Nike Zoom Fly 6 Introduction
It looks like years since Nike has launched a very thrilling, modern operating shoe. Nike was 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.
Nowadays, it’s virtually as if the Nike builders have design fatigue. Nike doesn’t have a brilliant gentle hyper-racer or a maximal coach above 45 mm in stack peak 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%. For the reason that unique Zoom Fly launched, each model has created their very own plated coaching companion.
The Zoom Fly 5 was a giant disappointment. It felt extra like a future cruiser than a quick pace coach. This was as a result of its flat midsole foam and its weight. It didn’t really feel as propulsive or as partaking as different pace 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 peak 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 comfy and it was capable of do a lot of the paces comparatively simply besides after I went all the way down to marathon tempo. I felt that it was too versatile and didn’t present sufficient pace help for my goal marathon tempo.
It felt loads quicker 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 distinguished.
I used to be shocked how comfy and secure it felt on that first run. It wanted no break in interval and the higher was excellent for my ft.
Nike Zoom Fly 6 Higher
The Zoom Fly 6 has a very comfy, hybrid racing/coaching higher – it has a comfortable match like a racer nevertheless it has the cushioning and luxury of a coach. It’s produced from a clean, double-layer engineered mesh which doesn’t stretch however gives nice lockdown.
Breathability is respectable however there may very well be holes added within the toe field and aspect panels for higher air flow. It has a flat, semi-gusseted tongue with extensive wings that forestall it from sliding round and there may be padding within the collar and the heel tab to offer 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 measurement. This higher will not be appropriate for extensive ft as a result of its typical Nike, slim match. The large swooshes on the aspect 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 journey somewhat bit extra energetic and somewhat bit softer however the journey 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 journey.
I’m craving somewhat bit extra ZoomX and somewhat bit much less SR-02 to make the journey 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 energetic than the Zoom Fly 6 as a result of they’ve bigger parts of PEBA of their midsoles. The Saucony Endorphin Velocity 4’s complete midsole is PEBA and even the Nike Vomero 17 has a bigger portion of ZoomX in its midsole.
The journey of the Zoom Fly 6 is comparatively agency in comparison with different fashionable pace trainers. It has a firmer journey than the SC Coach v3, Mach X 2, and Deviate Nitro 3. Its softness is similar to the Magic Velocity 4 and the Hyperion Max 2.
The Zoom Fly 6 is the coaching companion for each the Vaporfly 3 and the Alphafly 3 nevertheless it feels extra much like the Vaporfly because of the absence of air pods. The Zoom Fly 6 additionally doesn’t have a distinguished forefoot rocker, much like the Vaporfly 3.
The Zoom Fly 6 is finest suited to fast-paced runs between 4 and 5 minutes per kilometre (6:26 – 8:03 per mile). I want utilizing it for runs nearer to five minutes per kilometre tempo due to how versatile its plate is. For quicker 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 simple paces nevertheless it does present construction and stability.
The Zoom Fly 6 additionally excels at lengthy runs. The 42 mm of heel stack peak gives 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 (much 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 stable replace and in all probability the most effective Zoom Fly model up to now. It has a softer journey than its predecessors and it feels quicker 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 journey is extra much 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 Velocity 4, Magic Velocity 4 and Boston 12. I’m not the one one who feels this fashion; at the moment all colourways and all sizes of the Zoom Fly 6 are nonetheless out there 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 pace trainers really feel quicker 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 pace trainers.
