The Controversy Behind Nike’s Vaporfly Running Shoe, Explained | WSJ

“With the Tokyo olympics around the corner this summer” that statement didn’t age well

Imagine making a shoe so good it's considered cheating.

I disagree with the limitations. EVERY SINGLE running shoe, before and after the vaporflies, from one or two centuries ago, you name it, has been designed to offer an advantage; to improve our running prowess. The vaporflies just happen to be the first to manage to give such a performance boost but they will not be the only ones to achieve it. This is just the beginning.

“Why are they illegal?” “You run good in them”

“We want better shoes for running” Nike makes better shoes for running “Wait no that’s illegal”

To level the playing field, everyone should wear Crocs.

You can not just ban a running shoe.. you either impose a standard shoe that all runners must wear in professional events or nothing at all. Banning particular running shoes just opens a can of worms and will never set a definitive standard that is consistent for runners to abide by.

This man really compares wearing Vaporfly’s to doing drugs...

Its fake. Everyone knows that running in crocs gives you the most advantage

When companies finally makes a product that does as advertised " We can't allow that."

I recently bought a pair, completely unaware of this controversy. The shoes definitely gave me a huge boost. I could feel the shoes helping me spring forward somehow. It increased my stride length, and made it easier to make each stride. I would estimate that it gave me about a 10% increase in efficiency. It also seemed to help with turns which were a weak point for my running. Turns always slow my pace down, but with these I maintained the faster paces. All in all, I know the shoes helped me go faster and further and with greater ease. The shoes are incredibly light. Even the shoelaces are light and made to stay tied. The engineering and precision to details are incredible. Should they be banned or discouraged? I don't think so. They help, but no different than how a pair of shoes from 1950 might compare to a pair from 2015. They're just more advanced shoe technology. Part of the future, not the past.

Theoretically, any shoes can affect the way a runner runs - I don’t feel that a significant advancement in shoes should be blocked, as improvements have consistently occurred for the entire history of the sport.

All I learned from this video is that I want the new Nike Vaporflys.

This is one of the longest Nike ads I have ever seen.

"We do not create any running shows that return more energy than the runner expends" Well at least they aren't breaking the laws of physics I guess.

If they are gonna try and ban a pair of shoes, they should require that all world records must be attempted completely naked.

You'd think all running shoes were meant to improve running

if they ban them I already see the new slogan: "illegally fast"

How can a “shoe” be considered cheating? Every shoe is supposed to give an advantage to the runner by reducing the stress their body takes. Comparing a pair of shoes with “doping” is not very wise.

"they're so good it's causing controversy" has the same cringe as someone saying at a job interview "my biggest flaw is I work too hard." Dude shut up.