Nike Zoom Fly 6 running shoes

The Nike Zoom Fly 6 running shoes is a fast training running shoe that is similar to Nike’s two race running shoes, the Vaporfly 3 and Alphafly 3. The similarity is no coincidence, as Nike recommends using the Zoom Fly 6 to train for your races and to race in the Vaporfly 3 or Alphafly 3. The Nike Zoom Fly 6 midsole is made from the same ZoomX foam and has the same carbon plate as the Vaporfly and Alphafly for racing, but with a more durable upper and outsole. The midsole is also slightly different. The ZoomX foam is surrounded by SR-02 foam and it’s also 2mm higher. This makes the Zoom Fly 6 much more durable and comfortable than its racing siblings. The previous version of the Nike Zoom Fly 5 has had its shortcomings corrected, becoming lighter, less stiff and more energetic on the front of the shoe.

Nike Zoom Fly 6 Upper

The upper of the Nike Zoom Fly 6 running shoe is made of a lightweight, thin, dual-layer mesh material with good breathability. The upper fits true to size and is a medium width, but if you have wider feet you may want to buy a size larger. The tongue is wide and wraps around the foot, thin but more cushioned at the top where you tie the laces. The tongue is fixed so it doesn’t move when you run. The heel collar is well padded, stiff and higher than average, but doesn’t irritate the Achilles tendon. The upper provides good support for the foot, but it’s worth using the upper lacing hole to keep the shoe in place.

Nike Zoom Fly 6 midsole

The Nike Zoom Fly 6 Running Shoe Midsole is made from 2 different types of foam. The midsole is mostly ZoomX ha, also known from Nike’s racing shoes, which is very light, soft, flexible and dynamic and provides noticeable support for fast runs. The ZoomX foam is contained in a frame, which is a foam called SR-02. This foam is less dynamic and more on the firm side. By framing the ZoomX foam in this foam, it gives the shoe stability and makes it more durable, but takes away some of the dynamism. The midsole has a curved carbon plate that adds stability and dynamics, but also accustoms your foot to the inherent stiffness of carbon plate shoes, so if you’re running at race-day in the Vaporfly or Alphafly, it’s not unusual. For a carbon running shoe, the Zoom Fly 6 has good torsional flexibility. This is important when you’re running slower in the shoe, as it doesn’t feel stiff even on slow runs. A major flaw in the previous version, the Zoom Fly 5, was that the carbon plate was very low to the ground at the front of the shoe, and there was no ZoomX foam underneath, only the harder SR-02 foam. As a result, the forefoot was hard and stiff and lacked dynamics. Nike has improved this by making the forefoot very soft and dynamic. To make this even better, the forefoot of the midsole has a side cut-out that allows the midsole to compress even more. The midsole is also higher than on the previous version, or on the Alphafly and Vaporfly running shoes. The heel is 42mm high, which is illegal in a race if you’re an elite runner, while the front is 34mm with an 8mm drop. The midsole at the back is narrower than the heel, so runners who come in on their heels will find the shoe less stable (high, soft and narrow, which doesn’t work well for stability).

Nike Zoom Fly 6 Outsole

The Nike Zoom Fly 6 Running Shoe Outsole is a split two or three piece design. The front features a larger outsole with a deep tread pattern for traction. At the heel, there are two smaller outsole layers that cover the most stressed areas. It depends on your movement how much these smaller outsole layers at the heel will be enough and it is possible that the midsole will wear out. The previous version also had a wider, larger outsole at the heel of the shoe. The outsole material is similar to that of the previous version, which had very good wear resistance, but it also depends on your gait and weight.

Who and what kind of running is the Nike Zoom Fly 6 for? Summary

The Nike Zoom Fly 6 is a versatile running shoe that Nike has designed primarily for training for fast runs and races, but because of its versatility you can also use it for your slower training and races if you’re not one of the faster runners (you don’t run faster than 4:00-4:30 min/km). Most importantly, Nike has addressed the shortcomings of the previous version. The shoe is lighter, less stiff and the forefoot is now dynamic, softer and more comfortable. There’s a lot of excitement around the Zoom Fly 6 running shoe because Nike hasn’t made much of a splash in the area of everyday training shoes in the last year or two, and the previous version wasn’t what it was supposed to be, but the Zoom Fly 6 is finally a shoe that stands up to the competition. I wouldn’t say it’s ahead of the competition in the fast training shoe category, but at a reasonable price, it’s definitely a strong contender in its category.