Nike Zoom Fly 6 Introduction
It looks like years since Nike has launched a very thrilling, modern working shoe. Nike was once a model that pushed the boundaries of innovation, unafraid of failures; that’s how bizarre sneakers just like the Shox, Joyride, VaporMax and Vaporfly have been created.
As of late, it’s virtually as if the Nike builders have design fatigue. Nike doesn’t have an excellent gentle hyper-racer or a maximal coach above 45 mm in stack top but. Aside from ZoomX, all their different midsole foams (React, ReactX, SR02, Cushlon 3.0) really feel agency and flat.
The unique Zoom Fly (which was created in 2017) was a type of modern merchandise and one of many very first coaching companions: a less expensive, extra sturdy model of the Vaporfly 4%. Because the unique Zoom Fly launched, each model has created their very own plated coaching companion.
The Zoom Fly 5 was an enormous disappointment. It felt extra like a long term cruiser than a quick velocity coach. This was resulting from its flat midsole foam and its weight. It didn’t really feel as propulsive or as partaking as different velocity trainers. After testing it, I by no means ran in it once more.
We’ve needed to wait two years for the Zoom Fly 6 and it has been redesigned. It weighs 9.3 oz (265 grams), which is 0.8 oz (49 grams) lighter than the Zoom Fly 5. It has a stack top of 42mm within the heel, 34 mm within the forefoot and it prices $170, which is $10 greater than its predecessor.
Nike Zoom Fly 6 First Impressions
My first run within the Zoom Fly 6 was a 22 kilometre tempo run. It felt snug and it was capable of do a lot of the paces comparatively simply besides once I went all the way down to marathon tempo. I felt that it was too versatile and didn’t present sufficient velocity help for my goal marathon tempo.
It felt loads sooner than the Zoom Fly 5 and the addition of ZoomX in its midsole made a distinction. The plate wasn’t as stiff because the one within the earlier model and the forefoot rocker additionally didn’t really feel as outstanding.
I used to be stunned how snug and steady it felt on that first run. It wanted no break in interval and the higher was good for my ft.
Nike Zoom Fly 6 Higher
The Zoom Fly 6 has a very snug, hybrid racing/coaching higher – it has a comfortable match like a racer but it surely has the cushioning and luxury of a coach. It’s constituted of a clean, double-layer engineered mesh which doesn’t stretch however supplies nice lockdown.
Breathability is first rate however there might be holes added within the toe field and facet panels for higher air flow. It has a flat, semi-gusseted tongue with vast wings that stop it from sliding round and there’s padding within the collar and the heel tab to supply extra consolation across the ankle.
It has a slim match with barely extra size than the common shoe however I like to recommend going true to dimension. This higher will not be appropriate for vast ft resulting from its typical Nike, slim match. The large swooshes on the facet panels are reflective.
Nike Zoom Fly 6 Sole Unit
That is the primary Zoom Fly model to characteristic correct ZoomX and never the recycled model. It makes the experience just a little bit extra energetic and just a little bit softer however the experience remains to be removed from how the Alphafly and Vaporly really feel. That is due to the agency layer of SR-02 (EVA) that’s on the underside of the Zoom Fly 6 which makes it extra sturdy however provides it a flatter experience.
I’m craving just a little bit extra ZoomX and just a little bit much less SR-02 to make the experience really feel bouncier and extra thrilling. Different coaching companions just like the Hoka Mach X 2 and the Puma Deviate Nitro 3 really feel extra vigorous than the Zoom Fly 6 as a result of they’ve bigger parts of PEBA of their midsoles. The Saucony Endorphin Pace 4’s whole midsole is PEBA and even the Nike Vomero 17 has a bigger portion of ZoomX in its midsole.
The experience of the Zoom Fly 6 is comparatively agency in comparison with different trendy velocity trainers. It has a firmer experience than the SC Coach v3, Mach X 2, and Deviate Nitro 3. Its softness is corresponding to the Magic Pace 4 and the Hyperion Max 2.
The Zoom Fly 6 is the coaching companion for each the Vaporfly 3 and the Alphafly 3 but it surely feels extra just like the Vaporfly as a result of absence of air pods. The Zoom Fly 6 additionally doesn’t have a outstanding forefoot rocker, just like the Vaporfly 3.
The Zoom Fly 6 is greatest suited to fast-paced runs between 4 and 5 minutes per kilometre (6:26 – 8:03 per mile). I choose utilizing it for runs nearer to five minutes per kilometre tempo due to how versatile its plate is. For sooner paces nearer to my half marathon tempo, I really feel that the plate must be stiffer.
The carbon Flyplate within the midsole is extra versatile than in earlier variations. This makes transitions really feel extra pure but in addition makes it much less propulsive. The plate isn’t very noticeable if you’re doing straightforward paces but it surely does present construction and stability.
The Zoom Fly 6 additionally excels at lengthy runs. The 42 mm of heel stack top supplies sufficient deep cushioning for a full marathon whereas the carbon plate leads to environment friendly transitions. It has sufficient stability to not trigger the ankles an excessive amount of misery.
The outsole rubber has a waffle design (just like the Pegasus) on the forefoot and heel sections. I used it when it was raining closely throughout a run, and I had no main traction issues. It felt slippery on moist tile however most trainers do.
The Zoom Fly 6 is much more sturdy than the Nike tremendous sneakers. The SR-02 foam on the underside layer doesn’t chip or scrape as simply as ZoomX, so you may get much more mileage out of it. On my pair, I haven’t seen a lot put on on the outsole after 80 kilometres.
Nike Zoom Fly 6 Conclusions
The Zoom Fly 6 is a strong replace and most likely the very best Zoom Fly model thus far. It has a softer experience than its predecessors and it feels sooner than the Zoom Fly 5 because of the load discount and the addition of ZoomX within the midsole.
The Zoom Fly is the quickest Nike coach and it’s an honest coaching companion for the Vaporfly than the Alphafly. The experience is extra just like the Vaporfly whereas the Tempo Subsequent% (discontinued) was a greater coaching companion for the Alphafly.
Whereas the Zoom Fly 6 doesn’t have any flaws, it doesn’t really feel as thrilling or modern because the early Zoom Fly variations. It doesn’t really feel like a “tremendous coach” and it’s not compelling sufficient to make runners change from the favored sneakers within the class, the likes of the Endorphin Pace 4, Magic Pace 4 and Boston 12. I’m not the one one who feels this manner; at present all colourways and all sizes of the Zoom Fly 6 are nonetheless accessible on Nike’s web site.
It weighs the identical because the Hoka Mach X 2 and the Puma Deviate Nitro 3 however each the Hoka and the Puma velocity trainers really feel sooner and extra energetic. The Zoom Fly 6 wants much more ZoomX and fewer SR-02 in its midsole as a result of the ZoomX feels muted and watered down. You don’t get a excessive degree of power return such as you do in different velocity trainers.
