Speed Costs a ‘Gold Coin’ with the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 2
Well, it’ll actually set runners back $250, but that cost is quickly made up for by the marked physical improvement the 2 offers to those that harness its full potential. This long distance darling is the result of literal blood, sweat and tears gathered by the thousands of Swoosh athletes around the world, who then supplied the boffins at Beaverton with the necessary data to improve their medal-collecting sneaker.
Compared to its predecessor (just drop the 2 from its name), the ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 2 seems more of an . But that’s okay, because as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke... As such, you'll find the same carbon plate propelling the sculpted ZoomX midsole, a technological advantage that many of Nike’s rivals have since followed. The tread is minimal yet effectively placed as before, and this stripped-back ethos has found its way onto the uppers, where the main changes are found.
Designed for even more ventilation than the original, Nike have placed extra engineered mesh onto high heat areas, while retaining thin welded reinforcement for areas that need support, such as the toe bumpers. The result so far seems to result in more tonal colourways, such as this black edition, but there’s still a bit of sparkle with the aforementioned ‘Gold Coin’ accents. Which again will cost more than a gold coin from Nike direct.