetheless on the slender facet so it’s not appropriate for huge really feel.
This is likely one of the finest Nike uppers I’ve worn: snug, safe and extremely breathable.
Nike Zoom Fly 4 Conclusion
image of Nike Zoom Fly 4
The Zoom Fly 4 is barely an higher replace but it surely seems like a very totally different shoe to the Zoom Fly 3. I wasn’t anticipating such a giant enchancment however the very good higher has remodeled the Zoom Fly right into a coach that I look ahead to carrying.
The brand new, breathable higher gives glorious foot lockdown and is much more snug than the stiff, plastic-feeling, unfastened higher of the previous. The higher and the only real of the Zoom Fly 4 now work collectively and the shoe feels way more cohesive.
Not solely is it an excellent coaching companion to the Vaporfly Subsequent% 2 but it surely’s additionally certainly one of my favourites of all of the coaching companions due to how stiff its carbon plate is- it provides you an analogous really feel to a racer.
It feels sooner and snappier than the Endorphin Velocity 2, smoother and simpler than the Tempo Subsequent% and much more secure than the FuelCell TC. It additionally has a lot better foot lockdown than the Deviate Nitro and the Boston 10.
Sure, it’s on the heavy facet and the React foam of the Zoom Fly 4 additionally feels outdated as a result of it doesn’t return a whole lot of vitality but it surely’s a particularly sturdy foam that types the midsole.
The issue is that ZoomX can’t be used within the Zoom Fly 4 as a result of it’s simply not sturdy sufficient for coaching. Nike must invent a sturdy foam that’s extra energetic and lighter than React for the Zoom Fly 4.
I’m positively protecting the Zoom Fly 4 in my shoe rotation. I’ll use it for tempo, threshold and interval exercises as a result of it’s rather a lot more durable than the typical tremendous shoe and it nonetheless manages to really feel quick.
As editorial coverage, we don't settle for free samples from firms.
We bought this pair of Nike Zoom Fly 4 at Operating Warehouse with our personal cash.