Nike Zoom Fly 6 Review | Solereview (2025)

SUMMARY AND VERDICT

We were rather fond of the 2023 Zoom Fly 5. At the time, we thought the shoe didn’t get the love it deserved. It was an excellent trainer with bits and pieces borrowed from the Vaporfly. For example, it had a full-length carbon plate with a ZoomX midsole core. The firmer SR-02 foam casing made the Zoom Fly 5 stable and user-friendly – traits that ranked low on the Vaporfly’s list of priorities.

There was just one problem. It looked so visually disconnected from the Vaporfly that people didn’t know what to make of it. Historically, the Zoom Fly was seen as the cheaper version of the Vaporfly, using lower-spec material (like React instead of ZoomX) but with a shared visual language. While the Zoom Fly 5 wasn’t exactly a dud, it flew under the radar – a fate it did not deserve.

The Zoom Fly 6 avoids falling into the perception trap by aligning its aesthetics with the Vaporfly, specifically the VF3 rather than the VF4. The recessed heel and midsole cut-out exposing the carbon plate resembles the Vaporfly 3.

Nike calls this shoe a training and racing hybrid, accurately describing the Zoom Fly 6. The firmer SR-02 foam base and strategic outsole placement add greater support and durability for training runs. At higher speeds, the snappy carbon plate and effective rocker help achieve quicker turnovers. It’s possible to do far more in the Zoom Fly 6 than the Vaporfly 3 and 4, and that alone makes it better value for most runners, regardless of experience level.

Changes to the new Zoom Fly go deeper than mere cosmetics. The shoe is lighter by an ounce and acquires a full inner sleeve – a component missing on the Zoom Fly 5. Adding a sleeve improves the lockdown, which in turn, makes the rocker more effective. Even the plate effect is more pronounced due to the updated midsole.

If the Zoom Fly 5’s character was 75% trainer and 25% racer, the Zoom Fly 6’s personality split is more even at 50:50. The V6 trades the user-friendliness of the mellower V5 for a more aggressive character.

THE RIDE EXPERIENCE

Without exception, Nike’s ZoomX foam is always more fun when combined with a firmer base. We experienced this for the first time with the 2019 Pegasus Turbo; the firmer React foam base and snug upper helped isolate the bouncy feel of the ZoomX foam. The upper fit is the key that unlocks the midsole’s potential. The Pegasus Turbo 2 messed up the upper fit, and with that, the magical ride quality of the original Pegasus Turbo was lost.

A similar story (the positive version) unfolds here. A thin layer of ZoomX is placed over a more supportive SR-02 foam base, with the full-length carbon plate acting as the separator. The tight upper fit pins the foot against the softness of the ZoomX layer. The glued-on footbed only offers a small amount of step-in softness.

Full-contact or midfoot landing is the best footstrike pattern to maximize the bouncy feel of the ZoomX foam. Midfoot landings also have the effect of the Zoom Fly 6 feeling more supportive, as the forefoot is the widest part of the outsole. Sure, the heel is wider than your standard supershoe, but the recessed heel edge and slimmer midsole decreaseheel support rather than increase it. For rearfoot strikers, the heel stability is decent, but not as good as the Zoom Fly 5. Heel strikers will also scrape the midsole-outsole edge, as the landing zone is tucked inwards.

The Zoom Fly 6’s objective is to be equally good at training and racing, and here, the midsole architecture and upper fit function as intended. At faster speeds – by which we refer to a 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile) pace or even slightly quicker – there’s a tangible quality to the ZoomX cushioning. Helped by the upper lockdown, the bounciness pushes back against the foot. This sensation is accompanied by a deep sense of cushioning and propulsive roll-forward quality. With that kind of ride quality at your disposal, the Zoom Fly 6 works wonderfully for tempo runs, thresholds, and race day – be it a 10K, a half, or even a marathon.

The term ‘energy return’ tends to be thrown around a lot, but that depends mostly on the kind of foam (and midsole design) used. We’d rank the adidas Lightstrike Pro at the very top, followed by the Asics FlyteFoam Turbo (used on the Metaspeed Sky), and finally the ZoomX foam. While Nike’s proprietary foam is soft and bouncy, it doesn’t have the quick spring-like quality of the Lightstrike Pro. That’s why we love the dual-density midsole design on the Zoom Fly – the dense SR-02 foam base extracts most of the responsiveness that ZoomX has to offer.

A full-length carbon plate rests on the SR-02 base to create a transition path while also making the rocker stiff. The ultra-stiff forefoot produces a propulsive effect, adding a sense of urgency to the push-off phase. The rubber outsole grips well enough during the landings and take-offs, but here, Nike put form over function. The forefoot outsole coverage is reduced by the Flyplate and Swoosh logo window.

As recently as the Zoom Fly 4, the springback response from the carbon plate had a muted quality. That was due to the choice of midsole materials; the Zoom Fly 4, for example, used a 100% React midsole that restricted the plate flexion. The carbon plate’s behavior improved with the Zoom Fly 5, and it’s even better on the Zoom Fly 6.

The SR-02 foam is softer than React – at least the versions that were used on the older Zoom Fly models. The softer ride allows the plate to flex more freely under the foot, creating the mild springboard effect. The step-shaped window also helps the plate flex better by reducing the foam volume. While the plate dynamic is pretty good for a Zoom Fly, the springboard effect is weaker than the Vaporfly 4, a shoe with a higher plate angle and midsole made with 100% Zoom X foam.

Slower training runs will be rewarded by the generous midsole cushioning. The heel and forefoot are 40 mm and 32 mm tall respectively, adding bouncy comfort to long runs and daily mileage. While the Zoom Fly 6’s dual-density midsole is capable of heavy loading (200 lb bodyweight), comparable shoes like the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 offer superior stability for heavy runners.

RECOMMENDED ROTATION

Nike has done an excellent job updating the Vomero 18, turning it into a cushioned everyday trainer with an enjoyable ride. It rotates well with the Zoom Fly for recovery runs and marathon training. The Vomero 18 can also be swapped with the Asics Novablast 5, as both add similar rotational value.

The latest Streakfly 2’s full-length carbon plate and high price make it a niche racer, but it complements the Zoom Fly 6 with its touch-and-go midsole feel. It’s great for setting 5K personal bests, track workouts, and more demanding workouts. The Hoka Cielo Road with its all-foam PEBA midsole works just as well, and it’s $20 less expensive than the Streakfly.

THE UPPER DESIGN AND FIT

A secure upper fit is a non-negotiable on any running shoe with a full-length plate and rocker midsole. Such shoes are supposed to go fast, so having a strong foot-to-midsole connection is essential. A spacious forefoot works well on an everyday trainer with a general intent, but speed shoes are at their best with an aggressive fit.

The Zoom Fly 6’s fully-sleeved upper meets the speed shoe requirement. It fits true-to-size, but with an ultra-secure forefoot. The toe-box isn’t pointy, but you can feel the upper pressing against the side of the big toe. The tongue is attached not to a gusset, but to a sleeve that extends to the tip. This construction makes the fit consistently snug from the midfoot to the toe box. The foam pods on the tongue filter the lacing pressure, but the spacer mesh on the sides tends to gather or bunch when laced too tight.

The aggressive fit excels at driving the power from the foot to the midsole rocker. Not only does it help isolate the springy character of the ZoomX foam, but it also maximizes the rocker effect. The foot doesn’t slide during landings and take-offs, thereby improving the ride efficiency.

The padded heel is designed like a standard trainer, locking in the foot with confidence. A full-sized counter keeps the foot from sliding.

There’s only one upper-related thing that works against the Zoom Fly 6 during a long-distance run. The double-layered mesh upper doesn’t breathe very well, so the interiors get warm once the mileage crosses into double digits.

IS THE NIKE ZOOM FLY 6 DURABLE?

The Zoom Fly 6’s build quality should give you 400 miles of useful life. During the ownership period, expect gradual wearing down of the rubber components and midsole foam creasing; the probability of catastrophic parts failure is low.

SHOES COMPARABLE TO THE NIKE ZOOM FLY 6

We can think of four other shoes that directly compare with the Zoom Fly 6, so here they are, in no particular order.