Our verdict

The fifth version of the nike mil u snkr sox crew nba cts 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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black from Nike.

Zapatillas Nike GRANDSTAND II Pros

  • Planted strides when cornering
  • Nike Dunk Low Royal Blue Black-White
  • Smooth, seamless ride
  • Nike SB Dunk High OSKI Great White UK11
  • Air Jordan Nike AJ 2 II Retro White University Blue Melo 2018!
  • Lockdown is awesome
  • Tongue nylon in place
  • Clingy even on wet areas
  • Nike Air Max 1 OG Satin

Zapatillas Nike GRANDSTAND II Cons

  • Nike Tech Fleece Hoodie à fermeture éclair Rose clair
  • Slower than other Zoom Flies
  • Stiff ride

Who should buy

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 main

Who should NOT buy

The Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 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.

Nike Wearallday Boys Cj3817-002 Nike Pegasus Turbo might suit you better than the Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black.

Cushioning

Heel stack

Here is the main reason why we prefer the Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 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 19279164 main

Test results
Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 36.9 mm
Average 34.2 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Nike set for
22.5 mm
Heel stack
46.3 mm

Forefoot stack

The Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black is a high-stacked shoe in every way! Even in the forefoot, our caliper showed 29.4 mm which is 5 mm taller than average.

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

Test results
Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 29.4 mm
Average 25.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Nike set for
13.7 mm
Forefoot stack
37.1 mm

Zapatillas Nike GRANDSTAND II | 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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 7.5 mm
Average 8.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Nike set for
-0.2 mm
Drop
16.1 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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black! 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;
  • Nike Air Force 1 Low 'Brown Denim';
  • 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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 11.0 HA
Average 20.9 HA
Nike Dry Vnm Short II Woven.
Compared to 330 running shoes
Nike set for
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
35.0 HA

Nike Air Max 90 Cool Grey DC9388-003 (%)

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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black is over 100% softer than most shoes!

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

Test results
Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 32%
Average 25%
Compared to 330 running shoes
Nike set for
0%
Nike Air Max 90 Cool Grey DC9388-003
63%

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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 3.0 mm
Average 4.4 mm
Compared to 399 running shoes
Nike set for
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Zapatillas Nike GRANDSTAND II | Ride

We have come to the conclusion that the nike mil u snkr sox crew nba cts dc3984 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.

So where does it fit better? We believe that it now belongs to the daily trainers for long distances. 

nike zoom fly 5 outdoor test 19279146 main

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 Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black upper fit

Size

Nike Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black is true to size (121 votes).

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1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 382 running shoes
Nike set for
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

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 dc3984 with Nike's trend to have narrower toe boxes in general.

nike zoom fly 5 max width 19272777 main

Test results
Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 95.0 mm
Average 98.5 mm
Compared to 370 running shoes
Nike set for
91.6 mm
Toebox width - widest part
104.9 mm

nike air zoom pegasus 36 shield blackwhite mens

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

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

Nike Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black toebox width big toe

Test results
Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 71.1 mm
Average 78.4 mm
Compared to 244 running shoes
Nike set for
67.6 mm
nike air zoom pegasus 36 shield blackwhite mens
89.2 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

What's great about this Nike shoe is that it has enough stiffness to deliver a well-supported underfoot experience. Relatively supportive, of course, given its stack height and plate.

At least the shoe made us feel surefooted enough when cornering.

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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 4
Average 3.4
Compared to 382 running shoes
Nike set for
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

Nike Crater Impact SE Herrenschuh Blau.

Testing its stiffness in the Nike Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black, 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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 3
Average 2.9
Compared to 366 running shoes
Nike set for
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Air Max Tape

With the help of a caliper, 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.JPG

Test results
Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 111.5 mm
Average 114.1 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Nike set for
102.2 mm
Air Max Tape
126.9 mm

Midsole width - 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.JPG

Given that the sole is not very wide in the Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black, we can assume that the stability is provided mainly by the torsional rigidity of its platform.

Test results
Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 86.4 mm
Average 90.6 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Nike set for
70.8 mm
Midsole width - heel
106.6 mm

TEEN Air Max 1 NK Day sneakers Green

nike air max tailwind 4 wmns white green abyss electric green.

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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 71.0N
Average 28.1N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 383 running shoes
Nike set for
2.2N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
72.1N

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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 5%
Average 32%
Compared to 383 running shoes
Nike set for
0%
Stiffness in cold
101%

Weight

The weight of the Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black'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.JPG

Perhaps you may find the Nike Air Max 97 Silver Black or the Nike SB Dunk High UNLV better options for tempo runs. They come belong to the same type as the Zoom Fly but are much much lighter! 

Test results
Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 9.84 oz (279g)
Average 9.38 oz (266g)
Compared to 404 running shoes
Nike set for
5.61 oz (159g)
Weight
12.59 oz (357g)

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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black (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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black
adidas-adizero-adios-7-microscope.JPG
A close-up photo of a more breathable shoe, the Рюкзак nike sb elemental premium 21l backpack арт
Test results
Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 2
Average 3.8
Compared to 333 running shoes
Nike set for
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Outsole hardness

We don't expect much from the outsoles on tempo trainers. This category of running shoes tends to sacrifice outsole durability for lighter weight and softer ride. And the Nike Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black is no expectation. 

nike zoom fly 5 outsole 19272778 main

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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 70.3 HC
Average 79.7 HC
Nike Dry Vnm Short II Woven.
Compared to 384 running shoes
Nike set for
56.1 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

Outsole thickness

The thickness of the outsole is another parameter that can tell whether it's durable or not. And this is where the Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black truly surprised us.

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

Our caliper 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 whether this Nike shoe is really a tempo trainer or is it a daily workhorse after all?

Test results
Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 3.6 mm
Average 3.2 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Nike set for
1.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.0 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

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

Nike Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black outsole

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.JPG

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 Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 7.9 mm
Average 5.8 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Nike set for
0.4 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The tongue is not gusseted on the Nike Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black but it wasn't an issue given its generous padding.

nike zoom fly 5 tongue 19284506 main

Test results
Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black None

Nike Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black 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 mil u snkr sox crew nba cts 4 was 249 grams/8.8 ounces in US men's 9, which was already too much for some runners, while the Nike Hyperflight Max Gamma Blue Volt-Black now weighs in at 286g/10 ounces.

nike zoom fly 5 in pieces 19272757 main