Nike Streakfly Review: ZoomX for the 5k/10k?
By Contributor Andrea Myers
2022 may be the year of the 5k/10k super shoe - with the Adidas Takumi Sen 8 (released December 2021), Nike ZoomX Streakfly, and soon to be released New Balance Pacer SC all making their debuts. Many runners find the high stack super shoes to be too much shoe for shorter distance races and prefer something closer to the ground and with more forefoot flexibility. Would the 6.0 oz Streakfly, with ZoomX foam and a midfoot shank, feel like a supercharged racing flat, a lower stack super shoe, or something else? I couldn’t wait to receive my pair to find out.
Price: $159.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 6.0 oz Men size 9/Women size 7.5 (unisex sizing only)
Stack Height: 32mm/26mm
Drop: 6 mm
Classification: 5k/10k racer
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Nike ZoomX Streakfly is light, fast, and feels like it molds to your foot. Designed for 1 mile to 10k races, the Streakfly runs like a more protective and cushioned racing flat. Runners accustomed to the rockered and trampoline-like feel of super shoes (Vaporfly, Alphafly, Endorphin Pro, etc.) will find the Streakfly to be less protective and more demanding on the ankle and foot. The Streakfly wants to go fast - I tested it for intervals ranging from threshold pace all the way down to hill reps at 800m effort - and found the shoe felt better and better the faster I went. Nike has completed their performance shoe lineup with the Streakfly, which will perform equally well as a shorter race or interval day shoe.
FIT
The Streakfly comes in unisex sizing only, and my men’s 8/women’s 9.5 fits slightly long as compared to the same size Vaporfly Next% or original Zoom Fly Flyknit. Going down a half size would likely make it too short, and I did not experience any foot translation in the shoe due to the additional length. The forefoot width is significantly wider than the Vaporfly Next%, which felt very comfortable and not at all sloppy. I had comfortable toe splay in the shoe, which is unusual for a racing flat. The engineered mesh upper is extremely breathable and comfortable. The lacing is asymmetrical, but at less of a severe angle as compared to the Vaporfly Next%. The last of the Streakfly is less curved than the Vaporfly Next%, which also makes the lacing feel less angled on the top of the foot. The thin and lightly padded tongue is partially gusseted and stays in place well. The laces are thin and have more than enough length to provide ample foot lockdown, even with the additional forefoot volume. I did experience some puckering of the upper when tightening the laces sufficiently, but this did not affect comfort or performance in any way. There is a small, flexible external heel counter and a large, padded internal component that fully wraps around the calcaneus (heel bone). As compared to the Vaporfly Next%, the external heel counter is smaller and less rigid and the internal padding feels less dense and a little more accommodating. While I love my Vaporfly Next% and have used them for races from 5k to the marathon, I found the upper of the Streakfly to be more comfortable due to the flexible mesh upper and softer heel counter. The outsole shows minimal wear after 40+ miles and may be more durable than the Vaporfly Next%. :
PERFORMANCE
The Streakfly wants to go fast. The faster I went, the more responsive it got. I tested it for intervals at threshold, 10k, 5k, mile, and hill reps at 800m effort. At threshold and 10k paces, it felt like a more cushioned racing flat with some pop at push off. At 5k pace and faster, it felt like I became one with the shoe and it was helping me go faster. This feeling is completely different from the propulsive feeling from super shoes, which is likely due to the combination of the plate, foam, and rocker design. It feels like the combination of the Pebax midfoot shank and the ZoomX foam in the Streakfly become more responsive the more you get on your forefoot. The shoe really shines during mile pace and fast hill intervals. That is where I felt the greatest performance benefit from the low weight, smaller toe spring, and more flexible forefoot.
Due to the security of the upper, it also performs extremely well on tight turns. My 1 mile interval route is a neighborhood loop with several turns, and I had no issues with foot translation or instability. I was also able to put the outsole to the test on sand covered roads during a couple of winter workouts (CT puts sand down in addition to salt during winter storms, leading to a mess every winter before the street sweepers come out). I had no issues with slipping while running in a straight line or on turns. I also had excellent traction during a rainy run, even during strides. The traction is just as good if not better than the Vaporfly Next%, which I recently used for a 5 mile race in the rain.
I used the Streakfly for my warmup and cooldown on interval days, which meant most days I put 10-11 miles on the shoe. I do most of my workouts out my front door (instead of driving to a track or path), which means my interval shoe has to also be able to handle the warmup and cooldown. The Streakfly is underwhelming at easier paces and feels like a more cushioned Kinvara, but was certainly comfortable for those easier miles. I didn’t have any issues with sore feet from doing so many miles on what is essentially a racing flat.
Runners who are used to the feeling of a super shoe pushing them forward will not find it in the Streakfly. Personally, I would use the Streakfly for mile-5k races. I would want the propulsive feeling of a super shoe for races longer than 5k.
STABILITY
The Streakfly is a neutral shoe and is not for runners with stability needs. This shoe is going to let your foot do whatever it wants to do, which makes it best for runners with sound biomechanics. The secure fit of the upper and heel counter provide excellent lockdown and there is very mild medial and lateral sole flare at the rearfoot and forefoot that may provide the lightest of guidance. There is a small heel bevel and toe spring, but neither provide the feel of propulsion of more heavily rockered shoes. The Streakfly is a very natural-feeling shoe and should be considered a mildly cushioned racing flat as opposed to a lower profile super shoe.
"Personally, I would use the Streakfly for mile-5k races. I would want the propulsive feeling of a super shoe for races longer than 5k."
THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE
As I noted above, the Streakfly is not a super shoe - that is, a high stack, carbon plated, heavily rockered racing shoe with a PEBA based foam. Many runners are now doing a significant amount of their training (in addition to racing) in super shoes. We do not yet know what the risks of doing a significant percentage of training in super shoes are, but we do know that the body responds to the specific conditions it experiences. The Streakfly, as a lower stack shoe with a flexible forefoot, will place different demands on the body as compared to super shoes like the Vaporfly, Alphafly, Endorphin Pro/Speed, Asics MetaSpeed Sky/Edge, etc. The flexible forefoot of the Streakfly will require a runner to have sufficient 1st MTP (great toe) extension for normal push off, whereas shoes with toe spring greatly reduce the range of motion requirements at the 1st MTP joint. The Streakfly will also place greater load on the plantarflexors (including the flexor hallucis longus) due to the more flexible forefoot and lack of toe spring. Runners who currently do the bulk of their training in shoes with a moderate to high amount of toe spring should proceed with caution when transitioning to a shoe like the Streakfly. Runners who do not have sufficient 1st MTP extension range of motion (around 60°) and/or are not able to perform 20-25 single leg calf raises on each side (considered to be normal functional calf strength for running) may be better off avoiding the Streakfly and consulting a running-specific PT to help you improve your range of motion and strength.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Overall, I am pretty impressed with the Streakfly. I think that the shoe largely lives up to its hype in terms of performance. My main recommendation would be to fine tune the fit of the upper, which is on the larger side both in terms of volume and length for a racing shoe. The shoe definitely fits larger than the same size in both the Vaporfly Next%, although not enough for me to go down a half size.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
The Nike Streakfly is a racing and interval day shoe for runners with neutral mechanics who are looking for a shoe with increased ground feel and forefoot flexibility. While high stack, plated super shoes have become commonplace across nearly all road race distances, some shorter distance racers may prefer a shoe that performs more like an enhanced racing flat. The increased forefoot flexibility and minimal toe spring of the Streakfly will require runners to have sufficient 1st MTP extension range of motion and calf strength. Runners who primarily use high stack, heavily rockered shoes should proceed with caution, as the Streakfly will place greater demands on the foot and ankle than they are accustomed to.
GRADING
Andrea
Fit: A- (wider toe box a nice feature for a racing shoe, but forefoot volume and length on the larger side, fit not consistent with other Nike running shoes)
Performance: A (a racing shoe that becomes more responsive the faster you go. Lightweight, disappears underfoot, and ZoomX foam provides more protection than a traditional racing flat)
Stability: B- (a flexible, neutral racing shoe that is for runners without stability needs)
DPT/Footwear Science: A- (A more flexible forefoot and lack of toe spring requires runners to have sufficient great toe range of motion and calf strength to avoid injury)
Personal: A (exactly what I am looking for in a mile-5k shoe, great fit, and comfortable for longer interval days)
Overall: A- (overall very impressed with the performance and comfort of this lightweight racer)
SHOP | SUPPORT DOR
Price: $159.95 at Running Warehouse (unisex)
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