Nike Zoom Fly SP (Special Project)

Overall Grades And Reviews

8.7 Overall Grade
19 reviews

How This Shoe Compares To Its Competitors

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LetsRun.com Reviewer Ratings

Shoe Comparison

Shoe comparison
Nike Zoom Fly SP (Special Project)
Nike Zoom Fly 5
Brooks Ghost 15
HOKA ONE ONE Bondi 8
Image
Nike Zoom Fly SP (Special Project)
This Shoe
Nike Zoom Fly 5
Newer Version
Brooks Ghost 15
Top Rated Trainer For Sale
HOKA ONE ONE Bondi 8
Most Comfortable Trainer For Sale
Shoe Properties
Shoe Type
Trainer
Trainer
Trainer
Trainer
Pronation Control
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
14 oz. (women's)
11.1 oz. (men's), 8.5 oz. (women's)
9.6 oz. (men's), 8.4 oz. (women's)
11.1 oz. (men's), 10.1 oz. (women's)
Stack Height
33mm.
42mm.
35mm.
43mm.
Forefoot Height
23mm.
34mm.
23mm.
39mm.
Drop Height
10 mm.
8 mm.
12 mm.
4 mm.
Upper material
Flyknit mesh, Secure webbing
Refined 3D Fit Print mesh, Recycled Materials include:
Engineered mesh, Lycra comfort frame, Internal heel counter, Pillowed Tongue
Shoe Released
Q3 2018
Q3 2022
Q4 2022
Q3 2022
MSRP
$150
$160
$140
$165
LRC Ratings
Out of 10
Overall
8.7
8.7
9.2
9.0
Comfort
8.6
8.8
9.1
9.6
Cushioning
8.9
9.2
9.1
9.6
Durability
7.1
8.2
8.8
8.1
Appearance
8.8
8.3
8.2
7.8
Value
8.1
8.2
8.5
7.7

Reader Reviews

  • Fast Shoe!

    20 miles per week, neutral pronator, medium arches
    Overall
    9.0
    Comfort
    9.0
    Cushioning
    9.0
    Durability
    9.0
    Appearance
    7.0
    Value
    9.0

    I really like this shoe, go up a half size! I have worn the standard Zoom Fly, and the Zoom Fly Flyknit as well. I like this one the best. It is the lightest of the three. The overall look of the shoe to me, its ugly. Terrible. But I care about how it runs. The standard Zoom Fly was ok, just felt like a lot of shoe. This upper is much better and lighter. I also ran in the Zoom Fly Flyknit, it has the flyknit upper and instead of lunar it has react soles with the carbon plate. I can see why they did this, this shoe is stiff, stiff, stiff. They take a little breaking in. But the Flyknit is heavier and has no structure, it feels like a brick on your feet. This shoe is for fast days, it wants to go fast! I would grab some Pegasus for slow days, and break this out for tempo runs, repeats, and race day.

    • The Pinnacle of Nike ZoomFly

      60 miles per week, overpronator, high arches
      Overall
      9.0
      Comfort
      8.0
      Cushioning
      5.0
      Durability
      4.0
      Appearance
      9.0
      Value
      9.0

      I have run in this shoe nearly every day for the last 3 years, in which time I have watched its price increase steadily and sadly as it is no longer in production. I wont offer my critique into the economics of running shoes right now so here's my review:

      I believe this may be one of the greatest high performance practice/racing shoes ever made. I have thin, high arched feet and they fit me very well (they run about a half a size large). I have run these shoes through high school training from the mile to the 5k, collegiate training from the mile to the 10k, and even some professional training. hundreds of miles a month, thousands of miles a year, these shoes never failed to disappoint. They're responsive to changes in pace and the plated rocker keeps them springy and light whilst not sacrificing comfort. I do, however, believed they are best suited for higher intensity training. I wouldn't go out and run a 10 miler at 9 minute pace in them. Not that they couldn't handle it, just that it would feel weird. They're designed for speed, the rocker shifts weight from back to front in a way that preserves momentum, maximizes energy return, and propels the runner foreword, so trying to run slower than your average jogging pace is almost difficult in a way. I could summarize it like this: if the Brooks Ghost (what I'm most familiar with as a boiler plate training shoe) is a minivan, and the Nike Alphafly is a fighter jet, the Zoomfly sp is somewhat of a modded Honda Civic. Its not the fastest but its pretty darn close, and its not the most comfortable/forgiving, but it trys.

    • Nike Zoom Fly SP

      20 miles per week, neutral pronator, medium arches
      Overall
      9.0
      Comfort
      8.0
      Cushioning
      9.0
      Durability
      7.0
      Appearance
      9.0
      Value
      7.0

      Comfortable, stable shoe with a great bouncy feeling. I ordered this shoe recently on eBay for a great price and have been impressed so far. Runs small, so order at least a half size up.

    • Decent shoe

      75 miles per week, neutral pronator, medium arches
      Overall
      7.0
      Comfort
      6.0
      Cushioning
      5.0
      Durability
      7.0
      Appearance
      10.0
      Value
      10.0

      Overall this shoe was very good. It was not the most comfortable shoe to run in, but nothing too bad. It is marketed as a racing shoe, but i used it for training and racing, and was able to get a lot of miles out of it. I wore a half size larger than usual.

    • Nike Zoom Fly SP

      40 miles per week, neutral pronator, medium arches
      Overall
      8.0
      Comfort
      8.0
      Cushioning
      7.0
      Durability
      7.0
      Appearance
      10.0
      Value
      7.0

      In my experience, this is a pretty fast yet cushion-y shoe. There was a bit of a break in period for me where it felt a bit stiff, but after that passed I used this as my go-to easy and long run shoe. I think I still prefer the upper on the regular Zoom Fly (the upper on the SP is more plasticky and pliable as a result; also I felt that the SP runs slightly more narrow than its non-SP counterpart), but I'd still purchase the SP again, if it were on sale. I think the full price is a bit much to pay, but then again that's true of most Nike products.

    • My favorite training/racing shoe ever!

      35 miles per week, high arches
      Overall
      10.0
      Comfort
      10.0
      Cushioning
      10.0
      Durability
      5.0
      Appearance
      10.0
      Value
      10.0

      I've loved these shoes from my first run in them. I purchase them at Nike Outlet stores for 1/2 price ($75). Recently I stopped by an Outlet store on its last day. I found them for $25/pair. I bought 4-pair.

      I'm a pretty strong supinator, so I wouldn't recommend them to most runners, however, for me, they roll with my forefoot strike and I've never rolled out in them. I've had 4-pairs, not counting the 4-I just purchased.

      This shoe will be good, for me,from 1-mile to 50-mile races.

    • Responsive and fast!

      40 miles per week, neutral pronator, high arches
      Overall
      10.0
      Comfort
      10.0
      Cushioning
      10.0
      Durability
      8.0
      Appearance
      8.0
      Value
      8.0

      This shoe has totally delivered. Amazing amount of cushioning while still very responsive. Definitely built to go at faster paces. I have used it as a daily trainer as well as my got to race shoe from 5k to the marathon.

    • Love it so far

      35 miles per week, neutral pronator, medium arches
      Overall
      9.0
      Comfort
      8.0
      Cushioning
      10.0
      Durability
      8.0
      Appearance
      10.0
      Value
      7.0

      Extremely light weight and well cushioned. Feels like the shoe actually propels me forward. May need to move up a 1/2 size compared to other nike shoes I've worn.

    • The Nike Zoom Fly SP

      30 miles per week, neutral pronator, low arches
      Overall
      8.0
      Comfort
      9.0
      Cushioning
      7.0
      Durability
      7.0
      Appearance
      10.0
      Value
      10.0

      I’m a high school XC and TF runner from Texas. I originally bought this shoe for casual wear because I thought it was too pretty of a shoe to run in, but once I realized how good it felt on foot, I couldn’t resist. Running in the Zoom Fly SP is a fun and fast ride. I love the feeling of propulsion in this shoe. Even when my calves are tight, this shoe still makes me feel like I can go the extra mileage. I use it for everything from fartleks to long runs.

    • Nike Zoom fly sp

      25 miles per week, neutral pronator, medium arches
      Overall
      9.0
      Comfort
      9.0
      Cushioning
      10.0
      Durability
      7.0
      Appearance
      8.0
      Value
      9.0

      Definitely the most light and comfortable shoe I have tried .. I’ve been running on these shoes for more than a year .

    • Great Shoe

      75 miles per week, overpronator, low arches
      Overall
      9.0
      Comfort
      9.0
      Cushioning
      10.0
      Durability
      7.0
      Appearance
      9.0
      Value
      10.0

      Found these for $70 and they feel great. Excellent value in a lightweight package.