Nike Vaporfly Next% 4 Review: Leaner, Lighter, But Is It Worth It?

Introduction

The Nike Vaporfly Next% 4 arrives with a clear identity: leaner and meaner than the Next% 3, and noticeably lighter on the scale. In the Ghost Blue Void and Persian Violet colorway, it looks more blue in hand than photos suggest. Retail sits at £240, and this version no longer includes the shoe bag that came with earlier releases. These are early impressions after initial runs, not a long-term verdict, but the shape of the shoe is already clear: it is made to run fast.

Upper: Light, Breathable, and Back to Form

The upper is one of the strongest parts of this shoe. It is highly breathable, very light, and has a slim, painted-on construction with no overlays, which helps Nike trim weight wherever possible. The toe box is far more constrictive than the roomy Next% 3, which caused some bunching for some runners. Here, achieving good lockdown is easy, and the toe box has decent height despite its narrower fit. The overall vibe recalls the Vaporfly Next% 2 upper, which was well liked.

There are minor niggles. The laces are coarse with no give, a step back from the serrated laces of previous versions. The tongue is very thin with little padding, and some slight tongue slide appeared toward the front of the shoe after initial runs, though nothing major. The usual Vaporfly heel padding protects the Achilles, and no heel slip was experienced even without a runner’s knot. On balance, the upper scores highly: just the laces and the small tongue movement hold it back.

Midsole: Familiar ZoomX Feel With a Twist

The ZoomX midsole delivers the classic feel: squashy, compressive, quick to return to form, with that slightly hollow character the foam is known for. The beveled heel edge is a nice touch, and the forefoot carries about 33 mm of stack against a measured heel of around 39 mm, working out to roughly a 6 mm drop in practice. The heel section is narrow at about 8.1 cm, and at slower paces you can feel that narrowing. This is a shoe that wants turnover, not a shuffle.

The hollowed-out channel in the midsole creates a trampoline-like sensation on midfoot landings, compressing and then pushing you forward. It also seems to stabilize the heel more than expected, with two pillars of foam absorbing impact in a fairly universal, conforming way. It feels nimble and more willing than the Next% 3, and more like the original Vaporfly with extra forefoot stack. It is not the most aggressive racer available and does not feel quite as bouncy as some rivals, but it enables a fast, easy turnover thanks to the weight. At 5K and 10K pace it is excellent; for the full marathon distance, heavier runners will likely be better served elsewhere.

Outsole: Good Grip, Quick Wear

The outsole brings welcome rubber coverage across the forefoot, with flat, stretched waffle lugs spanning the width of the shoe, plus a couple of rear pieces protecting the foam. Grip is decent, especially on turns and cornering. Early wear on the rubber and some paint peeling off the foam appeared quickly, which is typical of ZoomX race shoes and tends to even out after a while, but buyers should expect visible wear early.

One caution: because of the soft heel and narrow toe-off area, there is a real risk of rolling an ankle on uneven camber, even with a reasonably neutral foot strike. Durability of the rubber also lags some competitors. Performance so far is good, but expect fast wear in the heel.

Value: Fast, But Narrow in What It Covers

At £240, this is an expensive proposition, sitting £20 above the Adios Pro 4 and the Meta Speed Sky Paris, and well above some even cheaper elite racers. The weight saving is impressive, but for a race shoe many buyers want it to cover more distances. The reduced heel stack makes this feel more like a 5K through half marathon tool than a marathon shoe for most runners, and the pricing seems hard to justify against rivals that cover more bases.

It is a strange iteration: Nike has clearly tried to differentiate the Vaporfly line from the Alphafly, and a light, nimble shoe is the result. Whether the trimmed stack puts marathon buyers off remains to be seen.

Conclusion

The Vaporfly Next% 4 is a lighter, more willing race shoe with a superb breathable upper, lively ZoomX ride, and strong 5K to half marathon credentials. Trade-offs include coarse laces, quick outsole wear, a narrow heel, reduced stack for marathon use, and a higher price than key rivals. For shorter fast races, it is easy to recommend; as an all-around marathon racer, think twice before spending at this level.