Nike Vaporfly 4 Review | Narrowly Faster

Historically the RTTF team has been a fan of the Vaporfly. In fact, it’s become Coach Amanda’s go to 10K race day shoe…though we’ve also had some issues with durability. Time to find out how the Nike Vaporfly 4 fairs in our testing.

The Nike Vaporfly 4 surprised me. I don’t always wear Nike shoes, but the Vaporfly felt incredible right out of the box—like they were made for my feet. They fit like a glove, felt super light, and delivered instant responsiveness with every step. After my first interval workout, it felt too good to be true. I needed more than one good workout for this shoe to truly win me over.

Sure enough! After a 14-mile workout, the Nike Vaporfly 4 is the kind of shoe that makes you want to race the moment you lace it up. It’s lighter than ever (more details on that to come). The fit is dialed in, the ride feels smooth and energetic, and they honestly just made me want to run fast.

This shoe is great for runners chasing PRs, those who are looking for an extra pop on race day, and anyone who loved the Vaporfly 3 but wanted something even lighter and more aggressive.

In our opinion, it is best for the half-marathon distance and below. However, you could get away with wearing it for the marathon.

Nike Vaporfly 4 Overview

When I opened the box, my exact words were “OH BABY!”… The flashy Nike Vaporfly 4 is designed to do one thing really, really well: help you run fast!

I tested this shoe during a variety of interval workouts and it delivered a punchy pop that made me want to keep pushing.

If you’ve worn the Vaporfly 3, you’ll notice some differences here. The midsole has been slimmed down slightly, and the stack height has been reduced, making it the lightest version yet.

They kept the ZoomX foam you know and love. The Flyplate has been improved and has a more aggressive curve, which is designed to maximize leverage from your foot and ankle, aka more pop!

All this makes this shoe perfect for anything from the mile to the half marathon.

Coach Amanda: The Vaporfly has been interesting over the years because it’s not unusual for one person to love a model an someone else to love the previous model. In testing the 3, I was frustrated with the outsole and it looks like that hasn’t had much of an update here. So durability is still a concern.

That being said the 4 is fast and light and another iteration of speed. It’s always had the feeling of running on rails and being narrow, that continues here and is maybe even a smidge more noticeable.

Style-wise, the Vaporfly 4 has a sleek, aerodynamic look that screams “race day.”

The mesh upper feels barely there, and the smaller heel and tongue keep the silhouette clean and low-profile. I tested the Bright Crimson/Mint Foam/Cave Purple/Lime Blast colorway, which is flashy, bold & loud. It’s not a shoe I’d wear casually (it’s way too performance-focused), but it definitely earns some style points on the run.

Vaporfly 4 Fit

The toebox on the Vaporfly 4 is on the snug side, consistent with past versions. It’s built for race-day precision, so it’s not especially wide-foot friendly. Runners with narrow to standard feet should feel at home, but if you’ve needed wider fits in other brands, you might find it tight upfront.

Stick with your usual Vaporfly size—it’s true to size for most. I could almost go half a size up.

The updated mesh upper no longer features offset lacing and allows a more secure lockdown without needing to overtighten. There’s no noticeable pressure on the arch (which is what I don’t love about the Alphaflys), and the new Flyplate design provides a stable platform underfoot, especially through toe-off.

The tongue is thin and shorter than before, exactly what you’d expect from a race-day shoe. It’s attached inside the upper, which helps keep it in place and reduces movement during fast efforts.

The heel is lightly padded and streamlined—just enough to lock in the foot without excess bulk. I found it secure without heel slippage, though the minimal padding may feel less forgiving on easy days or slower jogs.

Nike Vaporfly 4 Feel

This shoe feels like a race-day rocket the moment you start moving. The full-length Nike ZoomX foam is on the firmer side of squishy—it’s lightweight and super bouncy, but not so soft that you lose any sense of ground contact.

It delivers that classic “pop” you expect from a carbon-plated racer, and you can really feel the plate working with the foam to push you forward with every stride.

Coach Amanda: I think that for many of us a drop down from 40mm to 36mm in the heel is actually a great thing. You’re still getting that bounce and cushion, but the turn over feels quicker and less likely to hit the heel too early.

The engineered mesh upper is light and breathable, with a barely-there feel that hugs the foot without being constricting. The lacing system is straightforward, and the lockdown over the midfoot is solid—no slipping or sliding.

The heel cup has been trimmed down compared to the Vaporfly 3, and while it doesn’t offer a ton of structure, I still felt secure. That said, stability isn’t this shoe’s strong suit.

The ride is smooth and fast, but if you tend to overpronate or want more support on longer efforts, your ankles might have to work a little harder to keep everything lined up. For this reason you may prefer the Alphafly in the marathon distance.

Checkout our breakdown of the Vaporfly vs Alphafly >>

A look back at comparing the Vaporfly 2, 3 to the Alphaflys.

Runners who like a super lightweight, responsive feel and don’t mind a more snug, race-day fit will love the Vaporfly 4. It’s ideal for chasing down PRs from the 5K to the half-marathon (possibly the marathon)!
All right, that’s our Nike Vaporfly 4 review.

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