Got your heart set on the Swoosh?
tHE bEST NIKE SHOES
Nike Pegasus
turb0 2
Price: $260
Nike REACT INFINITY RUN FLYKNIT
Price: $230
NIKE Zoom X VAPORFLY NEXT %
Price: $320
The company that would become one of the biggest names in sports began with a guy selling imported shoes from the back of his car. Phil Knight, a former runner for the University of Oregon, started Blue Ribbon Sports in 1962 to sell Onitsuka (later known as Asics) shoes in the U.S. In 1964, his former coach, Bill Bowerman, joined him and began experimenting with new running shoe designs, and that itch to push the envelope has been a Nike hallmark ever since. Although it’s now a global behemoth, Nike has maintained a strong commitment to creating shoes that help runners go faster and farther.
But why are they the chosen shoe by some of the fastest runners in the world? Earlier this year, the Nike Alphafly, a prototype worn by Eliud Kipchoge during his sub-two-hour marathon in Vienna, made headlines as it narrowly avoided a complete ban by World Athletics. According to Nike, the three ‘critical’ components that make the Alphafly NEXT% so fast are the full length carbon plate, the Zoom X cushioning and the two Nike Zoom Air Pods, which have been added to the forefoot for responsive cushioning and propulsion.
This Zoom X cushioning foam is used in shoes like the Alphafly and the Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2. Refined to save weight and increase softness, the foam is matched with a carbon fiber plate in the midsole. These two elements deliver 85 percent energy return and exceptional bounce at toe-off, which helps propel you forward. Sports medicine researchers and The New York Times backed up Nike’s claims, but the best proof is at the podium: In 2017, 19 top finishers in six major marathons wore Vaporflys.
If you’ve got your heart set on the Swoosh, we’ve rounded up the pairs worth investing in.
Best for racing: Nike Zoom X Vaporfly Next%
NIKE
ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
$320.00
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Eliud Kipchoge wore these shoes when he set a course record at the London Marathon in April 2019. The Next% was seen as the update to the Vaporfly 4% that Nike launched to much acclaim. The shoe is so named because the brand claims it improves your running economy even more, by five per cent. On the run, it feels fast. There’s more bounce thanks to the added foam, and improved traction in wet conditions. The shoe’s so popular, in fact, that it’s hard finding it in stock.
Our Editor, Andy Dixon writes, ‘It’s no exaggeration to say that this is a game-changing shoe – you only have to look at the number of world records and race victories recorded in them to see they’ve changed the landscape of running. The high midsole made of very light foam has a full-length carbon fibre plate embedded inside it, and this leads to a perceptible springiness on the run. It’s also a super light shoe. I wore the previous version (the Vaporfly 4%) during last year’s Tokyo Marathon and the shoe really came into its own in the latter stages as fatigue started to affect my form. I’d recommend it to anyone aiming to run a PB as it will take minutes off your time.’
Best for speedwork: Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2
NIKE
ZOOM PEGASUS TURBO 2
$260.00
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Sandwiched between the Pegasus and the Next%, the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo boasted all the shaping and foam of the NEXT%, but without the carbon plate. It’s purpose was to provide you with a familiar feeling shoe without over-using your precious Vaporfly.
However, it’s a very capable shoe; RW Digital Editor Ben Hobson rates them: “I wasn’t a fan on the first try, it could have been a number of things, but after a few more tries I really started to enjoy this shoe. It feels good when plodding and really helps you ping along when you need to. A testament to how capable it is is that it’s now my go-to holiday shoe; that one shoe you need to do it all when you’re packing and don’t have much suitcase room!”
BEST FOR HALF MARATHONS: NIKE REACT INFINITY RUN FLYKNIT
NIKE
REACT INFINITY RUN FLYKNIT
$230.00
BUY NOW
The new trend in stability shoes is less interference, and the Infinity Run follows that principle by providing comfort, support, and a smooth ride without messing up your natural movement. It came to market earlier this year with the bold claim that it would help reduce injury in runners and while we’re not sure that’s true, it is a comfortable shoe. Read our full review here.
