Nike Ultrafly
The first time I saw these sneakers was a couple of years ago at Western States. To be precise, it was in 2021. And now it’s August 2023, and the shoes are ready to be released.
It’s unknown how many years it took from the idea to August, but it’s known that top athletes from around the world tested them for at least a two years.
As the tests progressed, the most significant change was in the sole, a change that the entire Nike team takes pride in.
It seems that adding Vibram to them was a crucial moment. Without the Vibram, these shoes can’t really be considered trail shoes. Competing with them on the global market would be challenging.
The main question is whether they will be as much of a game-changer as the Next% shoes were in road running? Back when the world of fast road running changed forever.
Will these shoes bring about a similar revolution in the world of trail running?
I already have my own opinion on this.
Let’s start by discussing the technical aspects, then I’ll talk about my experiences from testing them. In the end, I’ll share my thoughts on whether they will be revolutionary or not.
Technical Details
From Nike website:
“For the first time in Nike Trail, the Ultrafly features a carbon Flyplate layered between ZoomX foam and a fabric-wrapped midsole. The Nike Ultrafly is the first product from a new Nike and Vibram partnership, bringing Vibram’s leading technology and exclusive sole design to Nike’s trail footwear offering. The Ultrafly’s outsole features Vibram’s Litebase technology, offering trail runners a proprietary lightweight, agile outsole design with Vibram Traction Lug technology and Vibram MegaGrip compound. A Vaporweave upper combined with classic collar construction, counter and fit system ensures lightweight comfort and reliability for miles of racing on the trails. Learn more about the Ultrafly technical details here.”
“Vibram® Outsole For the first time in a Nike Running shoe, the new Ultrafly features a bespoke Vibram® Litebase outsole design, with Vibram® Traction Lugs made of Vibram® Megagrip rubber compound to offer athletes the extra grip they need on the trails. Together, the outsole construction offers pinnacle traction while maintaining the Ultrafly’s lightweight design. Vaporweave A Vaporweave upper combined with classic collar construction, counter and fit system, ensures lightweight comfort and reliability for miles and miles of racing on the trails.”
“The Nike Ultrafly releases beginning August 2023.
Weight W8: 249g; M10: 300g
Offset 8.5mm Stack Height (M10/W11.5) Forefoot: 30mm;
Heel: 38.5mm Lug Height 3.5mm”
Price $260
Testing
I ran in them on various surfaces. The first trails were in Colorado, around the city of Silverton, which is rocky and has technical trails. I can’t say I enjoyed running on technical trails in them. In my opinion, they are not stable enough for such trails, despite their width. There’s a feeling of instability, perhaps due to the carbon plate, which makes it difficult to grip and maneuver on rocky surfaces. During a 5-kilometer run, I twisted my ankle, not severely, but more times than I ever had in my life. I ran in them around 50K in Colorado. Maybe it’s my inability to run on such trails, although I felt much more stable in more minimalist shoes. However, when I tested them in the forests of Washington, where there are no rocks, only pleasant paths and tree roots, I thoroughly enjoyed running in them. I did around another 50K in them in Washington.
It’s hard to speak for professional athletes, but speaking for myself, I would choose to run in them on less technical trails. I think they would be suitable for various distances. I like how they fit my foot, they’re not hot, have comfortable lacing, a good heel, and more. But I didn’t like how they felt on rocks; I’m not a fan of running on rocks to begin with, and these shoes made it more difficult than usual due to the reduced sense of control and stability.
Opinion
In my opinion, these shoes won’t be revolutionary in the world of trail running.
I’ve talked to many people in the trail running world who design footwear, not designers, but those who conceptualize what the shoes should achieve. They all agree that the combination of trail shoes and carbon plate is a challenging mix. Carbon plate made shoe flat, less flexible.
I’ve mentioned many times that it’s not the carbon that truly provides advantages; it’s the Pebax foam. It’s all about the foam, not the plate when we speak about what makes shoe more fast.
Furthermore, it’s important to note that the carbon plate not only leaves our foot flat but also lacks the necessary flexibility to effectively adapt to the intricate contours of challenging technical terrain. This rigidity can impede the foot’s ability to naturally respond to uneven surfaces, reducing the tactile feedback required for precise footing and obstacle negotiation. As a result, the connection between the foot and the trail becomes somewhat compromised, potentially impacting overall stability and confidence while traversing intricate trail sections.
Thus, such sneakers are great for races like the Western States, meaning on fast trails where the plate becomes an advantage rather than a drawback. Furthermore, for these types of trails, the plate should indeed work well, just like in road running shoes that fast road runners can’t use in their races, and Nike has created their own version for them.
I think there’s a place for them in the market, but they won’t capture the entire market. It seems to me that for the trails these sneakers are designed for, one could potentially run in regular sneakers as well. However, when it comes to the carbon plate, of course, the carbon road shoes from Nike can’t be taken to the trail, so overall, these sneakers could become a good option for those who run trails but not highly technical ones.
Again, it’s important to understand that everyone’s capabilities vary, and there are those who excel at running technical trails. It also depends on speed and other factors.
Overall, I liked the feeling in these sneakers. When you try them on, they feel stable due to their design and comfortable for the foot. I think they will be my choice for running different distances on non-technical trails. I don’t believe I’ll be able to run technical trails in them.
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