Nike Streakfly 2 Introduction:
Back in February 2022, Nike released the Streakfly. Promising a super fast racing flat for the 5 – 10k distance, the hype grew and grew. Upon release, the Streakfly received a rather luke warm reception. People were expecting a baby Vaporfly to propel them to superfast road times. What they got was a very light, bouncy shoe which lacked some of the expected propulsion. Instead of the Vaporfly carbon plate, we had a plastic shank in the midfoot. While being a fun shoe which was definitely not averse to going fast, it wasn’t the road weapon people were expecting. Would the Streakfly 2 be different?
Flashforward to 2025. The Streakfly 2 has landed. Nike listened and rethought. Therefore, not much of the original remains except the name. Gone is the friendly, bouncy shoe we had before. In its place, we find a super aggressive road spike. I bought myself a pair to see if the difference was more than just aesthetic. How do they work and who are they for?
A lightweight, super breathable upper hugs the foot tight
Andy: The upper has been revamped from the original Streakfly. We still have a very thin, very lightweight mesh but the structure and texture has changed. It feels even thinner and more pliable. This leads to an exceptional lockdown in my experience. The upper hugs the foot tightly and locks it down with ease. Wide foot people may be wise to try before they buy. The spike-like look also extends to the fit and feel.
As far as structure goes, there isn’t much. But, this is a shoe which isn’t designed to be worn for long. When pulled tight, you can feel the mesh stretch around the foot and mould itself to every bump and bend.
I do have some worry about the lacing chain and its durability. Due to the very thin and flexible nature of the upper and the lace loops which have been replaced by a cord, I do worry about how long they will last, especially if you like to crank things down tight.
One thing I have no worries about is the breathability of the Streakfly 2 upper. Every part of your sock is visible through the mesh and I can imagine no issues with breathability even on the warmest of days. I have used it for cool morning road sessions and balmy evenings on the track and had no issues at all.
Overall, this is an almost non-existent upper which hugs the foot well and holds it in place for the fastest runs on your calendar. People with a wider foot may want to try first. However, if it works for you, it will disappear on the run. I could barely feel the shoe once I had begun the session.
The ride is very aggressive and can be quite calf crushing
Andy: Now, this midsole is a vast change from the original. The Streakfly has changed from being Casper the Friendly Ghost to Freddie Krueger. Gone is the friendly bounce and soft welcome. Instead, we find a calf crushing, forefoot striker’s dream. From the outset it is clear, this is not a do it all shoe. Usually, for my workouts, I will wear the same shoe for warm up, session and cooldown. However, when it is the Streakfly 2’s turn to come out and play, they stay in my bag until the fast work starts.
When I first got them and before I had actually experienced the ride, I did wear them for the whole shebang. Well, my calves certainly let me know about it. It did indeed feel like Freddie Krueger had been at them with his knives. Even as a runner who has experience in spikes and as someone who is always on his toes, they certainly worked the muscles. Over time, my calves have become more accustomed to the aggression of the geometry and ride. That said, the morning after, I always know I have worn them.
If you are someone with weak calves, stability needs or someone who has a more extreme heel strike, this is probably not the shoe for you. Overall, this is probably not a shoe that many people need at all. In fact, it is probably not even a shoe I need. It is a very specialised shoe and works best with a very powerful forefoot strike.
That said, it is very effective at what it does. The ride is fast, the foam and plate work very well together to give great propulsion. In short, it is a race day weapon. Nike claim it has a 4mm drop. I think they may have missed a minus sign from the front of that figure. It looks and feels like a shoe with a negative drop. The forefoot definitely looks more thickly padded than the heel. Although, I am sure measuring at the correct points would prove Nike correct.
If you are looking for something very fast to race over short distances the Streakfly 2 is it. Whether you will enjoy the experience or not depends on your biomechanics and calf strength. This is everything that the Streakfly 1 wasn’t. It looks and rides like a track spike. All it is missing is the pins in the forefoot. Because of this, it is not a shoe for anything else. Easy runs, warmups and cooldowns are best run in something else from your cupboard.
It works well on both road and track. For those of us not bound by World Athletics rules, it may make a good track racing shoe which has a little more cushion than the Dragonfly. What it will not work well for is easy runs or distance. I am sure you could run a marathon in it, but I would hate to be your calves afterwards.
The grip turns power into pace
Andy: The outsole is minimal and demonstrates the purpose and intended runner of the shoe. The heel has two tiny pads of rubber. One on each side. The medial pad reminds you to “Go Fast”. Aside from that, there is exposed ZoomX until you reach the forefoot. There we find some waffle lugged rubber. Despite the lack of coverage, the grip is firm.
Around my local park, we have one corner which is always either slimy or dusty. It is always wise to cut the pace a little when taking it. However, the Streakfly 2 bites in and helps keep the power down. After about 50km, there is very little wear on the outsole. The only real signs of use are the discolouration from track and road on the midsole. As with the upper, I wonder about how long it will last. After all, this is a shoe built to go fast, not far.
The Streakfly 2 is not for everyone
Andy: The Streakfly 2 is a hyper aggressive road spike. It is certainly not a shoe that everyone needs in their rotation. In fact, it would probably be a recipe for injury for some runners. However, if you can harness the beast and use it to your advantage, the rewards in pace are plentiful. Durability will be helped by the specificity of the shoe: you will only use it for your fastest sessions or races. The price also makes it appealing, being far more in line with Nike’s spikes than its road race line.
For something completely different to anything else on offer at the moment, the Streaklfy 2 is it. Whether you think it is worth the risk and the soreness, that’s a call for you!
