TL;DR it's probably not as good a deal as the reviewer says, at least not in the way they suggest. Plates barely matter, and to the extent they do, they matter within the context of a super foam like ZoomX. Cushlon is... fine. I'm sure it's a perfectly serviceable shoe, but it's going to feel approximately nothing like a Vaporfly or Alphafly. It might be a fine trainer for some people, and if it's durable, then it's a good deal.
as spellin be hard as us hear brojos don't do hard as are pappy tole we that werk be fer pesents as us only gots time fer naps and telebishun watchin as ain't not never had no stinkin time for lernin
Nike shoe-tester and running store shoe buyer here...
First, this is not a new shoe. The Rival Fly has been around for a while as a basic, lightish, cheap trainer. Marketed towards middle schoolers and high schoolers needing a budget shoe that can be used for easy runs and workouts. Not marketed towards marathoners who do longer runs.
This shoe I think just has a midfoot plate, which has existed for way longer than supershoes. The Nike Streak used to have the same type of midfoot plate.
This shoe also just used basic EVA called Cushlon. I have run in a few prototypes of this version and it's about what you'd expect for a lower stack light trainer.
Neah is a Horse Sound wrote:
Embarrassed for Cornell
And possibly even more embarrassed for Princeton.
And definitey even more embarrassed for St. Marks Private School for Privileged Boys.
reed wrote:
Nike shoe-tester and running store shoe buyer here...
First, this is not a new shoe. The Rival Fly has been around for a while as a basic, lightish, cheap trainer. Marketed towards middle schoolers and high schoolers needing a budget shoe that can be used for easy runs and workouts. Not marketed towards marathoners who do longer runs.
This shoe I think just has a midfoot plate, which has existed for way longer than supershoes. The Nike Streak used to have the same type of midfoot plate.
This shoe also just used basic EVA called Cushlon. I have run in a few prototypes of this version and it's about what you'd expect for a lower stack light trainer.
rojo trying to pretend that he isn't 70 years old by using some slang. you ain't fooling us
Zoom Zoom Zoom wrote:
Saucony Speed v1 and v2 are perhaps the best daily running shoe ever made, certainly the most "fun" and they are nylon plate (with peba foam)
The very original v1 Nike zoomfly was nylon plate and people loved them for daily use.
I think Saucony Endorphin Speed had a plastic plate and good foam. It was a fun trainer... I used to run in that a lot.
I also had those old Zoom Fly v1. I liked them a a trainer...
This shoe would be excellent if the midsole was ZoomX. A low profile but fast daily trainer akin to the Saucony Endorphin Speed 1 & 2 would definitely be a great option.
Zoom Zoom Zoom wrote:
Saucony Speed v1 and v2 are perhaps the best daily running shoe ever made, certainly the most "fun" and they are nylon plate (with peba foam)
The very original v1 Nike zoomfly was nylon plate and people loved them for daily use.
So they are getting back to basics.
But I'm still never buying Nike even if they get to clearance prices.
How disappointing were V3 and V4 in comparison? They had a winner and they decided to make it "more stable" and "more accessible"
Wtf is neah wrote:
wtf is “neah”
i think that's what a horse does. "Nay!" is what Parliament votes
Seems like injury waiting to happen.
This shoe will dominate the junior high track and field world.
Skeptical not cynical wrote:
This shoe would be excellent if the midsole was ZoomX. A low profile but fast daily trainer akin to the Saucony Endorphin Speed 1 & 2 would definitely be a great option.
Zoom X foam would be an improvement. But note that it doesn't actually have a plastic plate. It has a plastic stabling piece in the midfoot like the current version of the Streakfly. So it still wouldn't be comparable to the Endorphin Speed structurally. Which one you would prefer depends on whether you want a plated shoe of the intended use.
I'm considering trying the Rival 4 when my current Streakflys are retired because I use the Zoom 5 as a plated trainer and I don't want a plated trainer for the runs I take in the Streakfly.
I really like the Speed 4. Significant improvement over the 3. 1 was great, 2 was okay but ran a bit narrow on me. 3, in my opinion, was a bust. The 4 I consider best of the bunch. I sell a lot at the running shoe store where I work. I like the flex then roll of the nylon plate when I have my good running form and it has enough cushioning in the heel when I get lazy and heel strike. I don’t sink in it like a 1080, Skyflow or Cumulus. The softness it does have is enough to be super comfortable but that is countered by great responsiveness. Plenty of room in the toe-box for my fat foot. The toe box material is soft and flexible, which helps. From 25-32 the Peg was my main trainer. I keep wanting to like the newer versions but no joy. The sharp drop off in the middle of the 41 was a deal breaker. I will try the Rival Fly for sure but it will have to be spectacular to replace the Speed.