Ready to racePutting Nike’s Zoom Fly 6 to the test
Welcome back to Race Lab, the series where running experts test out our favourite running shoes. In this episode, we hang out with running expert Juju Kim and get her take on Nike’s lightweight, race-ready shoe, the Zoom Fly 6.
27 August 2025 · 4 min read
We’ve all heard about super shoes, but what about super trainers? That’s how Nike positions the Zoom Fly 6, a running shoe that takes traditional components from racing footwear and uses them to power up your everyday runs. Built for race day and for training, this hybrid, sleek silhouette is dubbed the “ultimate super trainer”. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s find out.
Welcome to Race Lab — the series where we get in-depth (and a little nerdy) about serious running shoes. In episode 2, we put the Nike Zoom Fly 6 through purpose-built testing stations to see if it lives up to our expectations — especially on tempo and long distance runs. To keep things fair, we’ve brought in running expert Juju Kim.
Long-term runner Juju has tackled everything from 10k races to ultramarathons. Once running from LA to Vegas — that’s 491km — she knows better than most that a great shoe makes all the difference. “A good running shoe is one I’m not thinking about on my run,” she tells us. “A bad shoe is one I’m constantly aware of, like if something’s rubbing or just doesn’t feel right. [I want to] do the whole run without thinking about my feet. It needs to feel light and supportive. But I’m also a sucker for cute running fits, so colours matter too!”
The Testing Stations
The Nike Zoom Fly 6 was developed in close collaboration with the Olympic, world-record-winning Kenyan athlete, Eliud Kipchoge — who believes: “This is the shoe runners should choose for their workouts all week long, instead of the ‘super shoes’ some are using”.
The silhouette is one of Nike’s fastest trainers yet, built to help you push the pace and enjoy the payoff. It’s 10% lighter than its predecessor and includes some major revamps that Juju puts to the test in four specific areas: traction, cushioning, pressure, and stability.
Get a grip
Lightweight yet grippy on the road, the thin rubber outsole is designed to enhance traction without adding bulk. By adding durable rubber in a patterned, web-like grid (instead of a continuous slab), it cuts the shoe’s weight while keeping the key contact points for grip. The pattern flexes with your foot as you move, so every transition feels smooth.
Cushioned for comfort
While Nike has significantly reduced the weight of the Zoom Fly 6, it hasn’t compromised on comfort. The brand wanted the shoe to feel fast enough for race day but plush enough for a long-distance run, made possible with a dual-foam midsole construction. On top, ZoomX Foam — Nike’s lightest, most responsive yet — delivers a springy, energetic feel in every stride. The bottom layer is SR-02 foam, which is slightly denser and more durable, providing a stable base that absorbs road vibration and resists compression on high-mileage runs.
Under pressure
Sandwiched between those two layers sits a full-length carbon-fibre FlyPlate. It works to spread pressure evenly across the foot, increasing responsiveness, improving propulsion, and giving a smooth transition from heel to toe. It basically acts as a springboard and a stabiliser, storing and releasing energy like a lever and making each stride you take all the more efficient.
Stability is a flex
The Zoom Fly 6 delivers the highest stack height in Nike’s racing shoe line-up, but thanks to the FlyPlate in combination with the wider platform, it still feels stable. Think of the rigid carbon plate as the shoe’s spine, keeping it from twisting or collapsing under force as you run, helping you stay balanced. Meanwhile, the wider platform gives more contact to the ground, providing way more stability. As Juju says herself, “it gives you that fast feeling but feels comfortable and stable. Stability is important for me.”
In it to win it
Juju owns an earlier model of the Zoom Fly, so it was really interesting to get her take on the shoe after putting it through its paces. Safe to say, it passed the test. “It felt really good,” she told us after the test. “It was light and responsive. I also love how it looks — it looks like a fast shoe.” And when we asked if she would recommend this shoe to a fellow runner, the answer was a resounding “yes! [Particularly] for tempo runs or long runs where you want to pick up the pace.”
Not the right fit? No worries — there are plenty more great running shoes out there. Keep your eyes peeled for the next episode of Race Lab, to keep your collection fresh with the best runners on the market.
