Early models of the Nike Zoom Fly set the template for what a plated training shoe looked like, with designs that offered most of the speed of the best carbon plate running shoes but more durability and comfort for everyday use.
The past couple of Zoom Fly shoes have been disappointing, however, being heavy and lacking the bounce you expect from a super-trainer. Fortunately, the Nike Zoom Fly 6 is a huge improvement and one of the best running shoes I’ve tested in 2024 thanks to its comfortable and versatile ride.
I’ve run over 70 miles in the shoe and in my Nike Zoom Fly 6 review I’ll explain why I think it’s one of the best Nike running shoes launched in years, and how it compares with other top plated trainers like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 and Hoka Mach X2.
Nike Zoom Fly 6 review: price and availability
The Nike Zoom Fly 6 launched in November 2024 and costs $170 in the U.S. and £155 in the U.K., which is good value for a super-trainer given that similar shoes from other brands now often cost close to or more than $200. It’s also cheaper than the Nike Pegasus Plus, and significantly more affordable than Nike’s carbon plate racing shoes, the Vaporfly 3 and Alphafly 3.
Nike Zoom Fly 6 review: design and fit
The Nike Zoom Fly 6 is currently available in four colors, including the white and grape color I tested. The shoe is only available in one width, but doesn’t have a very narrow fit in my experience. I used my usual size and while it’s slightly tighter around the toes than some Nike shoes, I’d stick to your normal running shoe size with the Zoom Fly 6.
Nike increased the stack height on the Zoom Fly 6 compared with the Zoom Fly 5, with the new shoe being 42mm high at the heel and 34mm at the forefoot for an 8mm drop, but the weight has actually dropped considerably. The Zoom Fly 6 is 9.4oz in my men’s size 10, whereas the Zoom Fly 5 was over 11oz in my size.
Upper
The Zoom Fly 6 has a dual-layer woven mesh upper that has more padding around the heel and tongue than you’d get on a full racing shoe like the Vaporfly, in order to make the Zoom Fly 6 more comfortable to use for regular training.
I found the fit and upper on the Zoom Fly 6 to be exceptionally comfortable for a fast training shoe, and it makes it more suitable for easy and long runs as well as fast sessions. The comfort you get helps the Zoom Fly 6 stand out from other plated trainers like the Hoka Mach X2, which has a thin upper that makes it lighter, but also less comfortable than the Zoom Fly 6.
Midsole
The Nike Zoom Fly 6 has a dual-density midsole with a top layer made from ZoomX foam — which is the lightest and bounciest in Nike’s range — and a bottom layer made from SR-02 foam, which is a firmer material used to increase the stability and durability of the shoe.
Unlike the Zoom Fly 5, the Zoom Fly 6 uses fresh ZoomX foam, rather than the recycled material on the 5, and this delivers a much bouncier and more responsive ride. A full-length carbon plate adds more propulsion, but it’s a more flexible plate than the ones on the Vaporfly or Alphafly racers, which means the Zoom Fly 6 is more comfortable for everyday use.
Outsole
To reduce the weight of the shoe Nike has used rubber quite sparingly on the outsole of the Zoom Fly 6, but the forefoot is covered, along with most of the heel, and I’ve had no problems with grip during my testing. The rubber also shows no signs of wear and tear after 70 miles.
There is a cutout in the middle of the outsole that helps to reduce weight and shows off the carbon plate in the midsole. This can accumulate dirt if you take the shoe off-road, but it didn’t pick up stones when I ran on a canal towpath with some gravel sections.
Nike Zoom Fly 6 review: running performance
I’ve tested every generation of the Nike Zoom Fly, and I rated the first two versions of the shoe highly as fast training shoes you could also race in if you didn’t want to splash out on an expensive super-shoe like the Vaporfly.
The last three versions of the shoe have become heavier and less impressive, but the Zoom Fly 6 is a sparkling return to form thanks to Nike improving the materials in the midsole and making the shoe lighter overall.
I did most of my key training runs in the last couple of weeks of a marathon training block in the shoe, including 10 x 1 miles reps at the track, a tempo 90-minute run where I went through the half marathon mark in 1hr 15mins, and a couple of easy to steady progression runs.
The Zoom Fly 6 is a sparkling return to form thanks to Nike improving the materials in the midsole and making the shoe lighter overall.
Every run I’ve done in the shoe has been a joy. It’s bouncy, if not as squishy and soft as the Nike Alphalfy 3, which has a full ZoomX midsole. And it feels particularly good for locking in on a fast pace and holding it for long distances.
The Zoom Fly 6 is also surprisingly comfortable when running at easy paces, unlike some plated shoes which feel like they’re pushing you to run faster, and I found it to be quite stable for a high-stack shoe as well.
The only time the Zoom Fly 6 felt a little too big and heavy for me compared to lighter plated trainers or racing shoes was in the last few reps of the 10 x 1 mile workout, when I’d have rather been in a nimbler shoe. You can do that kind of session in the Zoom Fly 6, but it impressed me more when doing tempo runs or longer reps, and if looking at racing in the shoe it would be better for half marathons or marathons than 5K and 10K events.
Should you buy the Nike Zoom Fly 6?
If you want a comfortable but fast plated training shoe that can handle the majority of your training runs, and even stand in for a super-shoe on race day, the Nike Zoom Fly 6 is one of the best you can get.
My top picks in this category have been the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 and Hoka Mach X2, which are a little lighter and faster than the Nike shoe for shorter workouts and races, but the Zoom Fly 6 is more comfortable for easy and long runs, and still fast. The Mach X2 is my favorite of the trio overall, but it does have a riskier fit because of its lightweight upper, and can rub around the heel in particular.
Within the Nike range you could look at the Pegasus Plus as a plate-free trainer that is also versatile, though it’s not as fast or as comfortable as the Zoom Fly 6 for me. The Nike Pegasus 41 is a cheaper option that’s comfortable, durable and a good pick for easy runs, but doesn’t have the speed of the Zoom Fly 6.
