Admittedly I was excited to try the Nike ZoomX Streakfly. I am a fan of the Streak and it’s a shoe I set most of my running PRs in. Over the last few years, with the craze of carbon plated footwear, I haven’t used the Streak *as much* but recently, I went back to it. All of this to say, no one is a better candidate for the Nike ZoomX Streakfly.
I wondered: Is the Nike ZoomX Streakfly worth it? The marketing and hype really made me think so. But also, Pumpkin Spice Lattes are hyped more than anything, and I don’t love those.
Nike ZoomX Streakfly Quick Facts:
Weight: 6 oz
Heel to Toe Drop: 6 mm
Cost: $160
Nike ZoomX Streakfly Introduction:
At first glance, you think: “Nike ZoomX Streakfly is only $160, what a great deal”. It is essentially a racing flat with slightly more cushion, so you aren’t going to see the life that you would on carbon plated footwear, which life on carbon plated footwear isn’t great either. If the Nike ZoomX Streakfly consistently lasts more than 150 miles, I’ll be surprised.
Anyway, Nike has gone away from low-profile shoes. As someone who loved them, it’s unfortunate. The Streakfly is the answer for those who want a fast shoe but aren’t running marathons, or maybe the carbon plate is too rigid for them.
Nike ZoomX Streakfly Fit:
I know many people are fans of how the Vaporfly and Alphafly look, but I think they look goofy. I’m more of a fan of how the Streakfly looks. I don’t think it’s the best-looking running shoe, but I think it looks like a running shoe. Never judge a book by the cover, though.
The Nike ZoomX Streakfly uses an ultra-thin knit upper. When wearing them, you can see your socks. The upper is lightweight but still provides support. It also has extra reinforcement in the forefoot to keep your foot secure. Finally, the lacing is slightly different and is laterally offset with a notched tongue that helps relieve pressure off the foot. Usually, racing flats fit tight. Unlike the Nike Streak 6, the toe box is wider in the Streakfly.
Finally, something extremely positive about the Streakfly is the heel counter. The Vaporfly heel counter is extremely rigid and can tear through people’s ankles. Or it’s been known to cause Achilles problems. The Streakfly is much softer and plusher. It just feels nicer, and my achilles and heel thank me for wearing it.
I am a firm believer that the best running shoe uppers disappear off your feet, and the Nike Streakfly does just that.
In running shoes, I typically wear between a women’s size 10-11 wide. I found the 10.5 of the Streakfly to fit well. There is a little more room in the toe box, and many people have opted to go down a half size. If you have a wider foot, I would maintain the same size.
Nike ZoomX Streakfly Ride:
As the name suggests, the Nike ZoomX Streakfly uses a full-length ZoomX midsole. This causes the shoe to be lightweight and responsive. The stack height is much lower than the Vaporfly (32 mm vs. 40 mm), which saves a lot of weight and gives you a more aggressive and responsive feeling. A problem for me when running and racing in the Vaporfly is I felt too out of touch with the ground. With the high stack height, I felt disconnected. I appreciate coming back down to Earth with the Streakfly.
Is there a carbon plate in the Nike ZoomX Streakfly? No. Like the Nike Pegasus Turbo, it utilizes the ZoomX foam to propel you forward.
Durability and Traction: Nike claims it used “runner-informed data” to create the outsole. Honestly, the outsole is great (and surprising). Nike places traction where you need it and has a solid grip. Now I wouldn’t use the Streakfly to run on trails, but it does have a much better grip than the Streak and most other racing flats. I think it would be fine in inclement weather.
As far as durability, the lightweightness and the fact that it’s a racing flat causes me to believe it won’t be good after around 150 miles, and that’s pushing it. Will you still be able to run in the Streakfly after 150 miles? Sure, but will you get the advantage? Probably not.
Something else to note about the Streakfly is the ability to take corners much better. You don’t need to worry about taking sharper corners.
On to my experience with the Streakfly. As marketed, the Nike ZoomX Streakfly is made for 5ks and 10ks. It’s not made to racing half and full marathons. I’ve only run workouts because I don’t waste the mileage and perform well. I can see why it’s hyped, and I’m a huge fan. I’ve done a couple of tempo runs as well as track intervals. It handles both well, and I was surprised with how well it handles the track intervals. I appreciate the shoe, and I think it’s a better shoe for me in the current stage of my fitness life (training for shorter distances).
In the world of higher stack heights, it’s important that you should take time to adjust to a lower profile shoe. Don’t just go out and race a 10k, as you’ll set yourself up for injury. Take time to adjust to lower stack heights and feeling the ground more. I wrote about that here.
Nike ZoomX Streakfly Conclusion:
So why buy the Nike ZoomX Streakfly?
- You’re training for shorter distances.
- You prefer lower to the ground racing flats or other carbon plated shoes that feel too disconnected.
For me, of anything Nike has come out with, this has been my favorite. This will not be your marathon racer, but it’s a great shorter-distance shoe.
Is the Nike ZoomX Streakfly better than the Nike Vaporfly Next% or Alphafly?
As I’ve said before, there is no best shoe. The Nike Vaporfly and Alphafly are still the top-tier carbon plated footwear, and I don’t think we will see the Streakfly replacing them completely. We will see many more runners gravitate towards a lighter and faster shoe for shorter distances. Anything above the 10k, the Streakfly doesn’t stand a chance against the Vaporfly and Alphafy.
What is the difference between the Nike ZoomX Streakfly and the Streak 6?
The Nike ZoomX Streakfly has 25% more stack height. You’ll find more durability in the Streakfly due to the cushion. You’ll also feel the ground less, and the Streakfly is softer than the Streak 6.
What is the closest shoe to the Nike ZoomX Streakfly?
There isn’t a lot to compare it to. You could argue either the Asics Metaracer or the Asics Metaspeed Edge. Both are lighter and less cushioned carbon plated shoes. Sadly neither were very well received by the public, but I think they are both excellent. The other option is discontinued Nike Pegasus Turbo 2. If you miss the Turbo and want the closest shoe, the ZoomX Streakfly is it. Although the ZoomX Streakfly is lighter and more responsive.
My Current Shoe Rotation:
Easy/Daily Runs: Brooks Aurora, Diadora Mythos Blushield Volo, New Balance 1080 v11, Saucony Triumph 19, adidas Ultraboost 22
Speed Work: 361 Flame, Nike Tempo Next%, New Balance Fuelcell TC Shoe Review, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro,
Long Runs: Saucony Freedom 4, Hoka Clifton Edge, Under Armour Sonic HOVR 3
Trail Running/Hiking: Saucony Peregrine 12, Hoka Zinal, Speedland SL: PDX, North Face Flight VECTIV
Races: Nike ZoomX Streakfly, Asics Metaspeed Sky, Hoka One One Rocket X, adidas Adizero Pro, New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Nike Next%, Saucony Endorphin Pro, New Balance fuelcell TC, Reebok Run fast Pro
You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.
Looking to learn more about running shoes? In my ebook, I talk about why you need a good running shoe, a shoe’s anatomy, neutral vs. stable, and even myths of running shoes.
Questions for you:
Have you tried the Nike ZoomX Streakfly?
What is your favorite running shoe?