Nike Ultrafly First Impressions: Nike's First Carbon-Plated Trail Shoe Under Pressure

Introduction

Nike’s first carbon-plated trail shoe, the Ultrafly, has been a long time coming. Prototypes circulated online months before it hit the shelves, and the hype around it has been considerable. That hype deserves some caution, since Nike’s trail running products have disappointed before, but this one does something genuinely new: it pairs a carbon plate and Zoom X foam with Vibram Mega Grip Light Base rubber on the outsole. We bought a pair and took it straight out onto real trails for a proper first run.

Key Facts and Figures

The Ultrafly is not an affordable option. At £230, it is one of the most expensive trail running shoes you can buy, and the price alone sets expectations very high. In a UK 9.5, the shoe weighs 305 grams, which is heavier than expected for a performance-plated shoe, and it runs an 8.5mm heel offset.

Sizing is true to size, and the toe box is surprisingly wide, likely the widest fitting Nike trail shoe to date. However, the toe box is also quite shallow at the tip, so runners with a higher volume forefoot may feel pressure across the top of the toes. The fabric there is soft, so it should not cause irritation for most, but volume is worth checking before ordering.

Upper Construction

Nike uses a Vaporweave-style fabric for the upper, similar to its performance road racing shoes, but this variant feels more robust. There is more padding around the ankle collar, heel and gusseted tongue than you would find on the Vaporfly or Alphafly, giving the upper more overall substance. Eyelets are reinforced for durability, and thin black overlays appear on both sides of the midfoot.

The fit delivered excellent midfoot lockdown and secure heel hold on the trail. One notable omission: there is no toe bumper. The front of the upper is very soft, which is a shame for a performance trail shoe and worth weighing up if you run rocky routes.

Midsole: Zoom X, Wrapped for the Trail

The full Zoom X midsole is the same Pebax-based compound used in Nike’s fast road shoes, but with a twist: the foam is wrapped in a fabric layer rather than left exposed. This should help durability and adds underfoot stability on uneven, technical trails, and it suggests genuine development effort rather than a road shoe simply shoved onto an outsole.

On the trail, though, the Zoom X feels noticeably firmer than in the road versions. The wrapping likely dampens some of that signature bouncy, responsive feel. The shoe is stable on uneven ground and handles longer tarmac sections comfortably, but overall it felt less lively than expected from a carbon-plated performance shoe.

Outsole: Vibram Mega Grip, But Shallow Lugs

The yellow Vibram logo on the outsole is the headline here. Vibram Mega Grip Light Base rubber finally gives a Nike trail shoe genuinely sticky grip, and confidence on rocky or wet rocky trails is exactly what it should deliver.

The catch is lug depth. Measured at no deeper than 3mm, the lugs are simply too short for muddy conditions. A 4.5mm or 5mm lug would have made this a much more versatile, all-year-round shoe. As it stands, expect to struggle in mud despite the excellent rubber compound.

First Run Impressions: The Positives

Over an eight-mile first run covering tarmac, gravel, compact trails, rocky trails, loose sand and grass, the upper felt plush and well fitted throughout. Midfoot lockdown was great, the lightly padded gusseted tongue sat comfortably across the foot, and the wide toe box allowed natural toe splay on impact.

The shoe was also stable over uneven ground, and the fabric-wrapped foam clearly contributes to that. On road sections, the ZoomX soaked up impacts comfortably and the plate added a noticeable push at toe-off.

The Downsides

For the first two miles, forefoot numbness and tingling appeared, likely a reaction to the stiff carbon plate. It wore off completely by mile four, and in a later twelve-mile run it did not return, suggesting the shoe simply needs bedding in. Even after settling, though, the midsole did not deliver the energy return and pop expected at this price. The shoe is also surprisingly noisy on the road.

The shallow lugs remain the biggest structural concern. On wet, muddy UK trails, the outsole will slip despite the premium rubber. Nike seems to have taken two steps forward with Vibram grip and one step back with the lug depth.

Things to Consider Before Buying

At £230, this should feel exciting, nimble and responsive. On the first run, it felt more like a standard trail shoe than a carbon-plated performance machine, and it left expectations unmet. A later twelve-mile run showed improvement: the midsole felt more bedded in, the plate a little more flexible, and performance is trending in the right direction. Still, it did not blow us away.

Buy this shoe if you want a durable, stable plated trail shoe that handles long mixed-terrain runs and road links comfortably, and you mostly run dry or rocky routes. Look elsewhere if your trails are muddy year round, or if maximum bounce and energy return are what you are paying for.

Conclusion

The Nike Ultrafly is a significant step forward for Nike trail running, mainly because of the Vibram Mega Grip outsole and a thoughtfully wrapped ZoomX midsole. But as a first-run verdict, it feels underwhelming for a £230 carbon-plated performance shoe: firmer than expected, heavy for the category, and poorly suited to mud. If it continues to improve as it beds in, a full review after more miles will tell the real story.