Nike Vaporfly 4

A meaningful step forward — Nike trimmed weight and stack while making the ZoomX feel livelier and the plate more propulsive, scoring 12/15 with the only real knocks being heel lockdown, narrow platform stability and the open-question of long-term durability.

Best for: Half marathon racing for Megan, full marathon and shorter for Thomas; a super-light fast shoe for runners who want versatility across paces

A noticeably lighter, snappier evolution of the Vaporfly with great ZoomX ride and aggressive rocker, but the snugger lower-volume upper and reduced outsole rubber make it best suited for 5K-10K rather than half/marathon distances; fit issues may force runners to size up.

Best for: Shorter road racing (5K-10K) for runners whose feet fit the snugger upper

An aggressive, lively race shoe that returns to the original Vaporfly's roots — best suited for 5K to half marathon, with enough cushion for a marathon but a narrow midfoot platform that won't suit runners with stability needs.

Best for: 5K to half marathon racing for neutral runners; enough cushion for a marathon if the platform suits you

A step in the wrong direction for the Vaporfly line — overpriced at retail, with reduced bounce, questionable wet traction, and fragile midsole foam, though it can be a fun shoe for shorter races at a discount.

Best for: Lighter, high-cadence runners doing 5K to 10K races, especially when bought at a discount

EDDBUD finds the Vaporfly 4 underwhelming compared to the current field — the upper is good but the foam and plate don't stand out, making it a tough sell at its price point.

Best for: Runners who prioritize a comfortable, light upper in a race shoe but may find the foam underwhelming

Lightest of the four but the priciest, with a denser-feeling ZoomX, narrow forefoot, and durability concerns; reviewer doesn't think it earns the premium over the Adios Pro 4 or Deviate Nitro Elite 3, though it edges the Metaspeed Edge Paris.

Best for: Lighter forefoot/cadence runners doing 10K to half marathon racing.

A leaner, lighter return-to-form for the Vaporfly that races great from 5K to the half but is overpriced at 240 quid given the reduced stack and questionable durability — heavier runners should still pick the Alphafly 3 for the marathon.

Best for: 5K through half marathon for runners who value low weight; lighter runners may also use for the marathon

A successful return to the more aggressive, racing-focused feel of the original Vaporfly with significant weight drop and reduced stack — excellent for 5k–half marathon, but unsuited for marathon distance, leaving that to the Alphafly.

Best for: Hardcore, fast racing at 5k, 10k, and half marathon distances for runners who want a lightweight, ground-contact-focused racer.

A good but no longer distinctive race shoe — more nimble and lower-stack than previous Vaporflys, best at half marathon and below; reviewer wishes Nike would differentiate it more from competitors and ranks it second to the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3.

Best for: 5K to half marathon distances for runners who like a snappy, responsive, close-to-the-ground race shoe

A very light and snappy short-distance racer that has moved away from being a true marathon shoe; great up to 10K for the reviewer but short on cushion and bounce for longer races.

Best for: Short-distance racing up to 10K, or up to half marathon for more seasoned runners wanting minimal cushion

A noticeably lighter, lower-stack Vaporfly that trades the bounding super-shoe feel for a more controlled, natural ride; great for shorter races but the reviewers wouldn't take it past 10K-half-marathon.

Best for: Shorter-distance racing (5K-10K) for runners who want a lightweight, direct, natural-feeling super shoe

A more niche, minimal carbon racer that excels at shorter distances like the mile, 5k, and 10k, but lacks the cushioning and bounce needed for half marathon or marathon racing.

Best for: Short distance racing — mile, 5k, and 10k events for runners who want a lightweight, minimal carbon-plated shoe.

A smart shift back toward the lighter, snappier Vaporfly DNA that improves on the mushy Vaporfly 3 and slots into the lineup as Nike's shorter-distance racer below the Alphafly 3.

Best for: Faster races up to the half marathon for runners who want a snappy, lower-stack, ground-feel race shoe

A marked improvement over the Vaporfly 3 that brings back the snappy, direct feel of earlier Vaporflies while keeping enough cushion and stability; light, fast, and protective enough to race anywhere from 10 miles up to a marathon, though the half marathon is the sweet spot.

Best for: Half marathon sweet spot but versatile from shorter races up to marathon distance for runners who prefer a more direct ride

A lighter, leaner, more specialist Vaporfly — fast and punchy over shorter distances but lacks the bounce and versatility you want at marathon pace for the price.

Best for: 10K to half marathon racing, track miles, shorter fast efforts

A lighter, firmer, more minimal return-to-form racer with reliable transitions — one tester sees it as a balanced, reliable option up to the marathon, while the other finds it unexciting next to shoes like the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo or Fast-R 3.

Best for: Runners who liked earlier Vaporflys and want a light, snappy, responsive race shoe for distances up to the half marathon.

A solid, lightweight fast shoe best suited to shorter races (10K to half marathon), but lacks standout energy return or cushioning for longer distances and doesn't rank in the reviewer's top carbon plate shoes.

Best for: Runners who want a lightweight, snappy, ground-connected race shoe for 5K to half marathon distances