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0 Nike Rival Fly series has been one of the product in Nike running line-up that gotten the least attention over the years in terms of update. Yet, the flipside might be true where the product team has find the pockets of time where they elevate the next release.
It has been at least 3 years since the launch of Nike Rival Fly 3 and recently Nike has released an update to the product. Till now, I still kept my Rival Fly 3 which I brought on recently trip for runs.
What is Rival Fly 4?
Nike has marketed the Nike Rival Fly 4 as one that can push your pace with its lightweight and low-profile design. Additionally, Rival Fly 4 maintains a forefoot Air Zoom unit with Cushlon 3.0 foam as its midsole.
Product Details
- Weight: 258g or 9.1oz (Men’s size US9), although the Nike US site stated for US10
- Drop: 8mm
- Midsole: Cushlon 3.0
Three (3) +1 Key Changes from Rival Fly 3
There are three key changes that we can find in the Rival Fly 4 compared to its predecssor. These changes likely contributed also to the last change – a price increase from USD 100 to USD 120 or SGD 139 to SGD 159.
The first notable change is in the design of the Rival Fly. In the latest version, Nike has do away with the extended tail at the end of the midsole and instead smoothed it out like the Alphafly. The tongue has also been redesigned without changing its race-readiness.
Another change is in its midsole moving to Cushlon 3.0 which is said to be softer and more responsive than the midsole foam in Rival Fly 3. If this is true, then it will be interesting to see if the overall performane of the Rival Fly 4 is an upgrade over previous version.
The last big change we can see in the Rival Fly 4 is the use of a midfoot plastic shank. Nike has cut out a section of the midsole to highlight the existence of the shank. The combination of a softer midsole alongside a plastic shank might be a good combination to make the Rival Fly 4 more responsive.
Concluding Remarks
Nike has finally updated its Rival Fly series with significant changes. These changes has came along the increase in price of the Rival Fly 4. However, we are all cognizant of the pricing shift of all running shoes. However, we these changes and the shift in price, would the Rival Fly 4 be an option to consider?
Yet, the changes made to Rival Fly 4 on paper seems to put it into competition with many different competitors. For example, with ASICS, the Rival Fly 4 will be pitched against the HyperSpeed 4. With Adidas, the Rival Fly goes up against the likes of SL 2 as well as Adizero RC 4. Another competitors – Puma has its Liberate Nitro 2 although at a higher price point than the rest mentioned here.
Are you excited about the Rival Fly 4? How have you been liking Nike’s update to its product line? Till next time, just keep running.
