They don’t claim to be waterproof. They apparently are just better at not retaining water in the upper. 22g would seem to support that. The flyknit upper getting drenched and weighing down the shoe in the wet was apparently a big concern of the pros
Thanks to Boston last year!
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Right then … the Zooms.
First up, fit. Definitely wider on the midfoot than the 4s which is my struggle point. My foot fits on top of the foot bed this time (rather than hanging off it!), and the flyknit is snug but not too tight. Walking around the house in them, they have a milder version of that ‘push’ that i got wearing the 4s.
Initial thoughts. Comparing them to the 4s, they have a similar feel but it’s just muted. I think that’s the best way to describe them. They’re a LOT firmer than the 4s, that’s immediately noticeable, and whilst they don’t feel heavy, they don’t feel magic light like the 4s.
When i’m at easy to cruising speed i’m a midfoot striker with avg cadnce about 175-180. In the Zooms, i felt like they were slapping the floor. When i went down a couple of hills and opened up the stride, landing more on my heel, then the shoe came into it’s own. I felt the cushion on impact, and then the transition through the shoe to toe off. Didn’t get that when midfoot striking.
As i said earlier, the most noticeable thing was the stiffness of the shoe. I think they are going to need 50-70km to break in. Whereas the shoe feels ‘hard’ on my feet when landing i’m not feeling the energy return. My feet are much more secure in the flyknit upper in these though; i didn’t feel like a boat when trying to go around corners, and the comfort was decent (though my arch was aching a bit by the end in my right foot - but i periodically get this, even in tried and tested trainers).
When i upped the pace and moved to a more forefoot strike i can’t say i could feel any benefit coming from the shoe. They stopped slapping the ground, but they just felt like an ordinary trainer. Unfortunately i’m just not running well this week so i knew straight away that i wasn’t going to last very long at pace. So i binned the session after 5km a prog (4.35, 4.05, 3.45, 3.34, 3.28) then just cruised for another hour. I took them off road for most of the back half of the session on sandy/hard pack trails that are baked solid. Clearly not their forte, though they felt fine until i went uphill when i was slipping all over the shop. There is absolutely no grip on them whatsoever.
So overall i think i need a few more runs in them. But that said i’m not 100% sure what type of trainer they are. For me, they’re definitely not a true racer. I think i’d be quicker losing the carbon and NIke foam and just chucking on a traditional lightweight pair (my [now dead] Adios 2s felt much quicker). But at £55 for a pair that fit me, i’ll be keeping them regardless. If they were £65 or over, i think they’d be going back. i just don’t know where they fit in my arsenal. I’m thinking for tempo and speed work and i’ll give them a shot at a parkrun. but if i ever sign up to a decent race, i’ll be looking for something else.
I’m keen to try the Altra Escalante Racer as they fit my wide feet though they are 0 drop and minimal cushion. I’m intrigued by the carbon Hokas, though i’ve tried 3 different pairs of trail shoes on and none fit me. But i think my best jope may be the NB carbon ones when they come out (sur ei read that somewhere). I’ve had a few pairs of NB and i’ve loved them, and they also tend to do everything in the wider fits.
And that my esteemed TTers is my take on the Zooms after one run (i ran on my own last night and had a lot of time to think!). I think they’d really suit a heel striker!
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Thanks GB that was the same impression my son and I had when trying them at the weekend. I think I didn’t enjoy them as much as I picked 0.5 size too small. I have ordered a size up, even my son mentioned there wasn’t that magic when you start off in the zooms compared to the 4%. However for 55 quid they are a bargain where you can wear/use without feeling guilty but still have a good run in them was well.
I have signed up for a 10KM on Sunday to test the NEXT% under race conditions so we will see then…
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Nice 
Great write up.
The New Balance FuelCell 5280 come out in September and are targeted at the mile event! (Or so the bumph says)
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Nice write up GB.
I have done 3 runs in my Zooms now albeit only 4 miles each run at an easy pace.
I find them to be really comfortable and as GB mentions when going down hills and landing on the heel they feel spot on.
I will try a tempo run in them at the weekend or maybe a parkrun and see how they fair.
These are my first Nikes so haven’t got a comparison to any of their top of the range ones but for the money I think they are a quality trainer but not a racer in my opinion.
I was thinking about getting a pair of Nike Structure for my long runs and keep these for tempo but not sure if there is much difference between the two.
Anyone got any thoughts on the Zooms versus the Structure?
Yes!
Would you like to know them?
I have ran once, 5.9km with the dog, in the ZFFlys.
I have ran 326km in the Structures and love 'em.
They are two totally different shoes, IMO.
The structure is a solid, reliable trainer (which comes in WIDE and EXTRA WIDE) for smashing out the miles.
I take the dog around some muddy off-road bits and don’t find them too bad off road, but not amazing.
They’re quite heavy, but that’s because of the Structure innit.
If you were choosing a shoe to train in, I’d deffo go with the Structure - as it really does do well in most situations.
If you’re close to a Nike Outlet, they currently have some funky colours in the v21 in for £72 (IIRC), which you can get at half price (ask first, as they constantly change the 50% discount offer) if you sign up to a NikePlus membership (it’s free) in store.
If you already have one, just register a few email addresses 
Just as an aisde, what are we saying for a good training shoe?
The Pegasus?
I’ve been training in ZFs for several years now (vers 1 & 2), with no complaints or issues, I weigh 72-4kg depending on time of year. The only thing is obvious lack of off-road grip. I literally have an on-road lightweight do-it-all training shoe and a shoe for races, that’s it.
I can’t help thinking this thread is encouraging people to be a little over-analytical 
Nike have pulled a blinder though, because they got me to spend over £100 on a pair of running shoes; I literally never do that.
Structure 
@Poet so if i go into Cheshire Oaks Nike Outlet i can get a pair of trainers and get them to knock 50% off at the till? i think i might take a trip at the weekend 
Did notice the 22s on the nike store for £72 then with our 20% off code down to about £58 but the 21s for £36 sounds a bargain.
If you go at the weekend, take a VERY DEEP BREATH and BE CALM!
It was mayhem this weekend - we only nipped in for vast amounts of Haribo and a look in Nike on the way back from Llandudno…took is 90 minutes to get in and out at 5pm!!!
Yes - most of the time all of the stock on the back wall at Cheshire Oaks is 50% off if you sign up on the day.
All of the 50% off stuff is in half boxes - they had no UK11 in Structure 21.
The colourway is neon orange, blue and pink - which I think looks great.
EDIT - Not on at the moment, ended this weekend :’(
“Probably be back on next week…”
0151 357 1252
If you’re in/around Manchester, then there is one at The Fort, just up Cheetham Hill.
That’s quiet on a Saturday morning.
Yes, for me!
I’m on my third pair of Pegs, 1,000km in the first two and on about 700k so far in the third. I’ll, without doubt, be buying another pair. For me they are the versatile shoe. I can run long and slow, tempo and even speed stuff in them with no bother. They’re robust, fit well and (touch wood) they haven’t mucked around with them too much between iterations. I previously ran in Kinvaras 2,3 and 4 but then they totally changed the design and i despised the 5s. Ended up hacking them with a stanley knife … so Nike benefitted as i moved over.
Oh and they’re ok off road on hard surfaces like coast paths in the summer. I’ve sloshed aorund the fields in winter in them as well and they’ve actually done an admirable job. But that was just because i forgot my trailies.
I (normally) have a 2 x pair rotation of daily shoes (Pegasus 35 and NB Fresh Foam Beacon), a race shoe for tarmac (Currently the Zooms …) and two pairs of trail shoes - one with aggressive grip, lightweight, racier feel (Dynafit Feline Vertical Pro) and a heavier, comfier one for plodding in the summer and very long runs (Innov8 TrailTalon 275).
It’sthe replacement of my trail shoes that is causing me the most headaches at the moment!!!
Does no one like Ons? Surprised there is no mention of them if discussing other shoes for training and racing.
I use Ons but cannot justify the cost and they are rarely discounted. Hence looking at the Nikes
Been to Cheshire Oaks quite a few times so I hear what you are saying!!!
That Manchester one isn’t too far from where I work.
Do you take the same size in Structure as the Zoon Flys?
I’ve tried a couple of pairs on their 30 day return scheme. Loved them … but can’t justify the price and as Leahnp said, they’re rarely on offer.
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I do yes.
UK11 in all Nike runners, though I should have gone to 11.5 for the Zoom SP and 4% (I have a pair of 11.5 on their way to me right now…)
Thanks
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