The Best Nike Shoes for Running an Ultramarathon

The Ultrafly was designed for trails and fast running, supporting you in your journey to nail a PR. It’s an ideal shoe for less technical routes that are considered more runnable. The shoe features a carbon Flyplate for a speedy, snappy feel and support, along with ZoomX foam to create a springy sensation as you stride along. This shoe has a fabric wrap on the midsole to help cushion the foam from all the beating it’s subject to on the trail. The Ultrafly has special modifications to make it excel on trails. Those include a Vibram Megagrip outsole with a chevron design to enhance grip on climbs and descents, along with a flat bottom to create a more stable feel. This shoe is topped with Vaporweave mesh for breathability to lower the odds your feet will overheat on the course.

Some courses are more rugged than others. If you’ve got a technical route ahead that’s packed with rocks, roots and lots of elevation gain, consider the Nike Zegama 2. This shoe boasts plenty of features to help keep you comfortable and debris-free on your ultramarathon journey. The sneaker’s outsole features a Vibram Megagrip with wide spacing, enhancing traction as you navigate uneven terrain. The Nike ZoomX midsole was created to have a lightweight feel and increased stack height to help deliver cushioning as the miles rack up. This shoe features an upper made with engineered mesh, which is considered stronger and more flexible than standard mesh, for durability and stability as you cruise along. The crowning touch is an ankle gaiter, designed to keep trail debris like sticks and rocks away from your feet.

Many ultramarathons feature at least some trail component. If your race is trail-heavy, consider the Nike Wildhorse. It’s a trail workhorse that’s made to work on both technical and more runnable terrain. This shoe features Nike React technology that’s constructed with lightweight foam to create a responsive feel, while a rock plate in the forefoot is designed to provide cushioning on rough ground. The rubber outsole has added abrasion resistance to help lower the speed of wear and tear, along with multiple lug patterns to help you get a grip on a variety of terrain across different weather conditions. A midfoot saddle is designed for added security across lateral movements and landings to enhance your confidence on the trail.

Ultras are typically done on trails and more rugged terrain, but some are run on roads. For that scenario, consider a marathon shoe like the Alphafly 3–Nike’s lightest Alphafly ever. This world record-shattering shoe has two forefoot Air Zoom units, along with ZoomX foam from heel to toe, for added energy return and responsiveness. The full-length carbon plate is designed to create a propulsive feel in your stride and provide support on turns. Also worth pointing out: This shoe has an integrated knit tongue with lofted padding to lower the feel of pressure on your foot from your laces.