Vaporfly or NB-5280 for road mile

5280

I have a pair of VF that probably have 350-350 miles on them that are excellent fast short distance shoes currently. The foam is compressed enough to not really be good for longer distance anymore but excellent for a mile or 2 race.

300-350

Here is what I would do. I'd go to the track or a measured stretch of pavement and run a couple of 400m in your normal training shoes. Then, run a 400m in the NB5280. Switch to the VF and run another 400m. Switch back to the NB5280. Run another 400m. Switch to the VF and run another 400m. One shoe should stand out as being faster, more responsive, or more comfortable. I do this often to test out a new pair of shoes.

How can a shoe be both stiff and bouncy? Legit question.

Good idea, thanks

It is stiff because it has a carbon plate. It takes a lot of force to flex the plate. It rebounds forcefully when you do so, which makes it feel bouncy. The Fuel Cell foam also returns energy and contributes to the rebound/bounce. Maybe we are using different words, but this is what I meant.

Sure, if you want to protect the heel of the NB5280, apply a thin layer of ShoeGoo to the heel. Just paint it on with a popsicle stick and let it dry for 24 hours. A paper thin layer will last maybe 5 or 6 miles. I've done this on my Hoka Rincons and Atreyu Base. It's noticeable once it gets dirty, mostly because it shows dirt differently than the outsole, but then, it's on the bottom of the shoe. A thicker layer (2 sheets of paper thick) should last 50 miles or so.

RE: 5280 - If not now, when? 🤔

5280

It's named after the distance!

if you're heel striking you should definitely go for the vaporfly over the 5280. It will provide much more assistance. The 5280 is for forefoot striking, that's why it has no outsole on the rest of it.