Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2 Running Shoe

The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 2 Ekiden is the next evolution of speed for reaching new goals and records, from 10Ks to marathons. A revamped upper helps improve comfort and breathability, while the same responsive cushioning and secure support help push you towards your personal best.

Redesigned Mesh Upper

Mesh uppers encase each foot in breathable comfort. Perforations in the fabric increase airflow, creating a better, healthier environment for your feet to thrive in. When temperatures begin to rise the well ventilated upper ensures a constant cooling effect so you can power through any workout with ease. The increase in airflow allows cool air to circulate throughout the upper removing an uncomfortable heat build-up and ensuring you remain cool, dry and comfortable at all times. The redesigned upper uses mesh fabric placed in areas where you need breathability. The result is a softer, cooler design that conforms to your foot. Reinforcement has been used along the forefoot to provide increased durability and comfort as you go. At the heel, an internal foam pod provides added cushioning whilst light padding on the tongue reduces lace pressure on your foot. The lacing system ensures midfoot support so you can enjoy distraction-free strides plus, an updated lace loop eliminates the need for an arch band-helping to reduce weight and relieve pressure on the top of the foot.

ZoomX Midsole

Nike ZoomX foam delivers Nike Running's greatest energy return yet, and Next% adds more ZoomX for responsive comfort on race day. Ultra-light and super-responsive, the midsole material delivers Nike's greatest energy return yet; it absorbs impact and then expels it back out for a bounce-like effect. This energy-return technology reduces the use of superfluous muscle power, diminishing fatigue and enhancing performance, keeping you going for longer. The revolutionary ZoomX foam is manufactured from Pebax, a product conventionally used in plastic bridges and other moulded parts, and yields cushioning that is not only lightweight but soft and springy. Until now, these three characteristics (collectively) have proven nearly impossible to achieve. Pebax has a lower density than some thermoplastic alternatives and this makes it lighter, flexible and more impact-resistant, whilst giving it a higher capacity for energy return. When blown into a foam these properties remain, gifting you with a lively underfoot feeling that encourages you to run fast. Signalling the incredible resilience of ZoomX, the tiny creases that occur on every midsole do not have an impact on the foam's performance; these beauty marks are a result of the autoclave process which places the foam under extreme heat and pressure. The ZoomX sheets are then compressed in a Phylon preform which shapes the midsole parts. Because the special foam is so lightweight (one third the weight of Cushlon), Nike is able to use more of it to separate your foot from the road; this means you get a thick and supportive midsole that will spare your joints as you strike down onto hard, unforgiving concrete. A distinctive, aerodynamic heel is designed to delay air separation and reduce drag, tapering to banish every barrier between you and your top speed. Embedded within the generous ZoomX platform, and complimenting its responsive nature, is a full-length carbon fibre plate. Intended to minimise energy loss during toe bend without increasing demand on the calf, it springs up under your heel as you stride forward, yielding the snappy, propulsive sensation that converts into extra-energised strides. The plate is curved at the front, helping give the runner back some of the energy they put in at toe-off. It's this fusion of two contrasting technologies (the ZoomX foam and the carbon plate) that results in the dynamic, power-infused Vaporfly Next%, one of the most efficient marathon shoes that Nike has ever sold.

Lightweight Outsole

A lightweight, but durable, outsole completes the shoe. Its traction pattern is informed by an algorithm to identify lug shapes and sizes that optimise propulsion. The design places optimal rubber on the road for efficiency and traction; high-abrasion rubber adorns the rearfoot to increase durability, resisting the traumas of heel-strike to supply you with a reliable and long-lasting running buddy. Lightweight foam rubber covers the forefoot to provide grip and durability whilst enhancing energy return. Lengthwise flex grooves have been used on the rubber outsole to enhance multi-surface traction ensuring confident footing wherever your next race takes you. The durable rubber provides a strong grip and works to protect itself from damage, and protect users from losing control and slipping. The ten-millimetre drop helps to minimise strain on the calf and Achilles. It's all for the athletes who crave a shoe that's hard to run slow in, a shoe that allows you to maintain any given pace. Let it be love at first run, choose the Vaporfly Next%.