REASONS TO BUY
Responsive
Excellent lightweight upper
Cool colorways
REASONS TO AVOID
Stiff
Bubble feel underneath forefoot
Narrow
Higher stack height
Nike Zoom Fly 5 Review
This shoe has excellent responsiveness with great landing comfort and is great for a long run but requires a stricter running form
Credit: Nike
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Our Verdict
If you are searching for a running shoe that feels quick and agile, the Nike Zoom Fly 5 could be the one for you. We prefer the previous version due to its insane stiffness and responsiveness, but this is still a great design even with its updated cushioning. Nike has incorporated more bounce into this model, and it can be instantly felt underneath the forefoot, almost bubble-like. We think this shoe has become slightly less performance-oriented and now excels more as an all-around trainer. Our only complaint would be the shoe constantly requires an excellent running form, otherwise, the bubble feeling becomes more pronounced. As always with Nike, the shoe comes in a variety of sweet colorways and an awesome design.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The previous Nike Zoom Fly 4 version that we tested impressed us with its excellent firm, lightweight responsiveness, making it ideal for fast training or racing. However, the latest Nike Zoom Fly 5 version has been softened up and become more of an all-around trainer in our eyes. Now with ZoomX foam, this model is significantly softer and has a much more springy feel underfoot.
In our opinion, this shoe is best for experienced runners who have excellent form throughout their entire run. This shoe wants you to be aggressive and awards such running. Due to the bubble feeling underneath the forefoot, flat-footed landings and takeoffs feel a bit uneven. If you aren't focused on maintaining good form, this shoe tends to feel off and really only feels precise and agile if you are toeing off and landing on your forefoot. We also prefer the seamless knitted upper of the previous version compared to the updated more traditional tongue design.
Performance Comparison
As we've come to expect from Nike, the Zoom Fly 5 feels fast and has great colorways.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Cushioning and Landing Comfort
The midsole foam and carbon fiber plate in this model are on the stiffer side and therefore the landing comfort suffers a bit compared to other cushier models. Luckily, if you run with good form and maintain a more progressive foot strike pattern, the carbon plate and midsole foam can absorb most of the energy and return it when taking off. Less experienced runners may find this shoe to feel a bit uneven, and therefore uncomfortable, especially if you land flat-footed or on your heels.
Compared to previous version 4, the Zoom Fly 5 has softer cushioning that makes it a bit less firm and more similar to other well-cushioned models in today's market.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Experienced runners will appreciate the responsive cushioning, but we found we didn't experience the same comfort or responsiveness if we relaxed our form and landed more flat-footed. The responsive foam underneath the forefoot can make the shoe feel uneven at times, which is already compounded by the higher stack height.
Responsiveness
We love this shoe for its snappy, responsive feeling. The carbon plate returns maximum energy and each landing and takeoff feels firm, precise, and fully maximized. Minimal energy is lost to foam compression, making this one of our favorite responsive models for long-distance running at a fast pace. While not as stiff as the previous version, we still think this is one of the fastest shoes in our lineup.
The Nike Zoom Fly 5 was softened up over the previous Zoom Fly 4 but it still offers great responsiveness, just not as instantaneous feeling as the previous version.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
This shoe is not the lightest in our running shoe test lineup. In our perfect world, we'd suggest the lightest weight shoe possible for shorter distance events and training, as this will generally allow for maximum turnover and will keep your legs as fresh as possible. However, once the distance becomes longer, the shorter heel drop is more fatiguing in our experience, and we prefer the 8-millimeter drop found on the Zoom Fly 5 which is a great middle-ground for comfort and engagement.
Upper Comfort
The Zoom Fly 5 transitions back to a standard tongue design, which was a surprise given how much we loved the fully knit upper found on the previous version 4. This new upper still securely holds your foot with ample compression to feel locked in and stable, and there are minimal seams, reducing friction points and creating comfort even on extended runs. This is a platform many of the top runners in the world use even for distances above the marathon. The heel cup feels snug and we experienced no slipping.
A unique upper design is a bit thicker than the previous version and includes wear patches for increased durability.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Some runners could find this model a bit narrow, which is a common complaint about Nike products. Personally, it fits our feet extremely well. If you have above-average width or volume, you may want to find a different model. While the long-term durability is debatable for these types of uppers given the minimal fabric, we didn't experience wear and tear that isn't normal for a running shoe. Plus, this version has additional material in the high wear areas on the inside and outside of the toes which we anticipate will increase upper durability.
Lateral Stability and Support
This platform is narrower than most other models we tested and it does have a larger stack height, leading to less stability, especially on uneven terrain. For those prioritizing stability and support, there are shoes in our lineup we tested that are far more stable and offer much more rigidity if that's something you desire.
The Zoom Fly 5 is still on the narrower end and has a high stack height, making it less stable than other models.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Your muscles and running form will have to do most of the work for you with this model. The carbon fiber plate does offer a stable platform once you start to lose balance or get off-center, but there is little to help support you outside of your own body. While this shoe scores lower for its supportive features, we think it is intended for more advanced runners prioritizing speed and responsiveness. Once you start to relax your form, the stack height makes this shoe feel more vague and loose, which we weren't fans of.
Weight
The Zoom Fly 5 comes around the middle of our lineup in regards to the weight. We find this weight class is a great spot for a daily trainer, and anything heavier can start to feel noticeable.
At 10.3 ounces in a men's size 9.5, this shoe saves some weight by having a fairly thin upper with little structure. The Zoom Fly 5 is a few ounces heavier than the previous version 4 due to a slightly thicker upper and some added outsole rubber. We appreciate this extra outsole rubber, as it provides confidence in a wide range of conditions and also increases durability. If you are looking for a lightweight trainer that can also be ready for race day, this could be the perfect weight class for you.
A close-up of the new outsole rubber is found in this update. A clear window gives you a look at the ZoomX midsole compound.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Should You Buy the Nike Zoom Fly 5?
If you are looking for an all-around trainer to fill the void between your race shoes then this could be the model for you. We still prefer the previous version 4 due to its awesome responsiveness, but we think there is a spot for this newer model, especially for runners with excellent form who are experiences running long distances. If you often find yourself cresting 10 miles and want a good blend of cushion and responsiveness, this is a great option.
The Zoom Fly stands out thanks to its unique propulsion properties and sweet colorways.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?
For those seeking maximum support and stability, we suggest looking into the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23, which provides excellent support and balances it with great cushioning and all-around comfort. If you are looking for a super-light model that's better for shorter distance racing and speed work we'd suggest the Saucony Kinvara 14. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is our top award winner and we love it for its blend of cushioning and responsiveness. Other recommendations can be found in our running shoes review.
—Matthew Richardson
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