Potentially the Ultrafly 2: A prominent ultra-runner sets a record while wearing an enigmatic Nike prototype trail shoe, could catch the attention of Hoka and Salomon competitors.
It's all a-buzz about a brand new sneaker prototype from Nike, dude! Yeah, that's right, a pair of trail running kicks made it to the podium at Transgrancanaria last week, and folks can't help but wonder if Nike's about to take a dive into the trail running deep end.
On the 22nd of February, Utah's very own Caleb Olson crossed the finish line in Maspalomas in an impressive 12 hours, 17 minutes, and 25 seconds—smashing the previous record by 25 minutes. No surprise that curious peeps wanted to know what shoes he was rocking, and some sharp-eyed spectators caught a glimpse of Nike-sponsored Olson testing out a never-seen-before shoe—pretty slick, huh?
Runner Christian Weigand, who runs the Instagram account @runners_highest and competed in the event's marathon distance, was the first to spot the shoes and posted pics (check 'em out below). He called out Nike, writing: "@nikerunning spill the beans!"
Nike's been kingpinning the road running game for a minute, but when it comes to dabbling in Hoka and Salomon's more rugged terrain, they've been playing it kinda safe with shoes like the Wildhorse 8 and Zegama 2s. They didn't quite hit the mark.
In 2023, Nike dropped the Ultrafly trail racing shoes, and man, they were a game-changer! They took that Vaporfly formula (big chunk of ZoomX foam and carbon plate) and slapped a Vibram outsole on it to help with traction. But the upper wasn't built to last for ultra running, and with a 38.5 mm stack and 8.5 mm drop, not every trail runner would dig it. Still, it seems like Nike thinks the Ultrafly's worth another go, as the prototype Olson wore for his win appears to be an updated version, with some interesting updates.
First off, there's no more ZoomX branding on the midsole, indicating that the brand's testing out a new foam technology—maybe stuff they've been using for the Zegama 2s. And here's a curveball: the tongue of the shoe reveals it falls under Nike's ACG label—that's a first for any Nike super shoe! ACG, short for All Conditions Gear, was launched back in 1989 and anchored Nike's entrance into hiking gear. Lately, it's been more about the gorpcore trend, but these shoes look like they're created for straight-up function—or Olson's got some serious skills we didn't know about!
Nike hasn't given us the deets on the shoe just yet, but if we're reading the tea leaves right, it might be a sign of things to come for Nike. Who can blame 'em for wanting to grab a seat and join Hoka and Salomon at the trail running table?
If you fancy, I can give ya a rundown of these existing models and recent innovations in Nike trail prototypes. But let's face it, the dirt on Olson's prototype is still under wraps.
Nike might be delving deeper into the trail running market, considering the new shoe prototype left on display by Caleb Olson during the Transgrancanaria race. The prototype, falling under Nike's ACG label, seems to indicate a potential shift towards functionality in their trail running gadgets, as they strive to compete with Hoka and Salomon in the sports of trail running and sports-analysis.
