After a year of rumors, Nike's first super trail shoe has dropped The Ultrafly Trail is Nike's first trail running shoe with a ZoomX midsole foam and full carbon fly plate designed to help runners take on the trails at a faster pace It is the first Nike trail running shoe to feature a Vibram outsole with deep lugs for a grippy ride on uneven terrain

However, at $250, the Ultrafly Trail is not cheap Is it worth the high price? And how does it compare to the best trail running shoes and the best carbon fiber running shoes on the market? We put the Ultrafly Trail to the test on the trail Read our review of the Nike Zoom X Ultrafly Trail here

As with all of Nike's super shoes, it may take a little longer to get your hands on the Ultrafly Trail The shoe will be available in limited quantities in Europe starting July 27, and will be more widely available on Nike's website and in stores starting in August

The shoes are priced at $250/£230 and are available in sizes US4-US12 (UK25-UK95) for women and US6-US15 (UK55-UK14) for men At the time of release, only one color, white and orange, was available This is a shoe designed to get muddy, so don't expect it to look very pretty for long

The Nike ZoomX Ultra Flight Rail fits true to size, but when comparing the fit to the Nike Vaporfly Next% 2, or the Nike Alphafly Next% 2, there is one notable difference - the Ultra Flight Rail has a much wider toe It has a much wider toe [This is not a bad thing; trail shoes need extra space in the toe area to keep the toes from hitting rocks and tree roots I wore a UK5, one size larger than I normally wear Confused? Click here for a guide on how to buy running shoes

Upper

The upper of the Ultrafly Trail is made of Nike's Vaporweave material It is thicker and more breathable than the mesh-like material used in the Vaporfly Next%, but offers a bit more protection from muddy puddles and wet terrain The mesh upper is relatively tough Nevertheless, the toe box is roomy, so it doesn't stick too closely to the foot

The Ultrafly Trail, like Nike's other super shoes, has a lightweight, lacing tongue that lies flat against the foot There is a traditional padded collar that provides comfort on long trail runs and ultramarathons

Midsole

The midsole of the Ultrafly Trail is definitely where the magic happens The shoe features Nike's ZoomX foam, the shoe manufacturer's most responsive midsole foam, used in the Vaporfly, Alphafly, and Nike Invinicible 3 As such, the "Ultrafly Trail" is designed to provide cushioning and comfort on a runnable day [| to be able to you really come across it that you can in fact i promise with my partner, anyone can quickly forget about just how seemingly exactly {} these seemingly just ignore people

Fortunately, Ultrafly Trail doesn't feel like wearing Vaporflys on a trail run They feel balanced yet bouncy underfoot I felt very stable running in these shoes and didn't have to work hard to run at a fast pace

Outsole

Finally, the Ultrafly Trail is Nike's first shoe with a Vibram outsole One criticism Nike has always faced regarding trail running shoes is that they lack grip, especially when running on wet terrain The Vibram outsoles are a big improvement While the lugs aren't super deep, they definitely help give the shoe a lot more grip on uneven terrain

I tested these running shoes on a number of different trails and terrains, from forest tracks to gravel roads It was July when the shoes arrived, so it wasn't too muddy, but I was impressed with the grip I got from the Ultrafly Trail I have skied the Pegasus Trail in the past in wet weather and hope that Vibram's outsoles will be used in more shoes in Nike's collection in the future

The ZoomX foam and carbon fly plate definitely make them very fun underfoot I felt like I was eating up the trails in these shoes and appreciated that there was enough cushion underfoot to run on concrete from the front door to the trail

The only downside I found is the lack of so much give in the Vaporweave upper This is not necessarily a bad thing Especially when running on uneven ground, you want your foot to stay in the shoe However, on some runs, I laced up the shoes a little too tight and experienced some friction around the heel

Nike strives to make these shoes durable, and it shows in the sturdy outsole and thick vaporweave upper There is no doubt that this shoe will stand up to an ultramarathon, but will it stand up to an entire training block? I have no idea More distance running will tell

These are the most exciting trail shoes I have ever tested The Ultrafly Trail is super fast and super bouncy If you're looking to PR on the trails, this is probably the shoe to wear

However, the Ultrafly Trail is not for everyone First, they are incredibly expensive, and unless you are racing, you probably don't need to spend $250 on shoes to wear on muddy trails

Second, they are not for trail runners who prefer a stiffer footing The carbon fiber plates provide some stiffness, and while the shoes are by no means as bouncy as the Vaporfly or Alphafly, the ZoomX foam provides a moderate amount of bounce

I always resist when recommending a $250 running shoe, but if you can afford it, the Ultrafly Trail stands out as an exciting option