Nike Vaporfly 3 vs. 2 Review: In-Depth Photo Comparison

Nike just updated the famed Vaporfly. Here's everything you need to know about the changes with detailed picture comparisons.

What is the weight of the Nike Vaporfly 3?

Nike lists the Vaporfly 3 as weighing 5.8 ounces for a women’s 8 and 7.0 ounces for a men's 10 compared to 5.8 ounces for a women’s 7 and 6.9 ounces for a men's 9 for the Vaporfly 2. My men's 8.5 weighted 6.35 ounces.

Weight on my men's Vaporfly 3 size 8.5

I weighed my men's size 8.5 Vaporfly 2 vs 3 and the Vaporfly 3 netted a .2 ounce advantage.

What is the stack height on the Nike Vaporfly 3?

Nike listed the stack height as 40 millimeters in the heel and 32 millimeters in the forefoot which is the exact same as the Vaporfly 2. In my testing I found the Vaporfly 3 to feel a tad bit taller than the Vaporfly 2. This could be due to the addition of 2 millimeters of extra ZoomX foam underfoot. Nike reduced the thickness of the outsole allowing for the extra ZoomX while keeping the same stack height.

A close up look at the blocky midsole on the Vaporfly 3

Nike cut out the midsole on the lateral side to reduce weight

Oversized heel on the Vaporfly 3

Is the Vaporfly 3 softer than the Vaporfly 2?

Both the Vaporfly 2 and 3 use the same ZoomX midsole. To test the softness I used my handheld durometer (a tool to measure the firmness of a foam) and both shoes registered the exact same reading of 33. However, I found the Vaporfly 3 to feel softer when running. This is most likely due to the 2 millimeters of ZoomX foam added to the Vaporfly 3.

Testing the firmness on the Vaporfly 3 w/ a durometer

Testing the firmness on the Vaporfly 2 w/ a durometer

What are the differences on the outsole?

This is perhaps the biggest differences between the two shoes. Nike went with what they call a "thin web" outsole. It reminded me a lot like the outsole on the Alphafly 2. The thin outsole rubber has been designed to maintain durability while using less material, thereby decreasing outsole weight and thickness. This reduction in outsole rubber enables additional millimeters of ZoomX foam beneath the foot, leading to a more seamless transition.

Comparing the outsoles: Vaporfly 3 (left) vs Vaporfly 2 (right)

How has the fit and upper changed?

Nike used FlyKnit for the Vaporfly 3 which is extremely airy and breathable. It reminded me somewhat of the upper on the Nike Alphafly 2. The use of deliberately chosen Flyknit yarns featuring a zonal-specific design offers reinforced support in the forefoot region and promotes breathability around the toes. I found the Vaporfly 3 to have much more room throughout the toe box as compare to the Vaporfly 2

You can read my full review for Outside Magazine here.

Read Nike Alphafly 3 vs. 2 Review: In-Depth Photo Comparison