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Nike Vaporfly 3 Review

The fastest and most versatile race day shoe, this is the one we pick when it's time to go fast
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Nike Vaporfly 3 Review (The Nike Vaporfly 3 wins Top Pick for race day thanks to it's bouncy foam and snappy responsiveness.)
The Nike Vaporfly 3 wins Top Pick for race day thanks to it's bouncy foam and snappy responsiveness.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Price:  $260 List
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Manufacturer:   Nike
By Nathaniel Bailey ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jun 5, 2024
74
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#1 of 25
  • Cushioning and Landing Comfort - 25% 8.8
  • Responsiveness - 25% 9.5
  • Stability - 20% 3.0
  • Upper Comfort - 15% 5.0
  • Weight - 15% 10.0

Our Verdict

In a world filled with super shoes and intriguing options, the Nike Vaporfly 3 is still the best race day shoe we've found. The trifecta of ZoomX foam, a carbon plate, and a lightweight upper helps create a special combination for fast races. This isn't a shoe for easy runs, but it's the one we turn to on the starting line. If you're looking to shave off every bit of time you can, we think this is the best shoe for road races of one mile to the marathon. You'll just have to be ready to dish out some major bucks, because this speedy shoe doesn't come cheap. Check out how it ranks next to the other shoes we tested in our men's running shoe review.
REASONS TO BUY
Fast
Well-cushioned
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited durability
Only useful for going fast
Very expensive

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Awards Top Pick Award Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award Best Buy Award 
Price $260 List$139.95 at Amazon
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Bottom Line This lightweight kick is our pick for racing anything on the roads, from 5K to a marathonA daily trainer that can handle most runs, the Novablast 4 is fun and extremely comfortableAn all-around standout that can handle easy days as comfortably as hard workoutsBouncy, responsive and well-cushioned, this shoe is performance-oriented but still versatileA daily trainer that blends comfort and versatility at a reasonable price
Rating Categories Nike Vaporfly 3 Asics Novablast 4 Saucony Endorphin S... New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Cushioning and Landing Comfort (25%)
8.8
8.3
8.0
8.5
8.0
Responsiveness (25%)
9.5
7.0
8.0
7.5
7.0
Stability (20%)
3.0
7.0
5.7
4.0
6.0
Upper Comfort (15%)
5.0
8.0
7.5
6.0
7.0
Weight (15%)
10.0
5.9
7.1
8.8
5.3
Specs Nike Vaporfly 3 Asics Novablast 4 Saucony Endorphin S... New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Sizes Available 6 - 15 US, regular 6 - 15 US, regular 7-15 US, regular 7-16 US, regular & wide 7 - 14 US, regular
Style Racing Daily/cushioning Plated daily Daily Daily
Measured Heel Stack Height 39 mm 43 mm 38 mm 36 mm 39 mm
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop 10 mm 7 mm 6 mm 5 mm 10 mm
Plate Type Carbon None Nylon None None
Rocker Angle 21.0 deg 22.5 deg 25.0 deg 19.5 deg 18.0 deg
Rocker Apex Location 64.82% 66.53% 67.74% 62.18% 66.67%
Measured Weight 7.24 oz 9.76 oz 9.73 oz 7.98 oz 10.07 oz
Upper Engineered mesh Engineered woven/knit Engineered mesh/knit Engineered mesh Engineered knit
Midsole ZoomX FF Blast + Eco PWRRUN PB FuelCell Profoam
Outsole Rubber AHAR Lo Rubber Rubber PumaGrip
Heel Tab Type None Finger loop None None None

Our Analysis and Test Results

The original Vaporfly introduced the world to “super shoes,” and the Vaporfly 3 carries on that legacy. We think it's the most versatile and reliable race shoe on the market. Nike's supercritical ZoomX foam saves our legs from pounding during the hardest efforts, and the aggressive geometry promotes a snappy toe-off.

Performance Comparison


nike vaporfly 3 - the nike vaporfly 3 is our choice for race days thanks to it's...
The Nike Vaporfly 3 is our choice for race days thanks to it's bouncy foam and snappy responsiveness.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Cushioning and Landing Comfort


The ZoomX foam might be the best part of the Vaporfly 3. Coming in just under World Athletic regulations for maximum stack height, we measured 39mm of bouncy foam in the heel and 29mm in the front. That's a thick chunk of extremely lightweight padding.


In combination with the carbon plate, the energy from each impact is absorbed by the foam and feels as though it's redirected into forward motion. It makes each landing very comfortable, even at the end of a long, hard run. We didn't experience any bottoming out, although the landing experience on loose dirt or gravel was significantly less enjoyable.

nike vaporfly 3 - we love the zoomx foam on the vaporfly.
We love the ZoomX foam on the Vaporfly.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

The Vaporfly took top scores in this metric. There is a caveat, though; this is a shoe that thrives at marathon pace or faster. It starts to feel less enjoyable at slower paces. The cushioning remains high, and it still feels plush and comfortable, but we just didn't enjoy it as much. That likely has to do with the fact that this is a very stiff, carbon-plated shoe, so it isn't as pliable when you're not putting as much force through it.

nike vaporfly 3 - the vaporfly combines zoomx foam with a carbon plate to drive...
The Vaporfly combines ZoomX foam with a carbon plate to drive forward movement.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

We are a big fan of the generous forefoot padding. That's one area where the Vaporfly stands out compared to many other shoes on the market, particularly those with carbon plates. Often, we experience some harshness in the ride of carbon-plated shoes, particularly in the mid/forefoot area. We experienced none of that with the Vaporfly, just a smooth and energetic ride.

nike vaporfly 3 - the forefoot cushion and landing comfort was among the best in our...
The forefoot cushion and landing comfort was among the best in our test.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente


As we noted earlier, the landing experience in this shoe isn't as enjoyable on loose surfaces. Some of that has to do with stability, but we also found the ZoomX is easily worn or damaged on abrasive surfaces. Occasionally, we could feel larger rocks striking the plate when running at high speeds. Obviously, running on gravel or rocky dirt roads is well outside the intended purpose of this shoe, so we don't count that against it. We do, however, wish there was a bit more grip; the Vaporfly has poor traction on wet pavement at race pace.

nike vaporfly 3 - the grip is fine on dry surfaces, but struggles on cold and wet...
The grip is fine on dry surfaces, but struggles on cold and wet pavement.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Responsiveness


The Vaporfly 3 is a very fast race shoe that makes use of a gentle rocker and extremely high energy return to give best-in-class responsiveness. At the end of the forefoot, the shoe feels as though it's throwing you forward into a snappy toe-off. It's less pronounced than in previous models, making it feel more natural, but when you lean into the shoe, the propulsion is very apparent.


The responsiveness of the shoe makes it a natural for hard efforts and races. It feels fantastic down to about mile pace, at which point the mass of the shoe starts to get in the way. That same responsiveness makes this a poor choice for easy runs. It's hard to run slowly in the Vaporfly.

Between the carbon plate, ZoomX foam, and late rocker geometry, the responsiveness is top notch in the Vaporfly 3.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

This is one area where we think the Vaporfly is outclassed by the competition. Shoes like the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 are slightly less responsive, which means their top end doesn't feel quite as fast and effortless, but they also are a little easier to run slowly in. When it comes to getting after hard efforts, the Vaporfly 3 is our favorite. We just don't recommend it for anything else.

This is a great shoe for the hardest sessions where everything hurts.
This is a great shoe for the hardest sessions where everything hurts.
The Nike Vaporfly 3 is our pick for the best race day and hard...
The Nike Vaporfly 3 is our pick for the best race day and hard effort shoe.

Stability


A high stack of bouncy foam, lightweight upper, and low traction means this shouldn't be your first choice for either lateral stability or motion support. The Vaporfly isn't a trainer, so it absolutely is not a shoe to buy for day-to-day use. We'd look elsewhere.


The Vaporfly feels very unstable while standing in it. The foam compresses and doesn't provide much direction. As soon as you start running, that feeling disappears, and the shoe feels much more stable. However, it's stiff and tall. It doesn't do particularly well on high-speed turns or uneven terrain. We tested this model on the track a number of times and found that while it does well at 3k-5k paced work, the height of the shoe starts to feel unstable in turns faster than mile pace.

nike vaporfly 3 - the vaporfly 3 isn't a stable shoe, but it does what its designed...
The Vaporfly 3 isn't a stable shoe, but it does what its designed for very well.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Upper Comfort


The Vaporfly sports an absurdly light and airy upper that's perfect for race day. As a race shoe, there isn't a ton of room in the toe box, but there is good forefoot lockdown. It doesn't feel cramped, but you definitely get the feeling that it's designed for going fast, not relaxing and spreading out.


The lacing system is different from most shoes, with the laces running down the top of the foot towards the outside of the shoe rather than down the middle. We found that this allowed for good lockdown. It also helped offset this shoe's only real negative — the tongue is just weird. It's thin, oddly wide, made of mesh, and isn't gusseted. We initially experienced some slippage until we laced up tighter. Nothing that caused much concern for hot spots, but still, it seems like a strange place to cut weight in a shoe designed to race 26.2 miles.

nike vaporfly 3 - the lacing position is unique, but works well to provide support and...
The lacing position is unique, but works well to provide support and lockdown with minimal weight.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

The laces of the Vaporfly are nicely designed to hold tension. We wish more laces used the same ridged shape. The heel fit and hold are also interesting. There isn't an extremely pronounced heel cup to lock in the heel, but the padding on the inside of it does a good job of holding everything down with minimal friction. We actually were surprised at how well our heel was locked down. When wearing the shoe, it looks as though the upper is loose around the heel and ankle, but we had no issues with rubbing or heel-lift.

nike vaporfly 3 - the upper is made of an extremely lightweight and airy mesh.
The upper is made of an extremely lightweight and airy mesh.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Weight


A shoe with this much foam that is this light seems impossible. Coming in at 7.24 ounces per size 10.5 shoe, the Vaporfly is lighter than some track spikes.


Sure, there are some sacrifices made for the low weight. The upper isn't plush, but we don't need a plush upper when all we care about is speed. The traction could be better; in fact, we really think a bit of added weight for slightly better grip in cold and wet conditions would be worth it. Overall, though, it's pretty silly to complain about a race shoe being too light.

nike vaporfly 3 - incredibly light and airy, the vaporfly is ready to race.
Incredibly light and airy, the Vaporfly is ready to race.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

Should You Buy the Nike Vaporfly 3?


If you're chasing a new PR or a qualifying time in your next race and want the best shoe to do it in, we think the Vaporfly 3 should be where you start. It's a racer, and a versatile one at that. There aren't many (any?) shoes that are faster over 10K and up for most runners, and very few that can compete with it over 5K. Of course, premium performance commands a premium price, and you can't really use this shoe for anything other than going fast. The shoes don't make a runner, but they sure make you feel fast!

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?


If you're after premium race day performance but want a bit more stability or grip, the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 is almost as fast as the Vaporfly but provides significantly better grip, stability, and durability. If you want a fast shoe but don't want to pay the super-shoe price, check out the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4. It's a phenomenal daily trainer that can do everything from easy runs to races and provides better stability, upper comfort, and grip than the Vaporfly.

Nathaniel Bailey