Nike's ZoomX StreakFly Was Built to Be the Ultimate 5K and 10K Shoe
Some of most technologically-advanced shoes ever were created with marathon runners in mind. Attempting to break the 'moonshot' goal of a sub-2 hour marathon, the Swoosh cooked up everything from the to the and the . Now, the Swoosh is turning its attention to 5K and 10K runners – those who're using the shorter races as a marathon tune-up and those who simply enjoy running as a healthy hobby – by introducing the ZoomX StreakFly.
Unlike its rocket-powered counterparts, the ZoomX StreakFly forgoes a carbon fibre midsole plate in favour of a stiff and snappy Pebax plate. Apart from the altered material, the ZoomX StreakFly's plate is shorter in length, enabling its midsole to amp up the comfort with more ZoomX foam and a 6mm heel-to-toe offset. When discussing the design, Nike Running footwear product manager Elliot Heath noted that these features gives more 'ground feel' at the toe and heel, which in turn supplies the runner with 'more control and a bit more of an aggressive feel.
Besides the midsole tech, the ZoomX StreakFly is light as a feather too – a men's size 10 US only weighs 185g thanks to its foam setup and engineered mesh upper! From a looks standpoint, it's debuted in a 'Prototype' colourway, a simple white and black style that's embellished with a nod to 5Ks and 10Ks on its lateral side and a faux wear test number on the medial midsole. It's priced at $160, and you can expect it to drop sometime in February before more colours arrive later this year.