The Best Nike Running Shoes: Your Guide To The Brand’s Top Trainers

Weight: 10.4 ounces | Cushion: Medium | Drop: 10 millimeters

Pros:

• Reliable daily trainer
• Breathable upper
• Secure midfoot

Cons:

• Slower ride

The Nike Pegasus is the brand’s flagship daily trainer—nothing more, nothing less. It’s been around since 1983 (hence the “41” in its name) and a go-to model for runners looking for a reliable daily trainer. The shoe isn’t particularly bouncy or responsive, but it can put in the miles.

The shoe uses the React foam and Zoom Air Units for support and a stable ride. For runners who want to invest in just one shoe, the Pegasus 41 can serve as a running shoe, gym shoe and everyday wear (although it won’t last as long).

Weight: 12.5 ounces | Cushion: Maximum | Drop: 9 millimeters

Pros:

• Wide toe box
• Supportive

Cons:

• Heavy

The Nike InfinityRN 4 uses the brand’s new ReactX foam, a more environmentally friendly foam than its basic React foam. While planet-friendly materials sometimes come at the cost of performance, this shoe is still a workhorse, though it’s a little on the heavier side compared to similar models. But this shoe’s rocker-shaped platform gives runners that added propulsion without a carbon fiber plate.

The Nike InfinityRN 4 has a water-resistant membrane, unlike previous versions, for those wet training runs when you need to log miles in bad weather. In terms of value, you’re getting a high-quality Nike shoe that can withstand the wear and tear of long runs at the going rate of many daily trainers (compared to the much cheaper Nike Revolution 7). Yes, it’s a fair amount to pay upfront, but the materials last longer and the runs play out more smoothly than they might if you opted for a cheaper shoe.

According to Nike, the InfinityRN 4 runs a bit snug, so go with a half size up if you fall between sizes or need a little extra room.

Weight: 8.5 ounces | Cushion: Medium | Drop: 10 millimeters

Pros:

• Carbon-plated shoe at a more affordable price point
• Durable upper
• Training and race-worthy

Cons:

• On the softer side for a carbon-plated shoe

The Zoom Fly 5 is, as the company puts it, the bridge between Nike’s premium Super Shoes (Vaporfly 3 and Alphafly 3) and a standard daily trainer. The Zoom Fly 5 uses a carbon fiber plate, yes, but it is also significantly heavier—some 2 ounces—than the Vaporfly 3 and has a thicker upper than the premium racing models.

This combination, though, makes the Vapor Fly 5 a solid training-to-race-day shoe at a much more affordable price point. We should note that using a carbon-plated shoe for every run could lead to aches and pains, and possible injury thanks to how the plates change running biomechanics. So, before you decide to make this your daily trainer, build up mileage over time and see how your body responds.

Weight: 10.9 ounces | Cushion: Maximum | Drop: 9 millimeters

Pros:

• Maximum cushioning
• Signature waffle outsole

Cons:

• Some users report heel slippage
• Wider fit might be too wide for narrow feet
• Upper not very breathable

The Invincible 3 is for runners who love Nike and want a max-cushioned shoe for recovery runs. This plush model adds extra cushioning around the heel and tongue to deliver a soft, comfortable ride for distances of any length—but it really shines on slow, long recovery runs. This recovery style daily trainer uses Nike’s ZoomX foam, and in this iteration, the midsole is wider and taller, which is great if you need additional wiggle room, but it might be too wide for anyone with narrow feet.

Despite Nike using its breathable Flyknit upper, some wearers also complain about the upper’s lack of breathability. We haven’t experienced hot feet, but if you’re someone who does, it might be worth looking for a Nike model that’s plush without adding padding to the upper, like the React Phantom Run Flyknit 2. The Invincible 3 also uses the company’s signature waffle outsole for lasting durability, so while it’s expensive, it should last a long while.

Weight: 7 ounces | Cushion: Medium | Drop: 8 millimeters

Pros:

• Incredibly responsive
• Lightweight
• Designed for top speed

Cons:

• Doesn’t work well for slower paces
• Not long-lasting
• Prohibitively expensive

This is the Super Shoe that started it all. The Vaporfly 3 is the gold standard for distance racing shoes, thanks to its full carbon fiber plate, responsive foam, positively no unnecessary bulk and featherweight design. Personally, I haven’t had much luck in Nike running shoes; they tend to be too short and narrow for my feet, but I definitely took a sip of the Kool Aid when I tried the Vaporfly 3.

This shoe is 100% a distance-running racing shoe and should not be worn as a daily trainer. It’s not designed to last, thanks to the incredibly lightweight foam that breaks down quickly, and spending too many miles on a carbon fiber plate could have some negative implications on your body.

For runners who are looking for a distance running shoe specifically for racing—somewhere between a 10K and marathon at a fast pace—the Vaporfly 3 is incredibly breathable, light and wildly responsive, giving you an undeniable edge.

Weight: 8.5 ounces | Cushion: Medium | Drop: 10 millimeters

Pros:

• Supportive and stable
• Sturdy
• Affordable

Cons:

• Might be too firm for some
• Arch support might be too aggressive

With the redesigned Nike Structure 25 comes a good-for-some aggressive stability trainer that relies on the brand’s Cushion 3.0 and Zoom Air Units for comfort and support. Zoom Air Units, by the way, are air-filled bags that sit within the midsole. On impact, they compress and absorb force, and then return to their original shape. (Yes, they’re the same airbags found in the famous Nike Air shoes you remember from the ‘80s and ‘90s, just improved.)

The shoe can be a little cumbersome because of its firmness, but that’s what people who need a stability trainer want. The higher stack height—37.7 millimeters in the heel and 27.7 millimeters in the forefoot—provides additional support.

Weight: 7.6 ounces | Cushion: Maximum | Drop: 8 millimeters

Pros:

• Designed specifically for marathon running
• Incredibly lightweight yet durable enough for long distances

Cons:

• Expensive
• Won’t do well on trails or rough terrain 

Designed and fine-tuned specifically with marathons in mind, the Alphafly 3 utilizes some of Nike’s most innovative materials to deliver a truly unmatched ride. The Alphafly 3 employs a ZoomX foam midsole, paired with a carbon fiber plate running from heel to toe. ZoomX is Nike’s most playful, lively foam, and matched with the propulsion of carbon fiber, it makes wearing the Alphafly 3 feel like flying. 

Along with the ZoomX midsole and carbon plate technology, the Alphafly utilizes double Air Zoom units to store and return energy to the runner with each stride. The newest iteration of the Alphafly is the lightest ever at 7.6 ounces for a men’s size 10. Rounding out the innovative materials, the Atomknit upper maintains breathability and security over the long haul. 

Weight: 10.5 ounces | Cushion: High | Drop: 9.5 millimeters

Pros:

• Designed for road to trail
• Lightweight, responsive
• Versatile
• Reinforced toes

Cons:

• Not made for technical or advanced trails

For runners who want to seamlessly go from road to trail, the Nike Pegasus Trail 4 is the perfect bridge. The shoe uses React foam for a responsive ride, and the outsole and lugs aren’t too soft, making the shoe road-friendly if you need to cover a few miles on tarmac.

On trails that are basic—not advanced or overly technical—the Pegasus Trail 4 is supportive thanks to the brand’s Flywire technology that uses high-strength threads, like suspension cables on a bridge for added support, and its grippy outsole is informed by runner data. Overall, the Pegasus Trail 4 is the go-to trail shoe for Nike, much like the Pegasus 41 is the go-to daily trainer. Consider it the workhorse with wings, as the brand puts it.