Nike Zoom Fly 6 Review

Most brands now offer at least one “super trainer” — a shoe that utilizes much of the technology from top-tier race shoes, but is designed to have more comfort, durability, and versatility. The Zoom Fly 6 is Nike's offering, and it's arguably the best overall trainer in their lineup.

Side View Cut in Half

Cushioning

ZoomX foam is Nike's premium offering, providing excellent impact mitigation and resilience in a lightweight package. And the Zoom Fly 6 has a lot of it. That makes for top-notch cushioning. We measured 41 mm of midsole stack at the heel, with a 10 mm drop.

On the run, the Zoom Fly does a good job of insulating the foot. I found that moderate paces felt smooth, with the shoe compressing nicely and providing great transitions. When I start to squeeze the pace, the energetic nature of the ZoomX starts to show, with a little more bounce off the forefoot. However, at slower paces, the Zoom Fly feels stiffer, with a slightly unnatural transition off the midfoot. It's not uncomfortable, but it is less pleasant than at a slightly faster clip.

When running, the Zoom Fly feels a lot like a toned-down version of the Nike Alphafly 3, just with a more natural ride. It has a similar feel during a stride (large, a little boxy), and the landings feel similar, albeit without the added bounce of the AirPods on the Alphafly. There's even the same annoying squeak as I land!

Overall, the shoe does an excellent job on long efforts. This is a great option for marathon training (and racing for some), with the ZoomX doing a great job of saving your legs deep into a long session. For a big long run with a few pace changes, I'd reach for either this shoe, the Asics Superblast 2, or the Adidas Adizero Evo SL.

Upper Comfort

Part of the reason this shoe is great for longer efforts is the upper. It's more built-up than many uptempo trainers, with a fairly rigid heel cup, soft touch materials along the heel and ankle, a lightly padded and gusseted tongue, and a relatively soft interior lining. This makes it pretty darn comfortable.

Overall, I didn't have any issues with sliding, rubbing, blistering, or hotspots during testing. It's a good upper, and one that I think makes this a more versatile option thanks to the added comfort.

Stability

The Zoom Fly 6 isn't very laterally stable. While the carbon plate does provide a significant amount of longitudinal stiffness, in conjunction with the high stack, it also puts a lot of leverage on the ankles. I found the mileage on uneven dirt roads to be unpleasant in this shoe as a result.

In terms of support, this shoe does provide more than both Nike's racers and many other high-scoring uptempo trainers. If you prefer a little support and stability and run on smooth surfaces, this trainer might be a better choice than options like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 or the Adidas Adizero Evo SL. That's one of the reasons I think this shoe could work well for some runners chasing a marathon PR. It offers more support than most super shoes, but significantly more speed and insulation than most daily trainers.

Responsiveness

The Zoom Fly 6 does pretty well in the responsiveness department. The ZoomX is lively and energetic, and feels great at threshold efforts. The shoe actually feels smooth at faster paces, too, but the overall bulk starts to get in the way. Personally, I prefer a lower and lighter shoe for paces faster than threshold, as do many runners. The Zoom Fly feels too bulky for really ripping intervals at 5K pace or faster, both on the track and the road.

The Zoom Fly 6 really seems optimized for half- or full-marathon training, where the paces are controlled and the race is extended. That's where the responsiveness of the Zoom Fly feels best.

Weight

The Zoom Fly 6 weighs in at 9.45 ounces in a US Men's 10.5. That's not super light, but it's on par with many of the more versatile daily trainers in our lineup.

On my feet, the shoe does actually feel heavier. It's a similar phenomenon to the Alphafly 3, which is a very light shoe, but doesn't actually feel that way. I think it is largely because the thick chunk of foam carries a significant portion of the shoe's weight, so it gives the sensation of pulling weight up from below your foot during a stride, rather than the weight being evenly balanced around your foot.

Traction

The waffle-inspired outsole of the Zoom Fly 6 works well on a range of surfaces, and it's held up significantly better in testing than I expected. It does slip a little on wet asphalt, but no more than most daily trainers.

Also, I'm impressed with the midsole cutout on this shoe that exposes the plate. On most shoes that have one, it's a constant annoyance on dirt roads or while running over rocks. Those cutouts tend to be a rock magnet. However, on the Zoom Fly 6, the design seems to prevent rocks from getting stuck, which I really appreciate.

Should You Buy the Nike Zoom Fly 6?

If you're training for a race and want a versatile uptempo trainer that can carry you through hard sessions, some easy runs — and even race day — this shoe should make your short list. It's a little more comfort-optimized than many other versatile daily trainers, especially those with plates, which makes it a better choice for runners who want some speed, but not at the expense of support and comfort. If you're a beginner, this likely isn't the best choice due to the rocker, plate, and unstable nature. Really, the Zoom Fly 6 fills a very specific niche: a versatile and uptempo daily trainer that thrives in heavy marathon training.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?

Among the plated shoes in our lineup, the Zoom Fly 6 is one of the most comfort-oriented. An option like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 offers a little more speed and a more nimble feeling, but isn't as comfortable for long efforts. The Hoka Mach X 2 is a standout plated daily trainer that has significantly more punch at faster speeds than the Zoom Fly, but also feels far less comfortable at moderate and easy paces, and has a less comfortable upper. The Asics Superblast 2 is possibly the most similar shoe in our lineup, but is a little more versatile overall, even though it doesn't feel quite as good at the faster end of paces. Finally, the Zoom Fly would likely be my top recommendation for a versatile uptempo trainer if the Adidas Adizero Evo SL didn't exist. It's a more nimble shoe that also feels better at relaxed paces because it doesn't have a plate. The Zoom Fly offers more stability and is likely a better race day option for runners who don't want a true super shoe.