Brett Holts, vice president of Nike Running Footwear, and runner Paula Radcliffe explain the new Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% shoe worn by London Marathon winner Eliud Kipchoge in this movie produced by Dezeen.
The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% follows up the brand's previous marathon-running trainer, the Zoom Vaporfly 4%, which was released in 2017.
The NEXT% was worn by all athletes who appeared on the winners' podium at the London Marathon on Sunday. The male winner, Nike-sponsored Kenyan runner Kipchoge, set a new record for the course and ran the second-fastest marathon in history.
The NEXT% is an update of the brand's previous marathon-running trainer, the Zoom Vaporfly 4%
The NEXT% notably features more of Nike's signature ZoomX foam underfoot, which was engineered in the brand's Sport Research Lab to increase energy return. "The biggest update really is 15 percent more foam, specifically under the forefoot which is where you're going to get the highest rate of energy return," said Holts.
The shoe's sole has been designed to maintain traction in wet conditions
Nike also developed a new sole to cope with wet running conditions, featuring a more robust rubber grip.
"We added a different pattern and a little bit more rubber for durability and traction coverage," said Holts.

According to Holts, Nike develop their running shoes in close collaboration with athletes like Kipchoge, Mo Farah and Radcliffe in order to deliver products that meet their specific nee...