Nike Vaporfly 4 Introduction:
The shoe which stoked controversy, flirted with banning and launched the super shoe arms race is back again. From its origins at the 2016 Olympics and before, the Vaporfly in its various guises has been synonymous with success. This time round, the Vaporfly 4 has a reduced stack height and a lighter weight than previous versions. The Next% and Next% 2 were the gold standard. Meanwhile, the Vaporfly 3 lost some of its magic in an attempt to cater to a wider variety of runners. With the changes to the Vaporfly 4, have Nike put it back on top of the food chain?
I bought a pair to sate my curiosity (and to keep my Proto collection complete). Let’s see how it got on.
The upper is very light but doesn’t hold the heel tight
Andy: Some of the weight saving in the Vaporfly 4 has come from reducing the upper. These reductions come in the tongue and the heel. Anyone who has either worn or seen the Vaporfly 3 on foot will know that nobody seemed to know where to place or tie the tongue. Thankfully, Nike have remedied this in the fourth version. Here we find a shorter tongue with minimal but well placed padding which stops lace bite. Speaking of laces, the lace doily style laces have gone. Instead, we have thinner, stretchier feeling laces. In my runs so far, I have had no issue with any lace loosening and once I have them tied, they don’t lose tension.
The new engineered mesh is very similar to that of the Streakfly 2. It holds the foot very well and the softness of the upper means no hotspots or rubbing. Unlike the Streakfly 2, the upper is a little roomier in the heel area. In fact, I have been having some issues with heel slippage. Not a huge amount but it is noticeable when running faster. A runners knot has helped solve this but it is sub-optimal. Breathability has been no concern. The mesh is thin and well perforated so be sure to wear clean socks underneath.
Padding is minimal on the racing upper, a small pad around the top of the heel collar is about the sum of it. However, Nike have increased the reinforcement on the end of the toe box although I can’t say that this has had a noticeable effect on the shoe. Overall, once I sorted the heel slippage, the upper is everything you would want from a race shoe. Light, breathable and foot hugging without being overly snug.
Has the fourth version brought back the magic?
Andy: I should start this section by mentioning my utter dislike for the Vaporfly 3. I found it mushy, energy absorbing rather than returning. Overall, I found it a real let down of a shoe. Thankfully, things have improved in the Vaporfly 4. A few millimetres less foam has made a lot of difference. The ride is much snappier. Furthermore, the reduction in foam has made the Vaporfly 4 more agile. When this is mixed with a new higher-angle geometry of Flyplate, it offers a great deal more of a propulsive feel.
That said, it hasn’t made it more fun for me. I have had some very good runs in it which shows again that I should probably look at the myriad data I collect from my runs when making race day choices. But, I’m not that smart and let my feelings dictate choices at times.
Perhaps I have been spoiled by other shoes. Maybe I was expecting too much. Perchance, other manufacturers have caught up and overtaken the once almighty Swoosh. Whatever the case, I am left feeling that the new Vaporfly is still lacking the magic of the original. There is no doubt that it can go fast. The foam and plate work together well. When I have used it for longer reps and strides, the pace has come naturally and well. That said, when positioned between the Alphafly 3 and the Streakfly 2, it just feels a bit conventional.
While the other two Nike racing shoes offer a real mechanical push, the Vaporfly has more of a subtle feel to it. Perhaps that is what you like. But for me, anything up to 5k will be tackled in the Streakfly because it is so light and aggressive that it offers me more than the Vaporfly. Anything longer than 5k, will be the realm of the Alphafly for me as I love the push I get from the huge Zoom Air pods which sit right in my landing zone.
What is clear is that Nike have really delineated their race shoes. The three offerings are designed and suit very different purposes. The Vaporfly 4 will probably suit the most runners and running styles as it is now the most conventional feeling shoe of the pack. The Streakfly is a track and short road race weapon for those whose calves can handle it. The Alphafly is the pinnacle of mechanical assistance in a Nike shoe but one to avoid if you have arch issues (or a heel strike).
The outlaw has become the middle of the road, respectable shoe that most will be able to run in. The ride is light, smooth and efficient although it does have the inherent instability of most racing shoes. For me, it is definitely an improvement on the v3 but it is just lacking that little spark to put it on top of the heap when choices are made. That said, I am sure that it will feature on thousands of feet on start lines all over the world this year and be the smasher of many a PB.
The grip is light but a little loose
Andy: The outsole is focussed mainly on the forefoot of the Vaporfly 4. Looking at the rear half of the shoe, we find a wealth of exposed ZoomX and a couple of landing pads on the heel. Down the middle of the sole, we find a canyon in which we can see the Flyplate (and pick up some stony passengers on rocky runs).
As with the rest of the shoe, the rubber is thin and designed to save weight. It has a fairly traditional looking waffle style pattern. Whilst it is not terrible, there have been a couple of occasions around muddy or leaf-strewn corners where I have felt the need to back off a touch. It is an odd situation where the Streakfly seems to offer less rubber and more gaps in the tread but seems to offer more grip on the road.
Overall, the grip is not terrible but for a shoe designed to be worn on the fastest days, it could be a little skittish for some unless conditions are perfect.
Probably the friendliest shoe in Nike’s Fast Pack
Andy: The Vaporfly 4 is, for me, a huge improvement on the v3. It is lighter, faster feeling and offers a much snappier ride. My biggest issue boils down to personal taste. When I compare it to what I am offered by the Alphafly 3 and Streakfly 2, I don’t see it winning the battle. However, for those who like a slightly firmer feel in the forefoot and a snappy transition through the gait cycle, it is well worth a look. While it may not give you the magical feel of the original versions, it will help you push the pace and be your best on race day.
I will definitely continue to use the Vaporfly 4 for those middle distance reps and long runs with pacier elements. At the end of the day it is a fast, comfortable and capable shoe. It just isn’t the one which makes me feel my fastest. That said, I am sure it is the shoe in Nike’s Fast Pack which will suit the widest range of runners on the road.
