When Nike debuted its Vaporfly 4% marathon shoe more than half a decade ago, the world of running changed. Records tumbled, laws were altered, and rivals scrambled to create their own “super shoes.” Fast-forward six years and every running brand has its own race shoe that combines a carbon fiber plate with a chunky wedge of foam to help propel runners forward.
From a local 5K to city marathons and mind-bending 100-mile world records, carbon-plated shoes grace the feet of elites at the front of the pack and amateurs shooting for a personal best. But despite super shoes from Saucony, Adidas, Asics, Brooks, and more, the Vaporfly is still among the most popular racing shoes.
Now Nike is giving the Vaporfly a revamp. This comes in the form of the ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 3—we’ll call it the Vaporfly 3, for ease. The pricey $250 (£235) shoes have a new, more sculpted look and are lighter than existing Vaporfly shoes. Nike also claims they return more energy than its previous versions—though precisely how much more isn’t clear. These changes are the first since the Vaporfly started to dominate race lineups in 2021.
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