Nike’s Vaporfly line sits at the sharp end of carbon plated road racing, going head to head with shoes like the adidas Adizero Adios Pro and ASICS Metaspeed. Vaporfly 4 keeps the familiar race day formula, an ultralight build paired with a stiff plate and responsive foam, aimed at runners chasing faster times from 5K through to the marathon. The focus here is efficiency: less weight to shift each stride, and a platform that encourages a quick, rolling transition when you push the pace.

Who is this for?

Racers and confident trainers who already have a daily shoe for easy miles. The carbon plate helps stabilise the foam and adds snap at toe-off, but it can feel firm or awkward at slower speeds. If you race often, the lighter upper and pared-back outsole are welcome, though they usually trade some durability and grip for speed.

• Carbon plate: promotes a more propulsive toe-off when running fast.
• Weight-trimmed build: less bulk in the upper and outsole for a more agile feel.
• Road racing focus: tuned for smooth tarmac rather than mixed terrain.