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| Nike Vaporfly | |
|---|---|
| Name | Nike Vaporfly |
| Manufacturer | Nike, Inc. |
| Introduction | 2017 |
| Type | Racing shoe |
| Uses | Marathon, Road racing |
Nike Vaporfly The Nike Vaporfly is a series of long-distance racing shoes introduced by Nike, Inc. led by Phil Knight, developed in collaboration with Nike ZoomX, Nike Oregon Project, and research partners. The shoe series drew attention across Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, New York City Marathon and Olympic Games competition, influencing debates involving World Athletics, International Olympic Committee, United States Olympic Committee, Flora London Marathon, and elite athletes such as Eliud Kipchoge, Mo Farah, Kenenisa Bekele, Paula Radcliffe and Brigid Kosgei.
The Vaporfly family integrates a full-length carbon fiber plate, ZoomX foam midsole technology, and aerodynamic shaping informed by studies at Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Oregon, University of Colorado Boulder and corporate Nike Sport Research Lab. Engineers and designers including Pete Hovland, Eric Avar, and collaborators from Coach and Nike Running utilized wind-tunnel testing at NASA Ames Research Center, motion capture with teams from ASICS, Adidas AG, Skechers USA and pressure-mapping informed by laboratories at University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Loughborough University. The construction combines a carbon fiber plate for longitudinal stiffness, contoured midsole geometry, and proprietary foams aimed to improve energy return relative to shoes from Adidas Adizero Adios, Brooks Running, Hoka One One, Puma SE and New Balance Athletics.
Initial prototypes emerged from partnerships between Nike Sport Research Lab, Oregon Project coaches under Alberto Salazar and scientists including Jason Fitzgerald; subsequent commercial models expanded into Vaporfly 4% (marketed as "Vaporfly 4%"), Vaporfly Next%, Vaporfly 4% Flyknit and Vaporfly Elite variants. Iterations incorporated feedback from elite teams such as Kenyan athletics, Ethiopian Athletics Federation, training groups like NN Running Team and events including IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Diamond League, Tokyo Marathon and Chicago Marathon. Collaborators from Under Armour and research firms such as Exeter University consulted on prototypes; marketing involved ambassadors including Sifan Hassan, Galen Rupp and corporate campaigns linked to NikeLab, Jordan Brand and flagship stores in Portland, Oregon.
Adoption by elite runners coincided with record performances at Berlin Marathon, London Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Boston Marathon and at the 2016 Summer Olympics, 2020 Summer Olympics, and World Athletics Championships. Notable results include victories by Eliud Kipchoge in world record attempts and marathon records set by Brigid Kosgei and challengers from Ethiopia, Kenya and Japan. Comparative studies by British Journal of Sports Medicine researchers, analysts from University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, University of Copenhagen and performance teams from USATF quantified reductions in oxygen cost and improvements in running economy relative to models from Adidas, New Balance, ASICS and Hoka One One.
Competitive dominance prompted rulemaking and scrutiny from World Athletics leading to equipment regulations and discussions with International Olympic Committee and national federations including USA Track & Field and Athletics Kenya. Debates involved ethics statements from World Anti-Doping Agency, technical briefs from British Athletics, legal assessments referencing precedents involving International Court of Arbitration for Sport, patent disputes with firms such as Under Armour and standards set by ISO. Media coverage appeared in outlets including The New York Times, The Guardian, BBC Sport, Reuters and ESPN over fairness, access, and technological doping.
Reception spanned praise from athletes and coaches at Nike Oregon Project, NN Running Team, Bowerman Track Club and criticism from competitors and governing bodies. Commercial success affected market share among sportswear corporations Adidas AG, Puma SE, New Balance Athletics, Under Armour and Asics Corporation, influencing retail listings at Foot Locker, JD Sports, NikeTown and e-commerce platforms. The shoes spurred product responses including model launches by Adidas Adizero, New Balance FuelCell, Hoka Carbon X and altered sponsorship negotiations involving federations like Athletics Australia and collegiate programs under NCAA.
Manufacture relied on proprietary materials and supply chains spanning facilities in Vietnam, China, Indonesia and the United States, coordinated by Nike's operations teams and suppliers such as Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings), Pou Chen Corporation and logistics partners including DHL, UPS and Maersk. Materials research involved collaborations with universities and institutes such as MIT Media Lab, Drexel University and private labs to develop lamination, knit uppers (Flyknit), foam formulations, and carbon plate production methods, while compliance engaged regulators like Occupational Safety and Health Administration and trade bodies including World Trade Organization.
Category:Running shoes