REESE: Marketing is a hell of a drug. And Nike is perhaps the biggest dealer in the shoe makin’ world. I mean, utilizing the bright NIke orange palette alone is intentional marketing. They’ve done this before with hot pink and lime green Vaporflys and Alphaflys, an obvious way to stand out amongst all other shoes in the start corral.
It signals speed and boldness. Ultraflys just everywhere. And I wanted to be a part of the in-crowd. I wanted this shoe to be my next favorite race day shoe for any race, any distance… for all conditions, as their marketing so boldly says. However, I haven’t found myself reaching for it since finishing up my miles in it. Perhaps it’s because I was so sore after the first few runs. But I think it’s because in a world where so many shoes can be the perfect choice for almost any race or condition (looking at my favorites: Norda 005, La Sportiva Prodigio Pro, The North Face Vectiv Sky 2), when I compare the Nike ACG Ultrafly to my favorites, the ride or die shoes that truly can do it all, this shoe just can’t compare to them.
If you’re a road runner or used to the high stack, these shoes will likely hit the spot, and you’ll be hooked. I’m a low-stack kind of gal. I’d love to see Nike come out with, I don’t know, a SubUltrafly. Slim down the midsole heel, cut out a lot of the carbon. That’s my perfect shoe for all conditions.
Had Nike not said so loudly that this shoe would be for all conditions, but instead had said this is a light trail or gravel racer, I believe I would have found this shoe to be ranked higher, but if comparing like to like, it falls short of expectations.
You can pick up the Nike ACG Ultrafly for $260 at nike.com by using the buttons below.
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