Nike Vaporfly 4 Performance Review

The Nike Vaporfly 4 represents the biggest change yet in the Nike Vaporfly line. Whereas the Vaporfly 3 got beefier (though, to be fair, was still fairly light) to keep up with the super shoe trends, the Vaporfly 4 goes for a more streamlined approach.

But while the Nike Vaporfly 4 is a bit different than anything we’ve seen from the Vaporfly line previously, it still really nails how a Vaporfly should feel. I’ll explain why in the review.

What is the Nike Vaporfly 4?

According to Nike, the Vaporfly 4 “is a mile-eating machine that just got lighter. We trimmed weight all over from the previous iteration without sacrificing performance. And the carbon fiber Flyplate and ultra-responsive ZoomX foam midsole combine to give you race-day speed. The result is a more fine-tuned racing shoe that’s trusted from the mile to the marathon.”

I gotta admit, I love the Nike copywriter’s use of “mile-eating machine”. I’ve been known as something of a mile-eating machine myself. [Editor’s Note: I highly doubt that.] I also very much agree with the copywriter’s assessment of weight getting trimmed from all over. The midsole, upper, and even the outsole all show signs of Nike’s dedication to cutting the Vaporfly 4’s weight.

Cushion

As usual, the Nike Vaporfly 4 features a full slab of ZoomX foam bisected by a full-length carbon fiber Flyplate. With the Vaporfly 4, that carbon plate has a new curvature, but I didn’t feel any difference in that respect. I did feel a difference in stack height (and drop) where the midsole goes from 38mm to 35mm in the heel while staying at 29mm in the forefoot. The Vaporfly 4 just feels a little lower to the ground and more like a sports car. Part of this is the midsole sculpting as well as a product of less rubber on the outsole. 

And while I did notice that the heel felt closer to the ground, it didn’t make much difference in terms of bounce and pop. The Vaporfly 4 performs well for anything uptempo. Intervals on the track, strides, long tempo sessions, or marathon-pace work are all in the sweet spot for this plush yet poppy midsole.

Warm-up or easy paces also felt faster than usual in the Vaporfly 4, though those efforts will never feel as natural as speedier paces do in a shoe like this. This midsole is built to shine as turnover increases. And while not everyone will feel the Vaporfly 4 is supportive enough to be a marathon race shoe, a lot of shorter distances on the road – from the 5K to the half marathon – will see plenty of racers depending on the Vaporfly 4 to snag a shiny new PR.

Support

The Nike Vaporfly 4 undoubtedly lost a lot of natural support. Instead of the outsized midsole that flared outward on version 3, the Vaporfly 4’s midsole dives inward in a manner that’s similar to the Nike Alphafly 3’s geometry. This means you’ll need to be more cautious on turns…but anyone who has run in the Alphafly or early Nike Vaporflys will know the feeling.

That said, turns and stability are better than in the Alphafly series. I felt closer to the ground and could thus better sense what was happening below my feet. But if you’re used to daily trainers or other more stable super shoes, there will be an adjustment period here.

Traction

The outsole on the Nike Vaporfly 4 uses a wavy waffle pattern for the entire forefoot that’s deeper than the rubber found on the Vaporfly 1 and 2 but not as deep as what was found on the Vaporfly 3. It’s a good compromise. I can see good wear after my test period, but I’d expect these to last at least as long as the Vaporfly 1 or 2.

There’s no rubber at the midfoot, and there are two small rubber patches at the medial and lateral heel to help with those high-wear areas. As is typical with Vaporflys, the exposed ZoomX at the midfoot will take a beating, but it’s highly unlikely to affect performance.

Upper

The Nike Vaporfly 4 features an engineered mesh upper that’s very breathable. It also conforms nicely to the foot. The upper doesn’t have a lot of room above the foot (a symptom of any race fit); but there’s some wiggle room for the toes and midfoot, making it slightly wider than typical Nike race shoes but still not really wide-footer friendly.

Is the Nike Vaporfly 4 wide foot friendly?

No, the Nike Vaporfly 4’s upper is built to conform closely to the foot. And while there is a little wiggle room in the toes, it isn’t constructed in an accommodating fashion overall. I’d suggest wide-footers look elsewhere for a comfortable super shoe fit.

Is the Nike Vaporfly 4 worth $260?

The Nike Vaporfly series has been priced at $250 since the beginning, so it’s sad to see inflation take effect and drive the price to $260 at the same time as the shoe loses some of its pricey ZoomX foam. But the majority of super shoes are in the $225-$285 range. So the price isn’t out of line with the market, and you get good value with the Vaporfly 4. 

If you’re looking for a super shoe but need something for a better price, shop last year’s models. You may not get the latest and greatest, but you’ll get similar performance, often with a deeply discounted price tag.

How to use the Nike Vaporfly 4

The Nike Vaporfly 4 is best used for anything speedy on the roads or track. Road races from the 5K to the marathon (though some may need a bit more shoe underfoot for the full marathon), track work, long pace workouts, intervals, or anything else that requires driving those knees forward will be where the Vaporfly 4 works best.

Nike Vaporfly 4 Summary

The Nike Vaporfly 4 is the lightest and most streamlined version of the Vaporfly yet. For some road racers, it’ll be exactly the super shoe they’ve been waiting for, and they’ll love every moment in this sleek iteration of the “original super shoe”.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Disclosure

While Nike did provide a pair of the Vaporfly 4 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.