Kit & Gear

REVIEW: Nike Ultrafly

'Designed to be Fast AF! Verified with Buckles and FKTs'

The running world has been waiting patiently for Nike to replicate the success of its fastest carbon-fibre road shoes, the ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 2, on the trails. Now we're pleased to tell you that the wait is ALMOST over...

This is Nike Trail’s flagship racing shoe and is designed to be refined, sleek, grippy, and fast. Purposely removing noise and focusing only on elements that will deliver peak performance, the Ultrafly helps keep athletes in control while weaving through the trails at a rapid pace.

Launching at the end of July, this exciting new trail shoe features a ¾ length carbon-fibre plate, sandwiched inside a ZoomX midsole and wrapped in a textile film for protection and stability.

Nike is bringing its ethos and legacy from the road (and track) into trail through pinnacle product innovation.

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SHOP NIKE ULTRAFLY NOW

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Our SportsShoes ambassador, Ben Mounsey, has been busy putting the Nike Ultrafly to the test;

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FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Let's start with the obvious - white isn't the most practical choice of colour for a trail shoe. Although that said, it's not the first of its kind and it certainly won't be the last. You just have to accept the fact that they won't stay white for long!

Aside from the colour, I can't deny that this is a beautiful looking shoe, very much in keeping with the sleek and stylish design of Nike road shoes. I'm certain that loyal fans of the brand won't be disappointed with this exciting new release.

At 300g (US 10), it isn't the lightest trail shoe on the market but it does look, feel and perform like a race shoe, so I'm not concerned by the fact it's slightly heavier than other models that I usually wear for racing. If anything, it can double as a both a training and race day shoe, ideal for those faster-paced sessions when you want to wear something speedy and responsive.

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UPPER MATERIALS

The Vaporweave upper is both lightweight and breathable, especially at the front of the shoe where it's literally that material covering the top of your feet, ideal for ventilation in hot conditions. This material does feels like it could be waterproof - I can confirm that it's not. It will let water in and out, which is always my preference anyway.

At the back, the Vaporweave material sits on top of a thicker heel collar which cradles your foot for support and stability. The tongue is nicely shaped around the very top of your foot and padded in all the right places to soak up the tension of the laces. No complaints from me about the comfort, although it does feel like a precision fit shoe because it lacks width in the forefoot. I'm not sure how well it would accommodate a really wide foot, so lucky for me that I have very thin feet.

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THE MIDSOLE

Unsurprisingly, the magic is all in the midsole. The cushioning feels absolutely divine, although I'd expect nothing else from ZoomX foam, as IMO it's the secret ingredient of success to all fast Nike road shoes. The addition of a Carbon Flyplate makes this shoe fast and responsive, and coupled with the soft and springy foam, Nike has unleashed a trail racing weapon built for speed. This really is the Vaporfly of the trails.

In all honesty, I most feel the benefit of the midsole technology on faster, flatter sections of trail, because like other carbon-plated trail shoes I've tested, this shoe performs best when you really put some consistent speed through it. In fact, as a road to trail shoe it's just about the best I've tried because I love pounding the pavements in this shoe, especially when I have a mile or two to cover as an approach to the trails. When you start to navigate more technical terrain, the plate then acts more as a rockplate. In these situations, it's less about speed and more about protection and stability. You can count on the Ultrafly to soak up the impact of sharp rocks.

What I also really like about the design is the fact that the ZoomX foam is wrapped in fabric for protection. Having experienced first hand the damage that aggressive terrain can do to super-soft and exposed midsole foam, this was my primary concern. The fabric wrap is hard-wearing and very durable, so full marks from Nike for protecting the crown jewels.

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THE OUTSOLE

Less to talk about here than the midsole technology, but pleasing to know that Nike have used a tried and trusted Vibram® Outsole. The sticky rubber grips really well to dry rock and is more than capable of handling a multitude of trail surfaces.

I also think it's worth pointing out the obvious, this is a shoe most suited to dry conditions on hard-packed trails. It is not suitable for soft and muddy off-road surfaces. Like all other comparable trail shoes of its kind, the 4mm lugs aren't aggressive enough to handle the extreme fells and boggy moorland of the UK, but it is fantastic for everything else. Therefore, it's a 2-3 season UK trail shoe and ideal for spring and summer. I'd be very happy wearing this shoe on the dry hard-packed mountain trails in Europe during the summer racing season.

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OVERALL

In summary, the Nike Ultrafly both looks great and feels great. Think of it as the Vaporfly of the trails, as you'll feel the most benefit from the the midsole technologies on fast and runnable sections of off-road terrain. With the same responsive cushioning of a Vaporfly, it really a road running super-shoe wrapped in Trail clothing.

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KEY FEATURES:

• Carbon Flyplate 
  For the first time in Nike Trail, the Nike Ultrafly features a Carbon Flyplate layered between ZoomX foam and a fabric-wrapped midsole. A flat bottom and minimized cross rocker allow runners optimal stability on trail terrain while the heel-to-toe rocker promotes a smooth transition.
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• Vibram® Outsole 
  For the first time in a Nike Running shoe, the new Ultrafly features a bespoke Vibram® Litebase outsole design, with Vibram® Traction Lugs made of Vibram® Megagrip rubber compound to offer athletes the extra grip they need on the trails. Together, the outsole construction offers pinnacle traction while maintaining the Ultrafly Trail’s lightweight design.
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• Vaporweave
  A Vaporweave upper combined with classic collar construction, counter and fit system, ensures lightweight comfort and reliability for miles and miles of racing on the trails.

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