Among Nike’s supershoes, the Vaporfly and Alphafly often steal the spotlight for marathon glory. But for runners focusing on shorter, faster efforts, don’t sleep on the Nike Streakfly 2. It’s a shoe laser-focused on dominating distances from the mile to the 10k. At $180, it sits slightly below the price point of its super-stacked siblings, but does it deliver the super-shoe performance needed to smash PRs? After putting it through its paces, we think it might just be the top contender for the 5k crown this year.
Picking up the Streakfly 2, the first thing you notice is the weight – or rather, the lack of it. Compared to almost any standard trainer, these feel incredibly light, tipping the scales at a mere 148 grams for our size 11.5 test pair. It’s clear Nike built this shoe solely for speed. The design choices shout performance, prioritizing weight reduction to maximize your energy efficiency when it counts.
Upper: The Streakfly 2 features a breathable, lightweight mesh upper that feels relatively durable for such a pared-down design. Like many racers, it sacrifices some structure for that weight saving, but the flexible mesh still provides a secure hold. Nike gets bonus points for the laces – they have an excellent texture that allows for a really firm knot that stays put, even when you’re flying.
However, the pursuit of minimal weight comes with a slight quirk: the tongue. It’s wafer-thin, like a small piece of fabric. It can be a bit troublesome to get sitting perfectly flat and has a tendency to fold over on itself – a minor annoyance, but noticeable.
Fit-wise, the shoe feels true to size, perhaps running slightly tighter. From my experience, it’s consistent with Nike’s typical sizing. Be aware, though: these are fairly narrow. Runners needing a wider toe box or who have wider feet might find them restrictive.
Midsole: Nike’s ZoomX foam delivers exactly what you’d hope for in a road racing shoe – firm enough to feel efficient and not waste energy, but soft enough to provide a smooth, comfortable ride for distances around the 5k mark.
What truly sets the Streakfly 2 apart from many other super shoes is the ground feel. Thanks to the relatively lower stack height (it’s now 27mm heel, 23.3mm forefoot; by comparison, the original edition of the Streakfly was 32mm/26mm), you get exceptional feedback and a real connection with the road, unlike the detached feeling of taller shoes. The full-length carbon fiber Flyplate does its job well, providing a noticeable spring and natural forward propulsion without feeling overly aggressive or uncontrollable. It really does feel like someone took the best ideas from racing flats of the past and infused them with cutting-edge materials.
Outsole: The outsole is clearly designed for speed on predictable surfaces. The relatively flat profile provides good grip on roads and tracks in dry conditions, but don’t expect stellar traction on wet pavement or trails.
Similar to some other modern designs (like the Mizuno Neo Vista), there’s a cutout on the bottom that exposes the Flyplate. Aesthetically, it’s cool, and it likely shaves off another gram or two. However, it creates a potential trap for debris. On my first test run mixing road, boardwalk, and gravel paths, I managed to pick up a small rock in the cavity. It’s something to be mindful of depending on your running routes.
Fast paces are where the Streakfly 2 comes alive. The feathery weight makes this shoe feel like it wants to go fast. It’s just right for races from the mile to the 10k, excels during tempo sessions, and is a fantastic choice for track workouts.
At easier paces, the stiffness from the plate and firmer ZoomX foam is apparent. It’s not uncomfortable for walking or warming up, but you wouldn’t choose this for slow recovery runs. It’s a specialized tool, much like a track spike or traditional racing flat, built explicitly for speed.
When you are moving fast, leaning into a midfoot or forefoot strike, the shoe feels incredible. It blends the raw, connected feel of an old-school flat with the modern benefits of ZoomX cushioning and carbon-plate propulsion. As someone whose form can break down late in a race, I appreciated that even if I dropped back onto my heels, the shoe still provided enough cushioning and spring to keep me moving forward – a welcome improvement over unforgiving traditional flats. In my experience running at 5k pace, it offers just about the best combination of modern tech and the simple elegance of a lightweight racer I’ve ever encountered.
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The Nike Streakfly 2 is, in my opinion, a huge success. It confidently establishes its niche in Nike’s lineup, offering a lighter, faster, and slightly more affordable option specifically tuned for crushing miles, 5Ks, and 10Ks. It merges the connected, nimble feel of traditional racing flats with the undeniable benefits of ZoomX foam and a carbon plate. If you’re chasing PRs in shorter events or seeking the perfect weapon for your speed workouts, the Streakfly 2 is a fantastic choice and a serious contender for the best 5k race shoe of 2025.
