Our verdict

The fifth version of the Nike Zoom Fly series shifts its focus from fast to far. We found it to be reassuringly stable and now capable of easier runs far better than before. Although it's a miss on weight, we love that the grip and protection are supreme in the nike cool grey free run cmts shoes from Nike.

nike dunk sky high pink white hair Pros

  • Planted strides when cornering
  • gray and pink women nike free runs blue and green
  • Smooth, seamless ride
  • nike air max 90 camo are made in
  • Fit is A-OK!
  • Lockdown is awesome
  • Tongue stays in place
  • Clingy even on wet areas
  • Quite the bruiser

nike dunk sky high pink white hair Cons

  • nike vapormax mens wolf grey black pants
  • Slower than other Zoom Flies
  • Stiff ride

Audience verdict

80
Good!
  • Top 8% most popular running shoes

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We think that this Nike shoe is most suitable for steady efforts and medium to long-distance runs. This is all thanks to its smooth and rockered ride. 

nike zoom fly 5 on foot 19272756 720

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The nike cool grey free run cmts shoes also has its downsides, and one thing that sticks out is its slightly heavier weight. On top of this, it's not the tempo trainer Nike says it is. This said you're better off with the newer Nike Streakfly.

If you want comfort and speed combined, the Nike Pegasus Turbo might suit you better than the nike cool grey free run cmts shoes.

Breathability

It was very unfortunate to find out about the shoe’s lack of ventilation. In our breathability test, it scored only 2 out of 5 (5 is the most breathable). It is clearly not the airiest shoe. 

Nike nike cool grey free run cmts shoes (left): some smoke is coming out from the shoe; Adidas Runfalcon (right): its toe box is not breathable at all. 

To carry out this test, we use a smoke-pumping machine and cover up the shoe mouth entirely. This way, the smoke is only able to escape through the upper of the shoe.

As a further check on breathability, we also test how transparent the upper material is. As you can see in the video above, the Nike Fly 5's upper material lets light through, confirming that the shoe, while not the best, has some degree of breathability.

nike-zoom-fly-5-microscope.JPG

A close-up photo of the mesh on the Nike nike cool grey free run cmts shoes

adidas-adizero-adios-7-microscope.JPG

A close-up photo of a more breathable shoe, the Adidas Adizero Adios 7

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 2
Average 3.8
Compared to 226 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

nike dunk sky high pink white hair | Durability

Outsole hardness

We don't expect much from the outsoles on speed trainers. This category of running shoes tends to sacrifice outsole durability for lighter weight and softer ride. And the Nike nike cool grey free run cmts shoes is no expectation. 

nike-zoom-fly-5-outsole.JPG

Using a durometer to check the firmness of its rubber, we found that it is in fact 14% softer than the average. Unfortunately, softer outsoles tend to wear out quicker than hard ones.

But on the bright side, this Nike shoe chose to cover a wider surface of the bottom for added protection in the high-wear areas. That looks promising to us!

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 70.3 HC
Average 80.5 HC
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Compared to 277 running shoes
Number of shoes
54.9 HC
Outsole hardness
92.8 HC

Outsole thickness

The thickness of the outsole is another parameter that can tell lunar it's durable or not. And this is where the nike cool grey free run cmts shoes truly surprised us.

nike-zoom-fly-5-outsole-thickness.JPG

Our calliper showed 3.6 mm of rubber thickness! That's about 1-5-2 mm more than what's typical for a tempo shoe. From here on, we started to question lunar this Nike shoe is really a speed trainer or is it a daily workhorse after all?

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 3.6 mm
Average 3.2 mm
Compared to 296 running shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.6 mm

nike dunk sky high pink white hair | Weight

The weight of the nike cool grey free run cmts shoes's weight is a downer—quite literally. For what is supposed to be a fast shoe, this trainer is very heavy.

The rubber-covered outsole plus the very padded upper are not helping to shave off the weight!

nike zoom fly 5 weight 19279176 720

Perhaps you may find the coral free run 3 or the nike dunk sky high pink white hair better options for speedy runs. They come belong to the same type as the Zoom Fly but are much much lighter! 

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 9.84 oz (279g)
Average 9.35 oz (265g)
Compared to 297 running shoes
Number of shoes
5.26 oz (149g)
Weight
12.56 oz (356g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

Here is the main reason why we prefer the nike cool grey free run cmts shoes for relaxed and easy days - 37 mm of stack in the heel!

Not only is it 3.5 mm taller than average, but we also found it among the best vibration-dampening trainers on the market!

nike-zoom-fly-5-heel-stack-height.JPG

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 36.9 mm
Average 33.6 mm
Compared to 296 running shoes
Number of shoes
7.6 mm
Heel stack
42.7 mm

Forefoot stack

The nike cool grey free run cmts shoes is a high-stacked shoe in every way! Even in the forefoot, our calliper showed 29.4 mm which is 5 mm taller than average.

nike-zoom-fly-5-forefoot-stack-height.JPG

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 29.4 mm
Average 25.0 mm
Compared to 296 running shoes
Number of shoes
7.6 mm
Forefoot stack
35.8 mm

Drop

The difference in stack heights gives us a heel-to-toe drop of 7.5 mm. That's a middle-ground drop that will perfectly work for the majority of runners. 

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 7.5 mm
Average 8.6 mm
Compared to 296 running shoes
Number of shoes
-0.8 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Insole thickness

The shoe's insole has a thickness of 3 mm. It is actually thinner than most shoes we tested (4.5 mm on average) but we didn't have any problems with that.

nike-zoom-fly-5-insole.JPG

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 3.0 mm
Average 4.5 mm
Compared to 292 running shoes
Number of shoes
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

After years of having a Nike React foam in this tempo shoe series, Nike finally introduced its cutting-edge ZoomX foam in the nike cool grey free run cmts shoes! However, it was rather disappointing because the ZoomX doesn't go full length. 

How does this translate on the run? Well, it doesn't feel very soft or spongy, and the ride is rather firm. That's a real bummer because the ZoomX portion of the midsole appears to be SO plush in our durometer measurement. At 11.0 HA, this foam is extremely soft (79% softer than average).

nike-zoom-fly-5-midsole-test.JPG

Most likely, this happens for three reasons:

  • firstly, as you can see in the picture below, in the forefoot the plate gets much closer to the outsole, changing the feel in this area;
  • secondly, the recycled ZoomX foam used in this shoe is firmer than the regular ZoomX;
  • lastly, there's also a thinner layer of EVA foam (SR-02 type) just above the outsole, which is much firmer than the ZoomX. 

nike-zoom-fly-5-plate-shape.JPG

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 11.0 HA
Average 21.5 HA
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Compared to 224 running shoes
Number of shoes
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
41.5 HA

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What's more, even when the shoe is put into cold temperatures, its ZoomX foam retains its soft properties! We were shocked to see a durometer reading of 14.5 HA whereas most shoes firm up to 30 HA!

Even when frozen, the Nike nike cool grey free run cmts shoes is over 100% softer than most shoes!

nike-zoom-fly-5-freezer-test.JPG

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 31.8%
Average 25.6%
Compared to 223 running shoes
Number of shoes
0%
nike roshe one winter brigade blue and white
100%

Ride

We have come to the conclusion that the Nike Zoom Fly line is no longer a tempo running shoe. With its maxed-out cushion, it feels pretty heavy and cruisy. And when it comes to energy return, the shoe is not giving much back! 

Even the rockered geometry doesn't do much to make the shoe more propulsive. That's a real shame for the Zoom Fly collection. 

Nike nike cool grey free run cmts shoes (top) vs. air mass nike store coupons (bottom)

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nike-zoom-fly-5-outdoor-test.JPG

Stability

Lateral stability test

With the help of a calliper, we measured the sole at the forefoot and found that it is 111.5 mm wide, very close to the average. It's also wider and more flared out than the previous version, which was 106.7 mm.

nike zoom fly 5 forefoot width 19272775 720

Torsional rigidity

We could feel how stiff the shoe was by merely twisting it in our hands. On a 1-5 scale where 5 is the stiffest, we gave its torsional rigidity a score of 4. 

Having this bit of stiffness helps to prevent the ankles from rolling over the sole edges too easily.

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 275 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

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Testing its stiffness in the Nike nike cool grey free run cmts shoes, we rated it as 3 out of 5 (5 being the stiffest). Stiffer heel counters are typically associated with a better foothold and a lower risk of ankle rolling. But on the downside, they can feel restricting to some runners. In that way, this Nike shoe hits a sweet spot.

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 3
Average 2.8
Compared to 259 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

With the help of a calliper, we measured the sole at the forefoot and found that it is 111.5 mm wide, very close to the average. It's also wider and more flared out than the previous version, which was 106.7 mm.

nike zoom fly 5 forefoot width 19272775 720

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 111.5 mm
Average 113.7 mm
Compared to 297 running shoes
Number of shoes
100.5 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
126.5 mm

Midsole width in the heel

At the heel, the shoe is almost 4 mm narrower than the average, yet it can still be considered mid-range.

nike zoom fly 5 midsole width heel 19272776 720

Given that the sole is not very wide in the nike cool grey free run cmts shoes, we can assume that the stability is provided mainly by the torsional rigidity of its platform.

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 86.4 mm
Average 90.5 mm
Compared to 297 running shoes
Number of shoes
74.9 mm
Midsole width in the heel
106.6 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

Most plated running shoes are stiff, and the nike cool grey free run cmts shoes is no exception.

Measuring how much force it takes to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle (71.0N), we found that it is a whopping 60% stiffer than the average road running shoe!

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 71.0N
Average 29.1N
nike kids roshe run pink and black shoes heels.
Compared to 279 running shoes
Number of shoes
2.2N
Stiffness
94.4N

Difference in stiffness in cold

The good news is that in cold temperatures it doesn't get much stiffer, only by 5.1%. On average, running shoes are 44% less flexible.

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 5.1%
Average 36.2%
Compared to 279 running shoes
Number of shoes
0%
Difference in stiffness in cold
148%

Grip / Traction

The outsole's rubber coverage is generous, which makes it grippy on wet, dry, and gravelly surfaces.

Nike nike cool grey free run cmts shoes outsole

Size and fit

The Fly 5 uses a no-nonsense upper that just works! A real workhorse type of upper. We found it to be very comfortable and form-fitting. Once we laced it up, a solid foothold was guaranteed.

nike zoom fly 5 upper fit 20817037 720

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We measured the shoe at the widest part and the result was 95 mm, which is just a little bit narrower than the average.

What's more, the toebox narrows towards the toes more than other running shoes' toeboxes we measured. Overall, this is in line with Nike's trend to have narrower toe boxes in general.

nike-zoom-fly-5-max-width.JPG

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 95.0 mm
Average 98.3 mm
Compared to 297 running shoes
Number of shoes
89.5 mm
nike jordan lunarlon white black red sneakers blue
109.1 mm

Toebox width at the big toe

Also, as often happens with Nike, the shoe's toebox has a notably tapered shape.

Our callipers returned a really narrow width measurement around the big toe - only 71.1 mm.

Nike nike cool grey free run cmts shoes toebox width big toe

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 71.1 mm
Average 78.2 mm
Compared to 171 running shoes
Number of shoes
60.4 mm
Toebox width at the big toe
92.5 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The tongue is not gusseted on the Nike nike cool grey free run cmts shoes but it wasn't an issue given its generous padding.

nike zoom fly 5 tongue 19284506 720

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes None

Comfort

Tongue padding

We immediately noticed the shoe's amazing step-in feel courtesy of the well-padded upper. Its tongue is also very generously padded, which helps to prevent lace pressure beautifully.

nike zoom fly 5 tongue thickness 19312054 720

At 7.9 mm, the Nike Fly 5 has a noticeably thick tongue. For reference, the average of shoes that we tested is 5.6 mm.

Test results
nike cool grey free run cmts shoes 7.9 mm
Average 5.6 mm
Compared to 294 running shoes
Number of shoes
0.5 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

Nike nike cool grey free run cmts shoes vs. 4

  • It has a more flared-out heel and forefoot for better stability
  • It integrates a ZoomX foam for a mellower ride 
  • It's gone from clunkier to clunkiest! The Nike Zoom Fly 4 was 249 grammes/8.8 ounces in US men's 9, which was already too much for some runners, while the nike cool grey free run cmts shoes now weighs in at 286g/10 ounces.

nike zoom fly 5 in pieces 19272757 720