The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 is the latest iteration of Nike’s revolutionary racing shoe, designed for elite runners looking to break records and achieve their personal bests. Building upon the success of its predecessors, this third version comes with several updates and improvements that further enhance its already impressive performance. Read on for our Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 Running Shoes Review.
One of the standout features of the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 is its carbon fibre plate. This plate runs the length of the shoe and is designed to provide maximum energy return with every step. In fact, Nike claims that this carbon fibre plate can give runners up to 85% more energy return compared to traditional racing shoes. This means that each stride feels more efficient and effortless, allowing you to cover longer distances at a faster pace.
But it’s not just about the carbon fibre plate – this shoe uses the most responsive ZoomX foam in it’s midsole. This foam is incredibly lightweight and highly resilient, providing excellent cushioning without weighing you down. It also has a rocker shape to it, which helps propel your foot forward with each step. Combined with the carbon fibre plate, this results in an extremely efficient and fast ride.
The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 is an excellent choice for long-distance runners or anyone looking to improve their marathon times.
Price from £167.99 (UK)
Pros
Cons
The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 is a game-changer in the world of racing shoes. Its innovative design and advanced technology make it a top choice among elite runners and recreational runners alike.
Upon its release, the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 quickly gained popularity, with runners breaking records and achieving their personal bests while wearing them. This shoe, known for being the catalyst behind the sub-2 hour marathon, continues to push boundaries and help runners reach new levels of performance.
With its sleek design and impressive features, the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 is a true representation of Nike’s commitment to providing athletes with top-of-the-line gear. The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 is packed with advanced technology that sets it apart from other racing shoes on the market.
This shoe is an excellent choice for runners looking to improve their speed and efficiency when they are racing competitively. The carbon fibre plate runs the length of the shoe and is responsible for providing maximum energy return with each step.
The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 is designed with one goal in mind – to help runners go faster for longer distances.
Out of the box, the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 boasts an attractive and contemporary design. The shoe is available in a range of vibrant and eye-catching colours, including lime green, hot pink and platinum white colour combinations. It also has the signature Nike swoosh logo on the side, adding to its stylish appearance.
The design of the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 is not just for aesthetics – every aspect of this shoe has been carefully considered to enhance performance. From its responsive midsole to its breathable upper, every detail works together to provide an efficient and comfortable ride. Holding the shoe in my hands, I could feel its lightweight construction. A noticeable feature of this racing shoe is its thick midsole, which contains a carbon fibre plate. It adds some height to the shoe, giving you an elevated stance when wearing them.
When you first put on the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3, you’ll immediately notice its snug fit, thanks to its Flyknit technology that wraps around the foot like a second skin. This created a sock-like feel that eliminates any potential irritation or discomfort while running. Overall, my first impression was very positive.
On my first marathon run in the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3s, I was struck by how light and responsive they felt. The carbon plate combined with the ZoomX foam provided an undeniable springiness to my step, making it feel like I was gliding over the pavement. The cushioning was perfect – not too hard or too soft, providing just enough support and comfort for a long-distance run.
The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 definitely lived up to its promise of helping runners go faster. I was able to achieve a personal best time in my marathon, and I can confidently say that the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 played a crucial role in this achievement.
Overall, my first impressions of the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 were extremely positive. It’s clear that this shoe has been designed with speed in mind, and its advanced technology and top-notch performance make it a standout choice among racing shoes.
The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 3 boasts a reimagined upper crafted from Flyknit fabric, strategically positioned to enhance breathability. This design allows heat, vapour, and moisture to escape while inviting fresh air to circulate, ensuring a pleasantly cool sensation for comfortable feet.
The soft upper conforms to your foot’s shape, offering exceptional comfort with a wider toe area for a more spacious fit, allowing natural toe flex. A traditional lacing system secures the shoe, providing stability and control. The laces, featuring a warped design, remain tied and loop through lightweight side supports, eliminating the need for an arch band. This reduces weight, ensuring nothing holds you back.
Light padding on the tongue minimises lace pressure, while reinforcement along the forefoot enhances durability and security.
One of the standout features of the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 is its wider toe box. This provides runners with enhanced stability, especially during long-distance runs when your feet may start to swell. The extra room in the toe area allows for natural toe splay and prevents any discomfort or tightness that could hinder your performance.
The wider toe box also helps improve balance and foot alignment, allowing you to maintain a proper gait while running. This, combined with its lightweight construction and responsive cushioning, makes the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 an ideal choice for high-mileage training runs and marathons.
The Vaporfly 3 significantly outshines its predecessors as a long-distance racing shoe for marathons. With enhanced cushioning, reduced weight, and improved stability, it offers a remarkable combination that’s tough to beat.
The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 sole is equipped with Nike’s signature ZoomX foam, known for its exceptional lightweight properties and energy return. The midsole is designed with a rocker shape that helps propel you forward with every step, reducing the strain on your calf muscles and allowing for a more efficient ride.
The addition of the full-length carbon fibre plate in the midsole provides maximum energy return, making each stride feel effortless. This advanced technology also adds stability to the shoe, ensuring a smooth and consistent ride throughout your run.
The outsole of the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 features strategically placed rubber pods that provide traction and durability while keeping weight to a minimum. This design allows for a confident grip on both wet and dry surfaces.
The Vaporfly Next% 3 is completed with a lightweight yet durable rubber outsole. The new thin outsole rubber minimizes material use without compromising durability, reducing both weight and thickness. This design allows for extra millimetres of ZoomX foam underfoot, promoting a smoother stride transition.
The redesigned outsole strategically positions rubber for optimal efficiency and traction, with high-abrasion rubber on the rearfoot enhancing durability against heel strikes, making it a reliable and long-lasting running companion. Lightweight foam rubber on the forefoot boosts grip and durability while improving energy return. The new waffle pattern on the outsole enhances multi-surface traction, ensuring confident footing for any race.
The durable rubber not only provides a strong grip but also protects against damage and prevents slipping, catering to athletes who seek a shoe designed for maintaining a fast pace.
One of the key features that sets the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 apart from other racing shoes is its full-length curved carbon fibre plate. This unique addition to the midsole provides maximum energy return, making each step feel more effortless and propelling you forward with every stride.
But what exactly does a carbon fibre plate do? The curved design of the plate helps to reduce the strain on your calf muscles by acting as a spring, absorbing and releasing energy with each step. This not only improves overall performance but also reduces fatigue, allowing runners to maintain their pace for longer periods.
The carbon fibre plate works alongside the ZoomX foam to provide maximum energy return and propel you forward with each stride. The carbon plate is designed to stiffen and spring back, making it a crucial component in reducing fatigue and increasing speed.
This technology has been proven effective by elite runners, who have set world records while wearing the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3.
Nike ZoomX foam offers the highest energy return in Nike Running history, with the Next% enhancing this by adding more ZoomX for race day responsiveness. Ultra-light and super-responsive, the midsole material absorbs impact and releases it for a bounce-like effect, reducing unnecessary muscle exertion, decreasing fatigue, and boosting performance for longer runs.
The revolutionary ZoomX foam, made from Pebax—a material typically used in plastic bridges and moulded components—provides cushioning that is lightweight, soft, and springy. Achieving these three qualities together has been almost impossible until now. Pebax boasts a lower density than other thermoplastics, making it lighter, more flexible, and impact-resistant, while offering greater energy return. When expanded into foam, these properties remain, providing a lively underfoot feel that encourages speed.
The redesigned aerodynamic heel delays air separation and reduces drag, optimizing speed. Within the generous ZoomX platform, a full-length carbon fibre plate complements the responsive nature of the foam. This plate minimises energy loss during toe bends without adding stress to the calf, creating a springy, propulsive feel for invigorated strides. The plate’s front curve returns energy during toe-off, merging with ZoomX foam to create the dynamic Vaporfly Next%, one of Nike’s most efficient marathon shoes. Additionally, an internal foam pod at the heel provides extra cushioning.
The outsole of the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 is made with durable rubber, ensuring traction and durability on both wet and dry surfaces. This design allows for a confident grip and efficient energy transfer during runs, making it an ideal shoe for competitive runners.
The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 also features a waffle pattern on the outsole, providing optimal multi-surface traction. The high-abrasion rubber on the rearfoot enhances durability against heel strikes, while the lightweight foam rubber on the forefoot boosts grip and energy return. This combination of materials makes for a well-rounded outsole that can handle any terrain and keep up with your pace.
We gave my Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3s the ultimate test by running Manchester Marathon. This marathon consists of a flat, fast course and is known for its personal best record-breaking potential. The result? A new personal best by over 5 minutes!
The combination of the ZoomX foam and carbon fibre plate provided incredible energy return throughout the race, allowing me to maintain my pace without feeling fatigued. The durable rubber outsole also gave me confidence on slippery surfaces, and the lightweight design helped me feel light on my feet.
Overall, the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 proved to be an excellent choice for marathon runners looking to improve their performance. Its advanced technology and durable design make it worth the investment for serious athletes who want to achieve their personal bests.
9.5 out of 10
The Nike ZoomX NEXT% Vaporfly 3 is a refined and meticulously crafted racing shoe, offering an excellent update to the renowned super shoe lineup. It is an excellent option for serious runners looking for a lightweight, responsive, and fast racing shoe. The combination of ZoomX foam and a full-length carbon fibre plate provides maximum energy return and propels you forward with each stride, making it a reliable choice for race day.
Whether you’re aiming for a personal best or looking for an edge in competition, the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3 is sure to help you reach your goals.
Overall, we highly recommend this shoe for serious runners who want to take their performance to the next level. Don’t just take our word for it; try them out for yourself and experience the difference!
Stay ahead of the pack with Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 3.
Ready for a speedy marathon challenge? Take a read of our 4 hour pace marathon blog.
About this review:
We purchased these products with our own money. Our review contains affiliate links, where we may earn a small fee from a purchase. All our reviews are honest and fair.
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