Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT%

My first impression when I took them out of the box was they looked unlike anything else I'd ever seen before. Then I picked them up and they are so light. They felt really plasticy and a bit unnatural. Then I put them on and they felt sort of flimsy and again quite plasticy. Don't judge a book by it's cover! I do a lot of triathlon. Running in these is like moving up from a good bike to a top of the range carbon bike with aero wheels and a tri bar - strange initially, but faster. It's like wearing a good wetsuit, you feel slightly detached from the water, but go faster. Running in these is like wearing 'other' trainers on a running track, only bouncier. This is a revolution in footwear. I put my 'what I thought were good' trainers on after running in these and they just felt dead. I measured my stride length, which is longer. Cadence is higher, probably aided by their extraordinary lightness. Don't wear these for anything other than running (or even just racing, train in others to preserve them) long distance in straight lines. Badminton, basketball . . . will all probably result in then ripping apart very quickly. That's not what they are for. I'm an engineer - well done Nike for creating a truly exceptional product. Thanks :) I gave 5 stars, but would have given 7 stars if I could. These are the Burj Al Arab of trainers. I've never been there but I can't afford to go there now I've bought these! I think I'm the kind of person who'd get more out of the trainers than lying on a comfy bed in an air conditioned hotel . . .

Im someone who runs indoor on the treadmill because I have very bad knees and a bad back. Whenever I run with these shoes I immediately feel the difference with my knee and my back pain. These shoes are extremely comfortable and makes me feel like im running on clouds which I love but at the same time I also have the stability which I like. Whenever I put on different shoes to run in it just doesn't compare.

Finally pulled the trigger on a pair of these and for me I really feel that the hype is real. I know I am late to the party but I wanted to get to a stage in my running where I am already considered above average before employing marginal gain strategies such as these plated shoes. My first run was a training run that I like to do in all my new shoes to break them in without going overboard. I ended up accidentally PBing the 5k distance whilst feeling physically like I was at a 7/10 effort level. Astonishing! I will say though that it isn't a mindless effort in these shoes because the set up, geometry etc really forces you to correct any poor form. As a slightly lazy foot striker it really made a difference and my calf muscles seem to have strengthened immeasurably. This then translates to better form in non-plated shoes. Positives: - Cushioning to response ratio is phenomenal. - The pop from the carbon plate exposes poor form and forces you to mentally focus on really getting your foot strike and cadence right. - More response and energy return means more efficiency. Whilst these are not a magic shoe they certainly help you to feel fresher for longer. - No issues at all with the grip even on wet paving. - Best lock down I've had in a shoe apart from the Adios line by Adidas. - Looks fire! Negatives: - Cornering stability is a slight issue and you need to concentrate when sharply maneuvering. - Price is prohibitive