The Nike Vaporfly 4 Is Ready for All Spring 2025 Races
Release
Spring 2025, Summer 2025
Brand
Model
SKU
HF6414-600, HF6414-100
Color
Sail/Total Orange/White/Black, Bright Crimson/Lime Blast/Mint Foam, White/Gridiron/Obsidian Mist/Pure Platinum/Metallic Silver, Ghost/Blue Void/Persian Violet
Retail
$260
Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman had three rules for any shoe: "It must be light, comfortable, and it’s got to go the distance." Although the legendary coach uttered these words before the Swoosh became the world's biggest sportswear company, his vision has informed countless products over the last 54 years – including the VaporFly 4.
The fourth installment of Nike's ZoomX VaporFly NEXT% series, the shoe meets all of Bowerman's criteria and then some. The earliest pairs in Blue Ribbon Sports' running arsenal (Nike's name before 1971) innovated with outsole rubber patterns, midsole geometry, and materials across the upper, but they pale in technology when compared to the VaporFly 4. Developed and launched throughout the mid-2010s, the original VaporFly NEXT% laid the groundwork for not only its fourth iteration, but also the rest of the performance-running industry by effectively introducing a super shoe into the market.
Prior to 2016, the marathon racing landscape relied on low-to-the-ground, lightweight footwear to enable elite athletes' best performances. Once Eliud Kipchoge and other Nike-sponsored runners showcased just how effective their sponsor's innovative 4% and NEXT% lines were, competitors took notice, racing to deliver their own version of a "super shoe," a lightweight running silhouette that aims to improve running efficiency through a combination of a carbon fiber stiffening agent (usually a full-length plate) and thick slab of responsive foam (under 40 milimeters of stackheight to comply with World Athletics). The VaporFly 4 carries on tradition in a lighter, more-propulsive package.
Set to release throughout spring, the fourth Nike VaporFly offering improves on the VaporFly 3's winning formula. The Oregon-based institution has trimmed weight in the upper, midsole, and outsole without sacrificing performance. According to the brand's official product description, the VaporFly 4 weighs approximately 6.7 ounces (190 grams) in a Men's US 10. (By comparison, the adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2, currently the lightest marathon racing shoe in the world, comes in at around 4.87 ounces (138 grams) in a Men's US 9.)
The original VaporFly debuted as the Swoosh's marquee footwear option for the marathon, but it was consciously phased out at the elite level with the AlphaFly series. Some of Nike's most impressive athletes, however, proved just how effective the VaporFly 2 was over the course of 26.2 miles. The line's third release has been virtually non-existent throughout the Abbott World Marathon Majors circuit, but the VaporFly 4 could return to the podium during this year's races.
Visually, the silhouette appears faster than its immediate predecessor. The model's debut colorway – dubbed 'Prototype' – commemorates the thorough testing process all Nike performance products go through, especially those looking to break new records. The handwritten figures on the midsole salute the wear-testers that contributed to the VaporFly 4's journey.
A full-length carbon fiber FlyPlate reprises its role, delivering the reliable forward-propulsion that arguably hasn't been matched by any competitor in the last six years. Nike has placed the FlyPlate at a higher angle than in the VaporFly 3, coupling it with a lower 6 millimeter heel-to-toe drop to improve the sensation underfoot. ZoomX foam offers the same responsiveness and energy return found on the AlphaFly 3, although its sculpting and cutouts provide a lighter cushioning setup.
The outsole has also been reworked on the VaporFly 4. A thinner rubber compound covers the entirety of the model's forefoot area, ensuring ample grip on any toe-off. Two protective components appear on either side of the ZoomX foam underneath the heel for reinforcement, although the shoe isn't optimal for heel-strikers.
The VaporFly 4 also introduces tweaks to the upper. A new, engineered mesh replaces FlyKnit construction throughout the top-half for improved comfort and a "disappearing" feeling atop the foot. Weight has also been shaved from the tongue and heel, although both feature sufficient padding.
Enjoy official photos of Nike Running's inaugural VaporFly 4 collection below. The silhouette has showed up to the starting line at various races in the last few months – courtesy of several Japanese runners. A 'Prototype' colorway should hit Nike.com globally by April, followed by 'Bright Crimson,' 'Gridiron,' and 'Blue Void' styles.
The VaporFly 4 is priced at $260 and will be offered in Men's and Women's sizing.
For more from the Swoosh family, check out all remaining Air Jordan Releases left in the year – including the Air Jordan 12 'Flu Game' retro landing on March 1.
