Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 3 EK Running Shoes
Nike reworked the leader of the super shoe pack and tuned the engine underneath to help you chase personal bests from a 10K to a marathon. From elite runners to those new to racing, this versatile road-racing workhorse is for those who see speed as a gateway to more miles and more seemingly uncatchable highs.
Flyknit Upper
The ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 3 features a redesigned upper made with a Flyknit fabric. This fabric is strategically placed in areas that require greater breathability, allowing heat, vapour and moisture to escape. Simultaneously, fresh air is encouraged to flow into the shoe and circulate, for a pleasant cooling sensation that guarantees cool, comfortable feet. This soft upper contours to the shape of your foot for ultimate comfort, thanks to a wider toe area giving you a roomier fit which allows for more room for natural toe flex. The shoe locks onto the foot via a traditional lacing system, anchoring them on securely for greater stability and control while the laces feature a warped design to help them remain tied. The laces loop through lightweight side supports that eliminate the need for an arch band, which helps reduce weight, meaning you won't have weight or bulk holding you back. Light padding on the tongue helps reduce lace pressure at the top of your foot and reinforcement along the forefoot makes it extra durable and secure.
Whenever someone trains with Eliud Kipchoge, they're asked to plant a tree at his base camp to signify their growth. The sockliner graphics mimic that growth with branches moving forwards towards the front of the shoe. The Red Clay colour fade nods to the Kenyan dirt that stains the shoes when training. The font is a play on African trees that have fractal-like patterns on the surfaces.
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 newly redesigned, 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. An internal foam pod at the heel gives you extra cushioning.
Lightweight Rubber Outsole
A lightweight, but durable rubber outsole completes the Vaporfly Next% 3. A new thin outsole rubber is designed to use less material without sacrificing durability, which helps reduce outsole weight and thickness. This allows for extra millimetres of ZoomX foam underfoot and a smoother transition through your stride. The redesigned outsole 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. A new waffle outsole pattern has 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. 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.
