Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 3

The market that has grown around carbon-plated shoes is impressive, but the American brand is undoubtedly still the queen of this segment, and the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 3 is the latest evolution to hit the tarmac. The idea is to improve on what already exists, focusing above all on a better upper fit, better grip on slippery surfaces and improved stability, the latter a tricky point given the chunky midsole these shoes carry. It certainly does not look like a bad business, between the high retail price and the reduced durability, but it is up to each runner to judge whether the purchase is worth it and whether the much-touted faster recovery after a race is real. Tastes vary, but who would dare wear them out anywhere other than in a road race?

Succeeding the iconic Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2, a coveted object of desire since its release, is a challenge. People have paid a fortune for it, as if it were one of those limited editions collected rather than worn, just to shave a few seconds per kilometre off as recreational runners. Either way, the current edition looks sharp, with a latest-generation FlyKnit upper that adapts to the shape of the foot like a glove and varies the size of the ventilation holes by zone to strike a good balance between fit and ventilation. It keeps a tongue with room for improvement in its peculiar shape near the shin and an asymmetric lacing system that takes some getting used to for the uninitiated, mainly because of possible odd sensations at pressure points slightly different from the usual ones.

Credit where it is due to the people at Nike for the play of geometries and colours in the midsole, whose main compound keeps the ZoomX trade name but is really an evolution of what has been seen before, improving the response as far as possible in combination with the embedded carbon fibre plate. The redesigned rear stands out (slightly reminiscent of the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run), aiming for greater overall stability. The outsole has also been redesigned, aiming on the one hand for better grip and on the other for weight savings by using less rubber. The optical effect of an oversized Nike Swoosh logo in a different colour, playing with the hollow section, is very well done.