Nike Vaporfly 4 Review: Still the Vaporfly?

PROS	CONS
+ Even lighter + Improved upper + Still very propulsive + More stable	– Reduced stack height – Less durable outsole

I’ve run in every version of the Vaporfly except the first edition. It’s been my go-to marathon and speed work shoe over the past several years. Simply put, I’ve never run in a shoe as fast as the Vaporfly. But with big updates to the fourth edition, including a significant reduction in foam, is it still one of the best racing shoes? I find out, in this Nike Vaporfly 4 review.

Introduction

The Vaporfly’s reputation precedes itself. It’s the “OG” super shoe — before “super shoe” was even a thing. For the uninitiated, “super shoe” refers to a carbon fiber plated shoe designed for racing, not to be confused with a “super trainer.” Yep, running shoe terminology is super lame.

A brief history lesson: The year was 2017 and distance running was in the crapper. Back then, racing shoes were minimally stacked and plates were reserved strictly for eating. But then, Nike said, “Hold my PR” and revolutionized the sport with the launch of the Zoom Vaporfly 4%. The “4%” came from lab tests showing the shoe improved running economy by an average of 4% compared to other marathon racing shoes.

In the years following, every brand has released their version of the Vaporfly, with mixed results. Some underwhelming (Brooks Hyperion Elite), and others great (Adidas Adios Pro, ASICS Metaspeed series, to name a couple.)

Those of us with gargantuan tootsies don’t have many options when it comes to race day pairs. Up until recently, Nike (Vaporfly and Alphafly) and Saucony (Endorphin Pro) were the only two brands to make super shoes in size 15. Then in 2025, ASICS showed up late to the party, launching their Metaspeed Sky and Metaspeed Edge Tokyo shoes in size 15.

Nike Vaporfly 4 Review

STACK HEIGHT	WEIGHT	PRICE
35/29 mm (6 mm drop)	M10: 6.7 oz/190 g) W8: 5.4 oz/(152 g)	$260

Midsole

One of the most responsive foams in the game, Nike’s ZoomX provides maximum energy for days—or, miles, I guess. According to Nike, ZoomX delivers 85% energy return, the greatest of their foams. It’s made from Pebax, a light, flexible, and energetic plastic material. A variation of the foam is found in Nike’s Vomero 18, an excellent max cushion trainer.

So, if some ZoomX is good, then more is better, right? “Not so fast!” says Nike. For some inexplicable reason, they decided to slash the stack height from 40/32 mm to 35/29 mm in the fourth version, dropping from an 8 mm to 6 mm drop. Nike claims this “unlocks even more energy return, giving a bouncy feel.” So, I guess it is explicable, then. But is it accurate? Hard to say, given the Vaporfly 3 already provided a boatload of energy return, and was already one of the bounciest shoes.

The curved, full-length carbon fiber Flyplate is the perfect complement to ZoomX, providing the signature propulsive feel to the Vaporfly.

In another noteworthy update, Nike designed the midsole of the Vaporfly 4 to bulge out by the heel, which reduces weight on the inside of the foot to give a more stable ride.

Ride

Still as propulsive as ever, the Vaporfly’s status as one of the fastest shoes continues in this edition. The winning combo of ZoomX and the Flyplate, coupled with the shoe’s excellent rocker geometry, deliver an unbelievably bouncy, efficient ride with smooth heel-toe transitions. Few shoes deliver better energy return.

Right off the bat, you can feel the Vaporfly 4 is more stable than the 3, thanks to the lower stack height and redesigned midsole. This added stability makes the speedy Vaporfly better at more (slower) paces—although it’s a moot point for most who use the pair strictly for racing (and some speed work), as designed. Also, the Vaporfly doesn’t exactly thrive at slower paces. But those who found the ride of the Vaporfly too harsh in the past should enjoy the change.

Overall, the fourth edition of the Vaporfly feels slightly softer underfoot than the 3. And there’s a noticeably lighter ride, as it shed 0.3 ounces from an already feather-light shoe. At 6.7 oz (190 grams) for a men’s size 10 and 5.4 oz (152 grams) for a women’s size 8, the shoe is hardly noticeable on foot.

Although just a slight change, heel strikers will likely prefer the previous 8 mm drop to the new 6 mm drop. The more prominent change is the aforementioned reduction in stack height.

Uses

While it’s mainly reserved for racing, over the years I’ve used the Vaporfly for every type of speed workout under the sun. It nails all of them: tempo run, VO2 Max, lactate threshold, strides, marathon pace long runs. As corny as it sounds, lacing up the pair gives me a boost of confidence, knowing I have one of the fastest shoes helping propel me forward — especially on days when I’m low on energy. I’ve consistently surprised myself with how fast I can run in this shoe. I swear that’s not a humble brag.

Nike says the Vaporfly 4 is designed for everything from 10ks to marathons. Don’t you dare use it for a 5k! (You can use it for a 5k.) But while the Vaporfly has been my go-to shoe for racing marathons, the lower stack height in the fourth version makes me question whether it can go the distance — literally. As expected, the reduction in stack height is more noticeable on longer runs compared to shorter efforts.

I tested the Vaporfly 4 on moderate length lactate threshold workouts (9-mile runs with 4-5 miles at 15k pace) as well as a couple long runs (16 and 18 miles). While the shoe excelled on each run, I think I’m going to want more cushion when it comes to marathon miles 20-26, aka, the most challenging part when I’m running on fumes.

I don’t quite understand why Nike decided to change the Vaporfly this dramatically. I suppose they’re positioning it as a race day option for shorter distances because their max cushioned Alphafly is already a very popular marathon shoe. But the decision will likely disappoint those who rely on the Vaporfly for marathon racing, and could mean one fewer “super shoe” option for those with oversized hooves.

Upper

Perhaps the most comfortable Vaporfly upper yet (although, that’s not saying much), the 4th iteration has an updated engineered mesh that’s noticeably lighter. Both the heel and tongue are smaller this time around, and I found it a bit more difficult to get a secure lockdown upon first tie. But once I retied, the upper is hardly noticeably on the run. In the heel, there’s some padding only at the top, and the non-gusseted tongue is minimal, as is typical for the Vaporfly and other super shoes. Too much upper weighs the shoe down!

While it’s still a narrow-fitting upper—especially in the heel and midfoot—it’s a much better-fitting upper and a definite upgrade over previous versions which left a lot to be desired in terms of comfort. However, those with wide feet may be out of luck, as there’s no wide version. Bottom line: this is the lightest, most breathable version in the Vaporfly’s history.

Outsole

Saying super shoes are known for durability is like saying the Boston Marathon is known for equality—neither statement is true. And the Vaporfly is no exception. The new outsole uses a thinner blown rubber, and there’s not very much of it. While it is lighter, it comes at a cost: it’s noticeably less durable than the 3rd edition. I understand that shoes like the Vaporfly are typically reserved only for race day, but at such a high price tag, you’d expect a bit more longevity. I started to see some wear and tear in the heel after just over 30 miles.

Nike claims the softer outsole material “compresses to conform to the road for improved traction and smooth transition.” In my four-year history with the Vaporfly, traction has never been an issue and transitions have always been buttery smooth.

Weight

The lightest Vaporfly yet, at 6.7 oz (190 g) for a men’s size 10 and 5.4 oz (152 g) for a women’s size 8. The weight dropped by about 0.3 ounces from the 3rd version. But again, at what cost? The stripped down upper is a big upgrade, but the thin outsole is a clear downgrade. I don’t think I’m alone when I say I wouldn’t mind if the weight went back up by a couple tenths of an ounce if it means a more durable outsole. Once a shoe is around the seven-ounce marker (for men’s size 10), a few tenths of an ounce is really not going to make too much of a difference.

Aesthetics

The Vaporfly has always been a great-looking shoe with ample fun colorways to choose from. In fact, there are an impressive 10 colorways available, and, in typical Nike fashion, some are pricier than others. Are some dyes really more expensive? Why you’d ever pay more for a colorway is beyond me.

My “White/Obsidian Mist/Pure Platinum/Gridiron” colorway is the most basic one, with an all-white upper and black Nike logo, but the futuristic design of the shoe makes it stand out on the roads. I suppose it’d stand out on the trails, too, but you’d likely suffer a devastating injury using the Vaporfly on trails. Please don’t use the Vaporfly as a trail shoe. You’ve been warned.

Price

The hefty price tag ranges from $260-270, depending on colorway. Again, paying more money for a colorway is batshit crazy. While this is obviously a crap-ton of money (doesn’t even include tax!) Nike routinely puts certain colorways on sale. The combo of a price markdown and a promo code can bring the Vaporfly to an excellent price of around $150.

Pro tip: Sign up for Rakuten and sometimes you can get up to 10% cash back on your purchase. There’s literally no catch to using Rakuten. No, this review is not sponsored by Rakuten. However, Rakuten, if you’re reading this (and I know you are) I’d certainly be opening to accepting money from you—or anyone, really. I don’t discriminate.

Conclusion

Still as propulsive as always, but are the improved upper and lighter, more stable ride enough to offset the reduced stack height? The answer will likely be highly dependent on your stability needs and race distance.  

Regardless, this is still the Vaporfly: you really can’t go wrong strapping the OG super shoe to your feet on race day.

The Vaporfly 4 is available on Nike’s website.

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Nike graciously provided this shoe to me for wear testing. I was not compensated for this Nike Vaporfly 4 review and they didn’t get an opportunity to see this Nike Vaporfly 4 review before I published.