Nike’s Updated Zoom Series Contains Its Fastest Running Shoes

Nike shoes
(Image credit: Unknown)

Nike has updated its Zoom line-up with four new running shoes and there are two things you need to know about them: they’re very fast and they’re very green.

Within the line-up there are two all-rounder shoes designed for training but still quick enough to race in, the Pegasus 36 and Pegasus Turbo 2, plus two thoroughbred racers in the form of the Zoom Fly 3 and the Vaporfly NEXT%, the latter worn by Eliud Kipchoge when he won the London Marathon in April.

The Pegasus 36 and Turbo 2 are available now to NikePlus members, and will be available to all on 11th July, while the Zoom Fly 3 should be on the Nike website soon and you can sign up on the Nike website to be notified when the NEXT% is available to buy.

If you plan on picking up a pair of any of the latest generation of the Zoom family, we hope you like green, because that’s the dominant colour in the line-up. Neon green, to be precise, which Nike says is the most visible colour to the human eye. Having been on the start lines of races where some lucky runners were sporting the NEXT%, we can verify that the shoes are indeed very easy to spot.

Of the four new shoes, the NEXT% is the most substantial update to its predecessor, the Vaporfly 4%. We went through the updates made to the shoe in our first look at the NEXT%, but the major change is the 15% more bouncy ZoomX foam being crammed into its midsole without making it heavier thanks to a lighter upper.

The Pegasus Turbo 2 also uses the ZoomX foam in its midsole, but adds a layer of React foam to increase the durability of the shoe. The Pegasus Turbo 2 has a lighter upper than the original shoe as well as a midfoot band to hold the foot in place on the run. We rate the Pegasus Turbo as the best all-rounder running shoe out there, and it was our favourite launch of 2018, so Nike giving itn only minor updates is fine by us.

Nike has opted for similarly small refinements with the Zoom Fly 3, which has a lighter upper than its predecessor, the Zoom Fly Flyknit. The Zoom Fly 3 has a carbon fibre plate in its React foam midsole, and is a great alternative to the NEXT% for those looking for a fast racing shoe but not prepared to splash out £200-plus on the Vaporfly.

The cheapest shoe in the quartet is the Pegasus 36, which is the latest update to Nike’s most popular line. The Pegasus 36 also has an updated upper, plus an improved fit around the heel collar for a more comfortable ride. As always, the shoe is designed to be a great-value option for all your training that can also be used for races.

You can pick up the Pegasus 36 for £104.95, while the Pegasus Turbo 2 costs £159.95 and the Zoom Fly 3 is £139.95, though the latter is not yet available on the Nike website or app. If you’re all about the NEXT%, you can put yourself at the front of the line to get the shoe by completing a running challenge in the Nike Run Club app where you run 85km before 23rd June.

Nick Harris-Fry
Senior writer

Nick Harris-Fry is a journalist who has been covering health and fitness since 2015. Nick is an avid runner, covering 70-110km a week, which gives him ample opportunity to test a wide range of running shoes and running gear. He is also the chief tester for fitness trackers and running watches, treadmills and exercise bikes, and workout headphones.