Nike Vaporfly 4% – Will They Make Me Run Faster?

Journal of Sport and Health Science Available online 29 November 2020 In Press, Journal Pre-proof

Actually, this is a fabulous piece of research and the co-authors include the respected J.F. Esculier and my old sparring partner Blaise DuBois!

So, why are we all excited about this paper?

Well for starters, this is the first time any researcher has examined the effect of the so-called ‘super shoes” on Joe Jogger. All previously published data has been focused on blokes (mainly) who can run 10k in the time it takes you to finish breakfast!

The article is open access, and you may read it (and I recommend you do) right here, but here is a precis:

What did they do?

They compared running economy (RE) and 3–km time-trial (TT) variables of runners wearing Nike Vaporfly 4% (VP4), Saucony Endorphin lightweight racing flats (FLAT), and their habitual running (OWN) footwear.

In fact, contrary to what we have observed amongst the elites, it has been suggested that recreational runners wearing VP4 shoes might reap greater percentage benefits than elite runners wearing these shoes, since modelling predicts greater percentage improvements at running velocities slower than ∼3 m/s,⁴ although laboratory-based data from recreational runners are not available. Previous research has also demonstrated that changes in laboratory-based RE variables translate to similar changes in distance-running performances as assessed using a 3-km time trial.³

So, they included 18 male runners with a 5-km run time of ∼20–25 min within the past 3 months. Compare that to the famous Hoogkamer study also with 18 male runners, but who could cover twice that distance in about the same time.

What did they find?

Well.. a really surprising number.. 4%

Yep…The mean (95% confidence interval) reduction in oxygen consumption of 4.4%  in VP4 vs. OWN was significant (p ≤ 0.003)

The energy cost was 4.5% , 4.4% , and 4.8%  lower in VP4 vs. OWN (p ≤ 0.002) at intensities of 60%, 70%, and 80%, respectively, of ʋVO_2peak.

This is a very significant abbreviation of the results from this study, and I encourage you to read the paper, but you get the gist. The Nike Vaporfly 4% was.. well…. about 4% more energetically and economically efficient!

What did they conclude?

There was evidence that VP4 can benefit RE and 3-km TT performance and could potentially represent a viable ergogenic aid in recreational runners; however,

there were considerable individual responses.

Interestingly, lightweight racing flats were also effective in improving RE vs. OWN shoes but were not superior to VP4.

All in all, a really nice piece of work, providing answers to that common question, “will the Nike Vaporfly 4% improve my economy, efficiency and make me faster?”

Yes.. for the runners in this study it will, but, as always, the response is athlete specific!