Speed Up with the Nike Zoom Series

Nike’s all-time best-selling running shoe is back with a big upper refresh: Engineered mesh with added perforations enhances breathability across high-heat areas such as the forefoot and arch. Exposed Flywire cables in the midfoot keep you secure as you pick up speed. The heel collar and tongue are slimmer, which means a more comfortable and conforming fit than before.  The Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36 maintains its full-length Zoom Air unit (introduced in the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35) encased by Cushlon foam in the midsole for a smooth, responsive, cushioned ride you can rely on day after day.

In its second iteration, the everyday-trainer-version of the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% is updated with a lighter, sleeker upper, thanks mostly to a translucent material and lofted mesh. A midfoot band locks the foot on the footbed at high speeds.

For the first time, the women’s Nike Zoom Fly 3 houses a slightly softer sockliner with a higher arch. Both versions of the Nike Zoom Fly update feature a transparent lighter upper with a new arch-band lacing system that offers a more adjustable fit. The soft and springy Nike React midsole provides highly responsive cushioning and houses a full-length carbon-fiber plate that delivers a propulsive sensation. The shoe’s offset is designed to minimize Achilles strain and its stack height offers impact protection mile after mile. The result — confirmed by lab tests — is one of the fastest, most-efficient shoes Nike makes.

Elite athlete feedback played a huge role in revamping the already incredibly successful system that increases running economy. Plus, a new material construction, called Vaporweave, on the upper is lighter than Nike Flyknit, breathable and — critically — absorbs less water from sweat or rain, so it stays airy and dry over the course of a marathon.

Designers added 15 percent more Nike ZoomX foam (capable of providing up to 85 percent energy return) to the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% — but the shoe’s weight stays the same as the previous version. They also shaved 3mm from the offset (now 8mm), so you can expect to experience better stability and increased energy conservation before toe-off. (Still embedded within the foam is a full-length curved carbon fiber plate that increases stiffness to provide a sensation of propulsion). A new traction pattern improves forefoot grip so the shoe handles better in wet weather. Also on the outsole are new contoured treads with deep grooves that facilitate smoother movement during turns.