Article by Sam Winebaum
Nike Zoom Fly 6 ($170)
Updated: Zoom Fly 6 Multi Tester Review with 5 Comparisons
With the dramatically lighter Zoom Fly with more Zoom X foam in the mix, Nike re enters the growing category of supercritical foam (or mostly supercritical foam) well cushioned plated super trainer/racers.
Nike pioneered the plated super trainer way back in 2017 with the original Zoom Fly, a training companion to the Vaporfly. They then re upped in 2020 with, for the time and still by stats, the massively stacked Tempo Next %, an all time favorite for long fast runs for all our testers.
Then we see a series of lackluster minor updates to the Zoom Fly with shifts from React foam to heavy recycled Zoom X foam (Zoom Fly 5), with that last update way back in 2022.
The market charged ahead with well received shoes and updates to them such as the Endorphin Speed 4, ASICS Magic Speed 4, Hoka Mach X 2, and adidas Boston 12. How will the Zoom Fly measure up? We'll get to that in our upcoming multi tester review but here is what we know so far.
The Zoom Fly 6 gets a higher proportion of Zoom X foam (not called out as recycled as in the 5) retaining a layer of SR-02 EVA foam as before.
It drops 49g / 1.73 oz in the spec US 10 the increased Zoom X and the cutouts shown above surely helping.
At the same time, it increases 2-3mm in stack height at the heel to 42mm while going up a big 4mm + at the forefoot to 34mm.
Official Stats
Weight : W US8 - 7.69 oz / 218g // M US 10 -9.35 oz / 265g
(Zoom Fly 5: W8 8.54 oz /242g; M US 10 11 oz / 314g)
Stack Height: Heel - 42mm // Forefoot - 34mm
(Zoom Fly 5: <40mm)
Drop: 8mm (previous version: 10mm)
The US men's 10 spec weight of 9.35 oz / 265g converts to about 9.1 oz in a US9 so its weight is very reasonable for such a big stack shoe.
It is somewhat heavier than competing stack height plated super trainers noting that the Boston 12. 8.7 oz / 247g (US9) has a lower stack height while the Magic Speed (8.38 oz / 237g US9) and Mach (X2 8.5 oz / 241g US9) have slightly higher stack heights.
The upper is a two layer woven mesh said to have a "soft, sock-like" fit.
The outsole is a "thin web of rubber", looks more substantial than that and I like that we have mini waffle lugs instead of the usual super trainer less profiled outsole. This add a bit of weight but the grip should be superior on slick surfaces and dirt.
At $170, it is competitively priced for the category.
All of this points, at long last, to a true competitor in the category of fast super cushioned plated trainers, and we can't wait to test and share our results.
The Zoom Fly 6 will release November 1st, 2024 at $170.
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 164 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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