Nike Zoom Fly 6 Introduction

It looks as if years since Nike has launched a extremely thrilling, progressive working shoe. Nike was once a model that pushed the boundaries of innovation, unafraid of failures; that’s how bizarre footwear just like the Shox, Joyride, VaporMax and Vaporfly have been created.

Nowadays, it’s nearly as if the Nike builders have design fatigue. Nike doesn’t have a brilliant mild hyper-racer or a maximal coach above 45 mm in stack top but. Aside from ZoomX, all their different midsole foams (React, ReactX, SR02, Cushlon 3.0) really feel agency and flat.

The unique Zoom Fly (which was created in 2017) was a type of progressive merchandise and one of many very first coaching companions: a less expensive, extra sturdy model of the Vaporfly 4%. Because the unique Zoom Fly launched, each model has created their very own plated coaching companion.

The Zoom Fly 5 was an enormous disappointment. It felt extra like a future cruiser than a quick pace coach. This was as a consequence of its flat midsole foam and its weight. It didn’t really feel as propulsive or as partaking as different pace trainers. After testing it, I by no means ran in it once more.

We’ve needed to wait two years for the Zoom Fly 6 and it has been redesigned. It weighs 9.3 oz (265 grams), which is 0.8 oz (49 grams) lighter than the Zoom Fly 5. It has a stack top of 42mm within the heel, 34 mm within the forefoot and it prices $170, which is $10 greater than its predecessor.

Nike Zoom Fly 6 First Impressions

My first run within the Zoom Fly 6 was a 22 kilometre tempo run. It felt comfy and it was in a position to do many of the paces comparatively simply besides once I went all the way down to marathon tempo. I felt that it was too versatile and didn’t present sufficient pace help for my goal marathon tempo.

It felt rather a lot sooner than the Zoom Fly 5 and the addition of ZoomX in its midsole made a distinction. The plate wasn’t as stiff because the one within the earlier model and the forefoot rocker additionally didn’t really feel as outstanding.

I used to be shocked how comfy and secure it felt on that first run. It wanted no break in interval and the higher was excellent for my ft.

Nike Zoom Fly 6 Higher

The Zoom Fly 6 has a very comfy, hybrid racing/coaching higher – it has a cosy match like a racer nevertheless it has the cushioning and luxury of a coach. It’s constructed from a clean, double-layer engineered mesh which doesn’t stretch however supplies nice lockdown.

Breathability is first rate however there may very well be holes added within the toe field and aspect panels for higher air flow. It has a flat, semi-gusseted tongue with extensive wings that stop it from sliding round and there may be padding within the collar and the heel tab to offer extra consolation across the ankle.

It has a slender match with barely extra size than the common shoe however I like to recommend going true to measurement. This higher will not be appropriate for extensive ft as a consequence of its typical Nike, slender match. The enormous swooshes on the aspect panels are reflective.

Nike Zoom Fly 6 Sole Unit

That is the primary Zoom Fly model to function correct ZoomX and never the recycled model. It makes the journey a little bit bit extra energetic and a little bit bit softer however the journey continues to be removed from how the Alphafly and Vaporly really feel. That is due to the agency layer of SR-02 (EVA) that’s on the underside of the Zoom Fly 6 which makes it extra sturdy however offers it a flatter journey.

I’m craving a little bit bit extra ZoomX and a little bit bit much less SR-02 to make the journey really feel bouncier and extra thrilling. Different coaching companions just like the Hoka Mach X 2 and the Puma Deviate Nitro 3 really feel extra vigorous than the Zoom Fly 6 as a result of they’ve bigger parts of PEBA of their midsoles. The Saucony Endorphin Pace 4’s whole midsole is PEBA and even the Nike Vomero 17 has a bigger portion of ZoomX in its midsole.

The journey of the Zoom Fly 6 is comparatively agency in comparison with different fashionable pace trainers. It has a firmer journey than the SC Coach v3, Mach X 2, and Deviate Nitro 3. Its softness is akin to the Magic Pace 4 and the Hyperion Max 2.

The Zoom Fly 6 is the coaching companion for each the Vaporfly 3 and the Alphafly 3 nevertheless it feels extra much like the Vaporfly as a result of absence of air pods. The Zoom Fly 6 additionally doesn’t have a outstanding forefoot rocker, much like the Vaporfly 3.

The Zoom Fly 6 is finest suited to fast-paced runs between 4 and 5 minutes per kilometre (6:26 – 8:03 per mile). I favor utilizing it for runs nearer to five minutes per kilometre tempo due to how versatile its plate is. For sooner paces nearer to my half marathon tempo, I really feel that the plate must be stiffer.

The carbon Flyplate within the midsole is extra versatile than in earlier variations. This makes transitions really feel extra pure but additionally makes it much less propulsive. The plate isn’t very noticeable once you’re doing straightforward paces nevertheless it does present construction and stability.

The Zoom Fly 6 additionally excels at lengthy runs. The 42 mm of heel stack top supplies sufficient deep cushioning for a full marathon whereas the carbon plate leads to environment friendly transitions. It has sufficient stability to not trigger the ankles an excessive amount of misery.

The outsole rubber has a waffle design (much like the Pegasus) on the forefoot and heel sections. I used it when it was raining closely throughout a run, and I had no main traction issues. It felt slippery on moist tile however most trainers do.

The Zoom Fly 6 is much more sturdy than the Nike tremendous footwear. The SR-02 foam on the underside layer doesn’t chip or scrape as simply as ZoomX, so you may get much more mileage out of it. On my pair, I haven’t seen a lot put on on the outsole after 80 kilometres.

Nike Zoom Fly 6 Conclusions

The Zoom Fly 6 is a stable replace and in all probability the very best Zoom Fly model to this point. It has a softer journey than its predecessors and it feels sooner than the Zoom Fly 5 due to the burden discount and the addition of ZoomX within the midsole.

The Zoom Fly is the quickest Nike coach and it’s an honest coaching companion for the Vaporfly than the Alphafly. The journey is extra much like the Vaporfly whereas the Tempo Subsequent% (discontinued) was a greater coaching companion for the Alphafly.

Whereas the Zoom Fly 6 doesn’t have any flaws, it doesn’t really feel as thrilling or progressive because the early Zoom Fly variations. It doesn’t really feel like a “tremendous coach” and it’s not compelling sufficient to make runners swap from the favored footwear within the class, the likes of the Endorphin Pace 4, Magic Pace 4 and Boston 12. I’m not the one one who feels this fashion; at present all colourways and all sizes of the Zoom Fly 6 are nonetheless obtainable on Nike’s web site.

It weighs the identical because the Hoka Mach X 2 and the Puma Deviate Nitro 3 however each the Hoka and the Puma pace trainers really feel sooner and extra energetic. The Zoom Fly 6 wants much more ZoomX and fewer SR-02 in its midsole as a result of the ZoomX feels muted and watered down. You don’t get a excessive degree of power return such as you do in different pace trainers.