The Nike Vaporfly 4% Thread

Jorgan · Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2019 6:05 pm Post subject: The Nike Vaporfly 4% Thread

So I thought this 'miracle' shoe maybe deserved its own thread, after so much coverage elsewhere.

So who has a pair, who was easily influenced, and do we think they'd be any good (or overkill) for an Ironman marathon?
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JeffB · Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 1406 Location: Middlesbrough

And any offers as well you know of Smile

YKK · Joined: 23 Oct 2011 Posts: 317 Location: North&West london

Mine were lost in the post, so have ordered another pair.

Hopefully they arrive by Tuesday so I can test them in a 5k.

Then the big test will be London marathon as long as I can keep my ridiculous levels of running going without getting injured...

I am influenced, but as I said before in another thread, this is possibly my last year of a potential marathon pb, so I thought I would throw some cash at it.

I have only heard one person say -ve comments about them and that was more about they did not suit his running style. If that is the case with me, I am sure I can sell them without loosing to much.

stenard · Joined: 04 Sep 2013 Posts: 2063

Shall I just copy and paste all my posts lauding them in the other thread into here?!
I also cover some the same points in my Big Half race report. Razz

As for Jorgan's new question, at AG level I'm not sure for an IM marathon. I'd say the answer is maybe. I'm possibly going to give them a go in my first 70.3 of the year, but have no full distance planned this year.

That said, if they carry me to a similar performance level at the marathon distance in London next month, then based on the speed I ran the first 30k or so in my only full distance, maybe they would help prevent some of the later fade that occurred. As others said in the other thread, as much as the raw extra speed they give you (which I feel is noticeable), the other big factor to them is how much less pounding your legs seem to take and how much fresher you feel. Altho I only actually have that experience at HM distance so far
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Jorgan · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 9:21 am Post subject:

Yes, regarding the IM marathon; because people are already starting with tired legs, and are generally not running better than 3:30 in most cases I wondered if they'd provide as much benefit as your leg speed and gait deteriorates almost instantly (well after the first couple of kms!).

There are quite a few pairs of Zoom Fly that people are trying to pass-off as Vaporfly 4% Rolling Eyes

There's one well worn pair with holes in them, someone's trying to get £90 for!
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mattsurf · Joined: 28 Sep 2016 Posts: 852 Location: Zug, Switzerland

I have only done one run in mine, however, these are my observations

They are faster than my Hoka Clayton 2, 4-5% seems about right
I am size 44 in both Hoka and Nike
I have duck feet, very wide at front and narrow heal; the Vaporfly is nice a wide at the front, I would prefer the ankle to be a tiny bit narrower, but its OK
On tarmac the shoe feels really great, on gravel or uneven ground, the shoe doesn't provide much support, which makes my ankles tired
I agree with Stenard that the shoe does reduce pounding on the legs, this is an area where the Hoka is also great, but feel that the Vaporfly has an edge

Will be interesting to see in Sant Pöulten in May whether all the front runners have Vaporfly's

Jorgan · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 10:26 am Post subject:

It is good to see Nike back as a serious running brand of late, after quite a few years in the wilderness.

So what's the best price people have gotten these for then? I did see a pair "worn once, wrong size" for £180 on fleabay.
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Poet · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 10148 Location: Your Mum

Mine were £192 next day delivery (10% off NikeID)
Arrived bang on time.

Despite me instantly bagging on them...
...they might just work.

Who gives a fork if it’s placebo.
I ran my first 80 minute half in them.
You can see my beer belly bouncing around in the photos.

I doubt I’d have ran 80 minutes without them.

I’m wearing them for 113, even though they’re awful on anything other than tarmac (you feel EVERYTHING!), mainly because I wanna run a 1:2x off the bike.

The midsole is narrow as fork and it’s hard for me to keep my heel in place.
I have Grecian toes and they’re ruined after the half.
So...if you have wide feet and long toes, proceed with caution.
You cannot heel lock the laces. Which is super annoying.

I can’t comment on fatigue, as I’ve forgot what it feels like after my hiatus.

For me, I wear trainers that look like this for casual wear.
So when they’re running life has expired, they look pretty good for posing around in.

stenard · Joined: 04 Sep 2013 Posts: 2063

I thought the same abiut being able to heel lock the laces. I do that in all my other running shoes. But the flyknit upper is a revolution. It's so comfortable. I don't think you even really need laces. It's like a nice comfy sock firmly attaching you to the sole
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Poet · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 10148 Location: Your Mum

Which is fine, if you don’t have long (Grecian) toes.

We have to buy half a size larger to accommodate a finger like toe, to prevent bruising.

Heel locking laces keeps the heel back and prevents the foot moving around in what is a slack shoe.

I don’t think the upper is that tight.
Certainly not as tight as my Nike Free 5.0 Fly knits.

Jorgan · Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 8:04 am Post subject:

We get it, you have Greek toes Laughing

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gingerbongo · Joined: 21 Sep 2012 Posts: 1733 Location: Devon

jibberjim · Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 8392 Location: Kingston

What's a greek toe?
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explorerJC · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 16060 Location: Farthingstone

decided to pop in to the Nike shop to check them out....possibly the most inflexible shoe i have ever handled...

i did buy some compression socks though...my first piece of Nike kit for many, many years...
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Buzz_ · Joined: 19 May 2007 Posts: 453

So what is the theory for why these shoes are so good?

If you can feel the ground through them then that's like minimalist shoes, yet if they are supposed to fatigue you less then surely cushioning is needed?

If they are inflexible then maybe less energy is lost at ground contact, but also not very good for cushioning each stride.

Does the 4% refer to the heel drop (there are plenty of racing flats in that category) or do you get a 4% improvement from wearing them?