The Nike Vaporfly(VF) series of shoes have become synonymous with distance running around the world with some serious fan following. The VF series of shoes came into prominence first in early 2017 when Eliud Kipchoge ran in them in an attempt to break the 2 hour barrier in a marathon. He fell short by 26 seconds, but history was in the making. The shoe Kipchoge wore for the run, a customized version of VF 4%, grabbed lots of eyeballs. When the shoe was first released to the public in late spring 2017, it sold like hot cakes. Since then the shoe has undergone multiple iterations and has become commonplace at the holding area. 

The Nike Vaporfly Next% (VF Next%) is the third iteration in the Vaporfly series and was released in 2019. The fully carbon plated Next% is primarily a race day shoe easily capable of handling distances from a 5K to a Marathon. A premium shoe by Indian standards (pricing wise), the Next% is best suited for your race day PR (backed by a solid training). If one is looking for a carbon plated shoe amongst the ones available in the Indian market, this would be the go-to shoe. 


<ShoeCard shoeCode="002002000M"></ShoeCard>

### What makes up Next%?

**Midsole** - Uses a “Pebax” foam underfoot which Nike calls “ZoomX”. The foam while being soft has high rebound, meaning you get more bounce with every step you put in the shoe. The midsole comes with a full length __carbon fiber plate__ that provides the stiffness and the springy sensation you feel during your run. 

**Heel Drop** - The heel to toe offset is 8mm making it slightly more stable than the previous versions. There is also more foam (15% more) as compared to previous versions under your foot. More foam, more bounce, more fun. 

**Padding** - The almost collapsible heel is slightly padded while the tongue isn’t. Both are insignificant during the run 

**Lacing** - The shoe comes with offset lacing which apparently releases lacing pressure on your forefoot. 

<div class="row">
    <div class="col-6 col-md-6 px-1">
        <LightBox src="/images/nnxt-uppper-new.jpg" caption="Offset lacing releases pressure on forefoot" alt="" ></LightBox>
    </div>
    <div class="col-6 col-md-6 px-1">
        <LightBox src="/images/nnxt-uppper-after.jpg" caption="Worn out Upper after 1000 km" alt="" ></LightBox>
    </div>
</div>

### Ride in Next%

**Usage** - The current pair of Next% has 956KMs (documented) and may have another 30+KMs (not documented) on them. The initial hundred or so kilometers were primarily races across 5K, 10K, Marathon categories. In 2020 with the pandemic setting in and races cancelled, I started using them for my daily runs as well. I have used them for easy, tempo, intervals, long runs, races and even to just plain walk in them (only a couple of times). 

**Durability** - As with every carbon plated shoe, the life of the shoe is debated a lot. As to how long can a shoe be used while retaining its “bounciness”. With close to 1000 Kms on them, I still find them good enough for my everyday runs. Though there is substantial wear in the heel region, the forefoot is still intact. The upper is held well in spite of multiple washes and runs in rain. The bounce is still comparable to any fresh out of the box daily training shoe (read Pegasus 37 /Kinvara 10 / Beacon V2 / Nimbus 22 / Propel V2). I may not use them for races, primarily because of the condition they are in (see images) but when it comes to feel underneath your foot, they can give any other shoe a run for their money even with 1000kms on them. 

**Feel** - The shoes perform well across all categories of workouts. The midsole cushioning is soft, however the rigidity provided by the embedded carbon fiber plate gives it a bounce/springiness which propels you forward. The shoe works well at all paces. You can take them out for your easy long runs, wear them for your track workouts and they will not let you down. However, I feel the shoes perform for what they are designed to be at paces faster than 5:00/km. So, if any of your training paces are slower than 5:00, one wouldn’t get much out of these shoes. 

There is a lot spoken about how your legs still feel fresh after running long/hard workouts in these shoes, I haven’t felt that way. At least not noticeably. Often a lot of undue credit is attributed to the shoe than to your own bodies which have adapted to the training loads and have gotten stronger. 

<div class="row">    
    <div class="col-6 col-md-6 px-1">
        <LightBox src="/images/nnxt-outsole.jpg" caption="Outsole held up well, despite worn out heel" alt="" ></LightBox>
    </div>
    <div class="col-6 col-md-6 px-1">
        <LightBox src="/images/nnxt-heelwear.jpg" caption="Heel wear after 1000km" alt="" ></LightBox>        
    </div>
</div>

**Stability**
I am an overpronator and these shoes are as unstable as they can get. But like with every other shoe, once you have run some distance, one gets used to the construction of the shoe. However, this distance varies from runner to runner.  If your initial runs haven’t gone as per your expectations, give it sometime. Run at least a couple of hundred kms in the shoe before you decide to give up on them is what I’d suggest. 

**Grip** - The shoe has a thick rubber outsole in the forefoot which grips well on road and track (surface I have used them on). The traction is good even in wet conditions and there is no slippage. The corners depending on how you tackle them can be a little tricky. I always feel one of my shoe will come off when I bend around a corner. Overall, the shoe does a decent job of tackling corners. 

**Fit and Comfort** - I use a US 10/ UK 9 in Nikes. The shoe runs true to size. The fit is just right, not too snug nor too loose. The toe box is wide enough and there is ample space for your feet to play. 

With asymmetric/offset lacing system, the lockdown on the forefoot is secure. One can play with the lacing to get the fit right. I am comfortable with the lacing that the shoe comes with and use a double knot for a tighter fit. 

Midfoot is where things start to get a little dicey, it is quite narrow and I get a feeling that my arch will fall off the shoe. More so on my right foot as it overpronates more compared to the left. This kind of settles down after you have run a few kms in the shoes. 



There isn’t much support in the heel and it is lightly padded. There is no heel slippage per se and one can use the additional eyelets for a more secure heel lockdown if one wishes to. 

The shoes can be used straight out of the box for your runs/races if you have been running in previous versions of the shoe. If these are your first pair, better to get some distance on these shoes before you decide to use them for races. 

**Aesthetics** - Nikes have always been aesthetically pleasing. The Next% look good, they look fast and feel fast too. The upper is an engineered mesh, Nike calls it the “Vaporweave”. The upper is water resistant and quite breathable. The shoe lacks visibility but that’s just a minor inconvenience. The outsole with its grooves does a good job of channeling water out from under your foot while keeping small stones away.  

### Why consider Next%?

The Next% is undoubtedly the best carbon plated shoe in the Indian Market. Consider these for your races and fast training runs if you are looking for some great bounce under your feet. The next iteration of Next%, Next% 2 is currently available with an updated upper.

### Review Summary
<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="002002000M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "The Best carbon plated shoe in the market",
    "Aesthetically pleasing",
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "Unstable",
    "Price",
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
All kinds of runs- Long/Easy, Tempo, Intervals, Racing for 5K and above. Rotate with any other non-plated shoe so that on your race day, the plated shoe will make you fly.
</InfoCard>

1000 km review of Nike Vaporfly Next%. Verdict- The Best carbon plated shoe in the market.

Nike Vaporfly Next% Review

Brooks launched the original Hyperion back in 2019. It was a modest racing flat which received good reviews, and then in 2020 they launched their Hyperion series with The Hyperion Elite (a Carbon plated super shoe) and the Hyperion Tempo, which according to Brooks is a shoe specifically designed for race training.

A race training shoe is something nearly as light and as fast as a racing shoe, but at the same time equally durable as a daily trainer. Hyperion Tempo uses the same DNA Flash midsole as used by Hyperion Elite 2,  and the key difference is the stack height and the carbon plate. 

Other super shoes that have similar race training counterparts are:

* Nike Alphafly Next% & Nike Air Zoom Tempo Next%
* Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 & Saucony Speed 2
* Adidas Adios Pro 2 & Adidas Boston 10
* Nike Vaporfly next% & Nike Pegasus Turbo 2  

<ShoeCard shoeCode="007006000M"></ShoeCard>


### What makes up Hyperion Tempo?

**Midsole** - The DNA Flash midsole (which is very similar to Skechers Hyperburst and Puma Nitro) is EVA foam infused with Nitrogen. The cushioning is not very bouncy and it gives a fairly decent amount of ground feel and at the same time provides enough protection. 

**Stack Height** - With 31mm at the heel and 23m at the forefoot, the shoe provides an 8mm offset, which is good for midfoot and forefoot strikers, and just enough for heel strikers.

**Upper & lacing** - The synthetic upper is the best that I have seen on any shoe so far. It's quite thin and lightweight, and has a lot of pores in the forefoot making it very breathable. It does not retain water, and is very efficient in hot and rainy climates, though I feel it might not be very ideal for colder climates. The tongue is thin and slightly padded and is complimented with thin elastic laces (The first of its kind that I have used). 

<div class="row">
    <div class="col-6 col-md-6 px-1">
        <LightBox src="/images/ht-topview.jpg" caption="Lightweight and comfortable" alt="" ></LightBox>
    </div>
    <div class="col-6 col-md-6 px-1">
        <LightBox src="/images/frontview.jpg" caption="Breathable and roomy" alt="" ></LightBox>
    </div>
</div>

**Design** - Even though Brooks does not explicitly mention this, the shoe has a rocker design, that helps in heel / mid foot transitions - Forefoot and makes the run much more efficient and economical.  

**Weight** - At 205gms the Hyperion tempo has officially dethroned the king of all lightweight Training shoes, the Pegasus Turbo 2 (215gms), and as of date this is the lightest running shoe in my rack. 

**Aesthetics** - I own the one with a black upper & a turquoise blue sole, and it's simply beautiful. The design is subtle yet elegant and the colors are vibrant.

### Ride in Hyperion Tempo

**Usage** - I have used the HT for a wide variety of paces all the way from Easy (6:10min/km) to Racing (46min 10k). The lightweight, rocker structure of the HT makes any run a cruise. There is very little bounce and the midsole returns as much energy as one gives it. This makes running very efficient at any pace, up to 25km.

**Feel** - The DNA Flash midsole is light and at the same time returns as much or more energy that is thrown at it. The lightweight midsole lets the foot glide effortlessly.

**Stability** - The shoe is stable and provides good arch support as well. 

<div class="row">    
    <div class="col-6 col-md-6 px-1">
        <LightBox src="/images/heelview.jpg" caption="Heel support is good" alt="" ></LightBox>
     </div>
    <div class="col-6 col-md-6 px-1">
        <LightBox src="/images/outsole.jpg" caption="Outsole has good grip" alt="" ></LightBox>
    </div>
</div>

**Grip** - HT feels extremely agile in both dry, wet and specifically rainy conditions. Few midsoles (especially Nike react) tend to absorb water and this makes the shoe very squishy during runs on rainy days. DNA Flash however doesn’t absorb as much as I've experienced with other shoes. 

**Fit and Comfort** - HT gives the foot a very good and comfortable lockdown. And never even once during my runs have I had to stop to retie my laces. The only concern I have with the upper is its durability.

**Durability** - After 500kms I have noticed some bit of wear and tear on the ankle liners. The outsole treads are intact and I think these are definitely good for another 500 kms.

### Why consider Hyperion Tempo?

**Price** - At ₹ 13500/- these shoes definitely don't come cheap, but Brooks India has been generous enough to give a flat 10% through their influencers.  Compared to other Race training shoes, the HT is priced on par. Adidas Boston 10 - ₹ 13,999/-, Nike Air Zoom Tempo Next% - (which is sold at a discounted rate of  ₹ 14,007 & the actual price is ₹ 17,595/-). And compared to the other popular daily trainers, these are sold at a 30% premium.



**HT is for you, if ...**

+ You already have your shoe rotation sorted and now you are looking at a new tempo trainer. 
+ You are a serious runner who has an easy day shoe and a race day shoe in rotation, it makes a lot of sense to add a tempo/training shoe to your current shoe rotation, just to bring down the number of miles you clock on your precious race day super shoes, and rather preserve them for your race day.
+ You are a runner who has been using daily trainers for a while now and want to give yourself an upgrade. 
+ You are a shoe geek and would love to try out new tech, this is definitely worth considering
+ You are looking for a single shoe for racing and training, you can still consider this if your racing distance is up to half marathon.

**This is probably is not the right shoe, if ...**

+ You are looking for a shoe that is cheaper and more versatile,  then daily trainers are recommended.
+ You are looking for a shoe that would take you beyond 25k - You might want to consider a shoe with larger stack height.  

**Suggested Rotation:**

In my current shoe rotation, I use the 

+ Nike Infinity for my easy / long runs
+ HT for mid distance tempo
+ Endorphin Pro 2 for the fast and long days

### Review Summary
<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="007006000M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "Extremely Light Weight",
    "Stable Ride",
    "Very good traction",
    "Effective foot lockdown",
    "Breathable upper",
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "May not be durable beyond 900 kms",
    "Not suitable for long runs beyond 25km",
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
<p>Brooks Hyperion tempo is my go to shoe for training. The lightweight and versatility gives confidence to take it for any morning run. The only exception being longer runs over 25k.</p>
<p>I would definitely recommend this brilliant package for training and racing short to medium distances. Happy Running.</p>
</InfoCard>

500km review of the Brooks Hyperion Tempo (HT). How it rides, what kind of runs it works best and how it stacks up against similar shoes in the market.

Brooks Hyperion Tempo Review

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Women Black Flex 2020 RN Running Shoe

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Free RN NN

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Reviews

Nike Vaporfly Next% Review

Brooks Hyperion Tempo Review