A sneak peek at the Nike Vaporfly Next% 3

The world’s most popular carbon-plated racing shoe, the Nike Vaporfly Next%, will release its third edition in early 2023. Photos of the shoe have been circulating on social media, and the new version looks almost unrecognizable. Here’s what we know and what can we expect from Nike’s upcoming release.

At first glance, the new shoe looks like a cross between the Vaporfly Next% and ZoomX Streakfly models. The upper looks similar to the previous model, but slightly more aerodynamic and breathable. The Vaporfly Next% 3 has a higher stack height, a thicker ZoomX midsole and a more durable rubberized outsole. Another thing we noticed is how the carbon Fly-plate is now visible through the outsole, which it hasn’t been in any of the previous models.

The brand appears to have added more stability to the Vaporfly Next% 3 with a wider and thicker midsole, which will be a welcome improvement for everyone not named Eliud Kipchoge.

The Vaporfly series has been the most popular racing shoe on the market since it was first released in 2017, and the Vaporfly Next% firmly cemented Nike’s position at the top of the road running world, due to its record-setting performance and energy return.

Only a select few have got their hands on a pair so far, so we can only speculate how they will stack up in terms of racing performance.