Nike ZoomX Ultrafly Trail Review

Upper

Connor: "The Ultrafly's Vaporweave upper is lightweight, breathable, and precisely what I expected from a trail super shoe. It feels fast and secure but also has enough support and comfort to go longer miles.

The Vaporweave design has been used before to achieve performance benefits, but it has been tweaked slightly to handle the ruggedness of varying trail surfaces. From a volume perspective, the Ultrafly Trail is surprisingly roomy, especially when compared to some of its narrower trail racing competitors, and the extra space delivers the comfort needed for longer distances when feet can swell quite a bit."

Erik: "The upper is durable and drains water well. I did not experience hot spots or any irritation points throughout testing,  but I wish the upper was a little more secure on my foot. The Vaporweave is durable and light on the foot, but it did not form to my foot particularly well, especially with the wide platform of the shoe, but this could be the result of my narrower foot shape. It felt comfortable with no issues, but I also wonder how it will work on runs past 50 miles."

Midsole

Connor: "Super foams and carbon plates have been at the forefront of Nike's road racing shoes and track spikes for several years now, and while the addition of this technology has undoubtedly made a difference on both performance and recovery, we really have not seen the tech make as much of a splash on the trailside. But now, with the addition of the Ultrafly, we finally have a trail racer that features a full-length ZoomX foam and a forked carbon plate that feels fantastic over varying distances and terrain.

The ZoomX feels soft and bouncy while providing enough stack to feel protected over ultra marathon distances. The Ultrafly's midsole does not offer quite the same magical bounce that you may experience with a Vaporfly on the roads, but the shoe still feels fast and surprisingly nimble for how much foam is underfoot. The split plate in the forefoot provides just the right amount of flexibility to adapt on technical trails while offering the stiffness needed for speed and efficiency on challenging ascents. Between the ZoomX foam and the unique plate, the Ultrafly feels natural on foot and provides a speedy and versatile experience for all your trail racing needs."

Erik: "The ZoomX midsole foam combined with the carbon plate provided a snappy and smooth ride. It felt good on the roads as well as the trails, and Ultrafly could definitely be your road-to-trail option. The midsole also provides a protective ride on rocky trails, which is key for ultramarathon distances that hit different types of terrain. The midsole and plate do not have quite the same elite-racing feel that the Vaporfly delivers on the roads, but rather gives runners a fast and stable ride that is appropriate for the trails."

Outsole

Connor: "While the hype of a super shoe often comes exclusively from the midsole and plate, one of the most exciting features about the Ultrafly is the outsole.

Nike trail fans have been asking for an outsole upgrade for a while, and now we finally see the debut of a full-length Vibram Megagrip lite base design, and the extra grip is noticeable. Many Nike trail shoes of the past have never had quite the bite I needed for rougher terrain, and now, after testing the shoe on many different trail surfaces, I can confidently say the outsole delivers.

The lugs are not very large, but they are surprisingly sticky, and the Ultrafly works well on anything from technical terrain to moderate trails and even shined on paved surfaces, further demonstrating how versatile the shoe is and how well it will perform during an ultra where you could encounter nearly any terrain. While a shoe with slightly larger lugs may be a better pick for really rugged or messy terrain, the Ultrafly can handle almost anything you throw at it."

Erik: "Nike finally upgraded their trail outsole and went with Vibram. I have been running in Nike trail shoes since they started their Wildhorse and Terra Kiger lines, and the outsole has always been their weak spot, and a glaring one at that.

I ran in a prototype of the Ultrafly, and it did not deliver the grip I need in a racing shoe, but when I received my testing pair with the updated Vibram outsole, my confidence in the Ultrafly's ability to handle trails at speed, increased dramatically, as I did not feel any slippage when charging into corners or going through wet spots. Overall, the Ultrafly's outsole grips well and looks to be very durable after over 100 miles on trails and roads."

Comparable Models

Nike Ultrafly Trail vs.Saucony Endorphin Edge

Connor: "The Nike Ultrafly sits in a somewhat niche category of carbon-plated super trail shoes, and there are only a few shoes on the market that can truly compare to the Ultrafly. One of its closest competitors, with similar specs and technology, is the Saucony Endorphin Edge.

Both shoes feature a substantial amount of PEBA foam underfoot, but the Edge uses Saucony’s proprietary blend of PWRRUN PB foam. On the trails and roads, PWRRUN PB has proven to be a durable compound that packs a responsive pop, all with a slightly lower heel-to-toe drop (6mm vs. 8.5mm) design. The Edge's embedded plate has a split plate configuration, similar to the Ultrafly's, but it felt slightly more flexible as I progressed from heel to toe. The Edge's lugs are a little larger, which provides more bite on messy terrain, but I felt the Ultrafly’s Vibram Megagrip rubber was stickier overall.

If you prefer a more snug race day fit, the Endorphin Edge delivers a closer-to-the-foot experience and is not quite as voluminous as the Ultrafly. Both shoes are high-performing options that fulfill a similar end use. For marathon and ultramarathon races, I find myself leaning more toward the Ultrafly, while the Endorphin Edge has been an excellent option for long trail runs, as well as short, faster training efforts."

Erik: "The Endnorphin Edge has a more medium fit through the forefoot and toe box. The midsole and outsole perform very well, but between the two models, the Ultrafy takes has the advantage, in my opinion.

Nike Ultrafly Trail vs. New Balance SuperComp Trail

Erik: "I am still early in the testing period for the SuperComp Trail, but the SC Trail definitely delivers a narrower fit, as the Ultrafly provides a roomier experience. Again, I think think the Ultrafly takes the edge regarding responsiveness and is better suited for faster efforts on trail."