NIKE ZOOM FLY 5 REVIEW

NIKE ZOOM FLY 5

Shoe	Nike Zoom Fly 5 (Discontinued)
Category	Carbon Plated Daily/Tempo Trainer
Weight	242g (UK Size 6)
Midsole Foam	ZoomX Foam Core
Carbon Plate?	Yes (Full Length)
Original Price	£154.95

PLEASE NOTE: I paid for the Nike Zoom Fly 5 trainers myself and was not gifted these trainers or paid by Nike to give a honest review. This page contains affiliate links. Making a purchase via our affiliate link means I may receive a small share of the sale.

I’ve been running regularly for around 7 years, although only competitively and with a club for around 4 years. I’m currently training for the Lisbon marathon where I hope to run a sub 3 hours. Controversially marathons are my favourite distance and the distance which gives me the most satisfaction. Often resulting in me crying at every finish line. 

I’ve never ran in Nike Zoom Flys before and essentially knew nothing about them. I’m a creature of habit in terms of trainers and no longer like wasting money trying new models which end up not being what I want.

However, as marathon training ramps up I was keen to find a trainer that could support both longer miles and speed sessions without the extra weight and has a carbon plate but without the carbon plate price tag.

THE HEEL

There’s not much heel padding and on my first two runs I felt the trainer rubbing on my heel and I had to use a plaster.

However, this did subside the more I wore the trainer and I think they take a few runs to become comfortable.

THE UPPERS

The upper is made from lightweight mesh for a softer feel and is meant to boost ventilation.

Although I found the upper soft I thought the trainer lacked ventilation and I could feel my feet getting hot towards the end of a longer run. It wasn’t enough to impact my run, it did make a difference when I finished a run at the gym to do a strength session and left footprints on the gym floor (I do strength without trainers) and therefore now have to pack spare socks with me.

The tongue of the trainer is nicely padded which meant I didn’t feel any pressure or rubbing from the laces. There was also no issues of the laces coming undone which for me is always important as I get frustrated if I need to stop on a run for laces.

THE OUTSOLE

The outsole of the trainers lugs are thin and soft, so I’d imagine that wear and tear will happen fairly early. I used the trainer on and off road and also on gravel paths in rain and sunnier conditions.

The trainer had good grip in the rain on path and gravel and I felt comfortable pushing the pace. I’m aware it’s a road trainer, however I often combined my runs with a mixture of road and off road and I found that the trainer lacked stability off road and I therefore had to slow the pace.

THE MIDSOLE

The trainer has a full length Carbon plate, dual density midsole with ZoomX foam which is quite soft to touch and provides a good level on cushioning particularly on longer runs.

I found that the carbon plate defines the rocker shape of the forefoot, which pushed me forward meaning my slower runs ended up being unintentionally faster.

HOW MUCH DO THEY WEIGH?

I wear size 6 which weigh approximately 242g. Although they’re slightly heavier than other carbon trainers, I found them lighter than anticipated based on other reviews whereby people have reported them to be quite heavy.

That being said they’re not a trainer I’d race in just because they are slightly heavier than say the Vaporfly, but for tempo or marathon training sessions I didn’t find the weight to be an issue.

HOW DO THEY FIT?

I found the trainers to be true to size. They have a wider base than other trainers so they quite comfortable for me, particularly as I have wide feet.

HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?

The Nike Zoom Fly 5 retails at £154.95 which considering the prices of some carbon trainers, I actually think these are a good price.

WHERE TO BUY

You can buy Nike Zoom Fly 5 shoes direct from the Nike website website.

PROS & CONS

Pros	Cons
Carbon Plated: The full length plate provides a great forward rocking motion that makes slow miles feel effortlessly faster.	Heavy: It is significantly heavier than elite racing shoes like the Vaporfly.
Wide Base: Very stable on the road and accommodating for wider feet.	Poor Ventilation: The upper traps heat, leading to very sweaty feet on long runs.
Training Durability: Much more durable outsole rubber than fragile race day supershoes.	Heel Rub: The lack of heel padding can cause blistering during the first few break-in runs.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is the Nike Zoom Fly 5 discontinued? Yes. Nike has officially retired the Zoom Fly 5 and launched the highly updated Zoom Fly 6. The newer model fixes many of the weight and heel rubbing issues that runners experienced with the version 5.

Can I use the Nike Zoom Fly 5 for race day? While you absolutely can race in them, we don't recommend it if you are chasing a PB. The Zoom Fly 5 is quite heavy and is much better suited as a durable "training partner" to protect your legs during marathon blocks. For race day, a lighter shoe like the Vaporfly 3 is superior.

Does the Nike Zoom Fly 5 have ZoomX foam? Yes, but with a catch. The Zoom Fly 5 features a core of premium ZoomX foam, but it is encased inside a firmer carrier foam (SR-02) to improve durability. This makes the shoe feel significantly firmer and heavier than the pure ZoomX used in the Vaporfly or Alphafly.

WOULD I RECOMMEND THEM?

Yes. They’re a great addition to shoe rotation and provide good stability, comfort and grip.

I think the trainer is particularly tailored for marathon training or those who enjoy long distance running. Therefore, it’s not a race day shoe for me and it’s unlikely that I’d wear them anything faster than a tempo run.

CONCLUSION

• I found the Zoom Flys 5 to be an ideal long distance trainer, particularly in terms of marathon training.
• I never usually care about the look of a trainer as my focus is on performance, but I really like the colour and style of this trainer and even had a few compliments.
• The trainers provide comfort and stability for slower and faster miles, but despite the carbon plate it’s not a trainer I’d race in. This is mainly due to the weight of the shoe.
  

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions you would like to ask about the Nike Zoom Fly 5, please get in touch.

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