Nike Zoom X Victory 2

Author: Ferenc Soma Kovács (middle-distance runner of the SVSE national team, World Championship participant and European Championship bronze medalist)

History

2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, brought a real breakthrough in athletics. Although some brands had already tried to use carbon insoles in street running shoes in the early 2000s to improve time results, Nike's carbon plate solution changed the sport once and for all. In 2020, Nike's elite runners were already using these miracle spikes (the Zoom X Victory and the Dragonfly), but they became available to the general public only a year later. Since 2021, it took 3 years for Nike to update the Zoom X Victory and Dragonfly, which are part of its record-breaking arsenal. Both models, but especially the first version of the Zoom X Victory, were somewhat reminiscent of a top weapon used in war: although its technological innovation quickly made it superior to other weapons, its imperfect design made it easily vulnerable and vulnerable on the battlefield. Let's just remember the Zoom X Victory, which specialized in medium-range (800-1500 m), had a paper-thin upper that wore out quite quickly. This led to a situation where everyone tried to buy a shoe that promised the hope of records, but was also quite easily torn, and had a short lifespan. In addition, the first version was very springy, which came at the cost of the spike being notoriously unstable. Its instability stemmed, on the one hand, from the fact that the foot was located high in relation to the ground in the shoe, and on the other hand, the upper, made up of interconnected beads, did not hold the foot in place.

About the shoe itself in a nutshell

Of course, everyone has experienced the above-mentioned mistakes firsthand. So the launch of the Zoom X Victory 2 was preceded by great anticipation and a good dose of excitement. I completed the 2024 spring American outdoor season in the Dragonfly, so I had a good basis for comparing the old models with the new ones. In the summer of 2024, in Hungary, I had the opportunity to put on the Zoom X Victory 2 in three different competitions. You should know that, contrary to general practice, I often wear brand new Nike spikes for the first time in a competition. I can do this (with impunity) because I have mainly worn Nike shoes for many years, so I know the brand's sizing well. When I first put on the Zoom X Victory in the call room before a competition in Székesfehérvár, the shoe completely impressed me. During the warm-up, during the standing jump with my legs extended, I rose about 50-55 cm from the ground. Whereas in a regular, non-carbon plate shoe, I would be able to rise about 35 centimeters from the ground... The shoe fit my foot perfectly.

Specifications and scoring:

• Upper 9/10 : The AtomKnit has undergone a huge wrinkle improvement (probably based on the negative experiences with the previous model). The densely stitched upper hugs the foot wonderfully. Unlike the previous model, in this shoe your foot will not be visible from the outside, since the upper is so densely woven. Furthermore, your foot is guaranteed not to move in this spiked shoe. The paper-thin, very long tongue is characterized by a high degree of mobility: it can be easily pulled out when you put it on, and once you have the shoe on your feet, you can simply adjust it with little effort on your foot. In terms of the lace design, the Zoom X Victory 2 has returned to the classic straight-line arrangement after the one-sided running structure common in some models. I really liked this.

Heel design 10/10: I didn't experience any skin irritation on my heels after running. The gaping hole in the heel is one of the main stabilization devices in the shoe.

• Sole 10/10: The first thing you notice when you look at the Victory 2 is the two massive air pods in the forefoot. They take up about a third of the midsole unit and are not surrounded by any foam. The Air Zoom units are sandwiched between the spike plate on the bottom of the shoe and the carbon fiber Flyplate above it. In the rear two-thirds of the shoe and the very front of the midsole, Nike ZoomX foam takes over the cushioning role.

Landing 10/10: The main updates were to the sole, and they had a significant impact on the running experience of the shoe. The first version had a very rounded base, which put a lot of stress on the ankle over long distances. The second version has a wider and flatter base, which is immediately noticeable and significantly increases stability. Overall, the Victory 2 feels much more flexible. In my experience, it puts less stress on the feet while still feeling extremely fast.

• Outsole 10/10 : The stud arrangement has changed drastically: instead of 6 studs, this shoe now has only 4. To be honest, I didn't feel it at all while running. The hard, plastic studs on the forefoot and heel of the shoe provide aggressive traction.

• Design 8.5/10: This shoe is available in 6 different colors. So everyone can easily choose the one that suits them best. At the same time, I feel that the colors are designed primarily for male runners, so female runners will have a harder time finding a shoe that looks right for them.

Final decision

Overall, the Zoom X Victory 2 is a perfect spike shoe for 800m to 3000m. Stable, incredibly flexible, aggressive and fast. It is also relatively cushioned. Its price of around 90,000 HUF may shock many buyers, however.

However, if we consider that unfortunately all other competing brands also offer their mid-range, carbon plate spikes at similar prices, then all in all, the Nike Zoom X Victory 2 seems to be the best choice. And if you were to ask me if it's worth switching from one model to another, my answer is a definite yes!