Race shoe
Nike Vaporfly 4
The lightest mainstream super shoe. ZoomX and a carbon plate make race pace feel easier, especially from 5K to half marathon.
Typical price
$260
MSRP
Weight
185 g
Drop
8 mm
Stack
40/32
Product photo from a retailer listing; the colourway shown may differ.
Role suitability
How well this shoe covers each job in a rotation, judged editorially against the rest of the catalogue.
DAILY
Covers the bulk of easy and steady miles.
RECOVERY
Holds up on the slowest, most protective days.
LONG RUN
Built for long, steady efforts.
TEMPO
Works at faster, controlled paces.
RACE
Fast enough for race day.
Ride and notes
Less stable and less forgiving than the Alphafly 3, but noticeably lighter. Runners with unstable mechanics should look at the Adios Pro 4 instead.
Who it suits
Racers prioritising weight and speed over maximum stability.
Worth comparing with
The Alphafly 3 is more protective over 42 km; the Adios Pro 4 is more stable.
Fit
Snug, race-oriented fit.
Specifications
- Weight
- 185 g
- Heel drop
- 8 mm
- Stack
- 40 mm heel / 32 mm forefoot
- Category
- Race shoe
- Stability
- Neutral
- Ride
- Soft
- Plate
- Carbon plate
- Rocker
- pronounced rocker
- Upper fit
- Narrow
- Toe box
- Narrow
- Foam
- ZoomX
- Grip
- 4/5 dry · 4/5 wet
- Expected life
- 200–320 km
- Model year
- 2025
- MSRP
- $260
Specs reviewed Sep 30, 2026. Measurements are manufacturer figures rounded; where sources disagree we state the rounded figure and lower our internal confidence.
Retailers
Running Warehouse
US · MSRP · widths: standard
$260Check priceAmazon
US · MSRP · widths: standard
$260Check price
Related shoes
Nike
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Nike's plushest everyday trainer: a ZoomX top layer over ReactX makes slow miles genuinely comfortable.
$150
Puma
Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3
A lighter, sharper race shoe with Nitro Elite foam and Puma's usual excellent grip.
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Adidas
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5
177 g, 4 mm drop, 39/35 mm stack, carbon plate, LIGHTSTRIKE PRO foam.
$275