In 2017, Nike unveiled a thick-soled running shoe equipped with a carbon plate. Nike overturned the conventional wisdom that top athletes wear thin and lightweight shoes, bringing about a true innovation. Since then, Nike has continued to lead the running scene, unveiling a new racing model: "Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 4."
Despite the forefoot being 2mm thicker, it has achieved the lightest weight in the series' history. It is said that the shape of the fly plate has also been revised. What kind of shoe is "Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 4" (hereafter referred to as VAPORFLY 4)?
A Shoe that Has Pioneered a New Era in Running Shoes
In 2017, at the Monza Circuit in Italy, during the event "Breaking2," athlete Eliud Kipchoge, equipped with Nike's thick-soled shoes, marked a time of 2 hours, 0 minutes, and 25 seconds, surpassing the then-unofficial world record for men's marathon.This prompted long-distance running shoes with carbon plates to become mainstream, led by the original model "Vaporfly," which was released in July 2017.