Details
Brand
Nike
Heel To Toe Drop
N/A
Breathability
7/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Sharkskin heel pad provides great grip• Phylon midsole is compressed-molded• Mesh tongue provides ventilation and comfort• Traditional Heel Flywire reduces movement in and supports the rearfoot• Ultra-thin TPU upper offers a lightweight, supportive feel• Dynamic Fit Technology provides a comfortable, glove-like fit• Three-quarter Pebax plate has five removable spikes that are durable and provide good traction• Lightweight and breathable upper keeps feet cool and dry• Comes with 1/4″ compression-tiered spikes and a wrench
Upper
The upper is lightweight and breathable so that the foot stays cool and dry. The TPU material is ultra-thin, lightweight and supportive, and the laces help keep the midfoot secure. The tongue is made of mesh and provides additional ventilation and comfort. The Traditional Heel Flywire secures the rearfoot to reduce movement and prevent sliding, while also providing support. The Dynamic Fit Technology provides a customized, comfortable, glove-like fit. The material covering the forefoot is hard to protect the toes from bruising. The upper has the light flexibility to allow the toes to splay and neutral stability to help prevent injury.
Midsole
The midsole is made out of compressed-molded Phylon. It is thin and contoured for a small layer of protection, shock absorption, support and cushioning. It keeps the foot close to the ground for good ground feel and the weight low for more speed and power. The arch has Flywire technology for a glove-like, comfortable fit. It has some flexibility in order to allow for a natural gait and is stable enough for neutral runners but does not stop over-pronation.
Outsole
The outsole is comprised of a Sharkskin heel pad and a three-quarter Pebax plate. The Sharkskin heel pad is egg-shaped and has tiny raised rubber squares all over it. It grips well to provide good traction while also being lightweight. The three-quarter Pebax plate covers the forefoot and midfoot. It has five removable 1/4″ spikes around the outside edge of the forefoot that are durable and provide great traction and powerfully fast speed when running around tracks. There are also triangular treads between the spikes, as well as along the tendons of the foot, which are there for traction when the spikes are out. The outsole is slightly flexible to allow the foot to move quickly and naturally.
Breathability
This shoe received mixed reviews on breathability. Some testers listed breathable under their list of pros, while others put it on their list of cons. It is mostly covered in fabric, with mesh only on the tongue, so there is not as much ventilation as other shoes. The components do not use any stitching, except a line down the middle of the forefoot, which prevents blisters and irritation in areas where other shoes have stitching. It is breathable enough for sprints and cooler weather, although longer runs and hot days may cause the wearer to experience some overheating.
Comfort
Testers found the Nike Zoom Celar 5 to be very comfortable. The sizing may be slightly off, with some thinking it was slightly too large and others thinking it was slightly too small. A unisex shoe, the manufacturer suggests that men order their usual shoe size and women order 1.5 or 2 sizes lower. The stack height is low, so there is not a lot of cushioning in the midsole, but the compressed-molded Phylon does a good job of cushioning landings and the Flywire technology provides a comfortable fit around the arch. The upper has a Traditional Heel Flywire that fits nicely around the rearfoot and the Dynamic Fit Technology creates a customized, glove -like fit. The low weight makes the shoe comfortable to carry and easier to pick up speed.
Style
The Zoom Celar 5 has nice color combinations for different tastes, from solid colors to colorful shoes. The shoe has vertical lines around the heel and connecting the lacing holes to the bottom of the shoe. The lacing holes also have cords that wrap around the hole and connect to the bottom of the shoe. Some of the many color choices include: Fuchsia/White/Aqua, White/ Black /Volt, Neon Pink/White, Pink/Volt, Black/White/Volt, Hyper Cobalt/Black/Ghost Green/White, Fire Pink/Black/Bright Mango/White, and Football Blue/Bright Crimson/Ice Blue/Blue Fox. The only complaint was that the spike plate’s actual color did not always match what was pictured in the photos on the listing.
Durability
This shoe is durable enough for daily use, with many reviewers stating that they wear it every day during training as well as during their track and field meets. The outsole’s materials, although thin, are extremely durable. The spikes have excellent durability and are replaceable in case they start to get dull. The midsole’s compressed-molded Phylon is very durable because of its compression. The upper uses fabric and TPU instead of a high amount of mesh, which is less likely to wear out around the toes compared to an all-mesh or mostly-mesh upper. The upper also has great durability because of the Traditional Heel Flywire, which not only secures the heel but also locks it in and makes the back of the shoe more stable against accidental stepping. The Dynamic Fit Technology also makes the shoe more durable because it fits closely.
Protection
The Nike Zoom Celar 5 offers a little bit of protection. The outsole’s traction protects the foot from sliding. The midsole’s compressed-molded Phylon is contoured and absorbs shock and protects the foot and joints from impact. Its low stack height means less protection for people with injuries or who have plantar fasciitis. The upper has the Traditional Heel Flywire that prevents the foot from sliding inside the shoe, the Dynamic Fit Technology to help protect from rolling, and the sturdy toe material to protect from bruising. The shoe does not protect against over-pronation.
Responsiveness
The Zoom Celar 5 is lightweight, fast, and powerful. It has great ground feel due to its low stack height. The Sharkskin heel pad, Pebax plate, and spikes grip the ground well to allow the wearer to pick up speed. The midsole’s Phylon keeps the weight low so it is easier to move fast. The upper has Dynamic Fit Technology that allows the foot to move naturally, and the toe box area allows the toes to splay comfortably for better take-offs.
Support
This shoe has good support for having such minimalist features, with testers noting that there was especially good support around the ankles. The midsole has Phylon for light support as well as Flywire technology in the arch for a neutral level of support. The upper has TPU material that supports the midfoot, a tongue for support on top of the foot, and the Heel Flywire that supports the heel. The laces and cords that run vertically along the midfoot add support around the ankles.
Terrain
The Nike Zoom Celar 5 is categorized under track and field. Its spikes show that it was designed for speed while going on dirt tracks. It can also go on paths and grass. It was not designed to go on light or heavy trails, ice, snow, mud or rocks.
Price
Reviewers liked that the Zoom Celar 5 has a low price. The initial price was slightly below average, although for such a durable shoe and the Nike brand name, it is a great deal. It is very light and performs well during sprints and races. It also has lots of color options, from solid white to solid black to various colorful shoes, so there really is something for everyone. Current prices range from full price to discounted.
Drop
This shoe has a drop of 2mm. Combined with a low stack height, it keeps the foot close to the ground for more stability and control while running. There is less cushioning than other shoes, especially in the heel, which is not ideal for injury-prone runners. The low drop allows the muscles and tendons to grow stronger, but also means that some people may experience soreness in the beginning.
Stability
The Zoom Celar 5 has minimal stability. The spikes, Sharkskin heel pad, and Pebax plate stabilize takeoffs and landings to prevent slipping. The midsole has Flywire technology for light stability and support in the arch. The low height of the sole unit adds stability. The upper has Dynamic Fit Technology to lightly stabilize the midfoot and the Traditional Heel Flywire to lock the heel in and prevent it from moving around.
Flexibility
The Nike Zoom Celar 5 has good flexibility due to its lightweight and thin materials. The outsole is hard due to its plate that holds the spikes but still allows the foot to bend as it lands and then pushes off again. The Phylon in the midsole also bends with the foot. The upper has Dynamic Fit Technology that provides a close fit that allows the foot to move naturally, and the mesh tongue is flexible. The least flexible part of the upper is the Heel Flywire that locks the heel in place to prevent sliding and adds structure to the back of the shoe. The use of more fabric and less mesh also means less flexibility in the upper.
Traction
This shoe has great traction. The outsole has the Sharkskin heel pad to stabilize landings and then the spikes and small triangular treads that grip the ground well to stabilize takeoffs and push off to let the wearer speed up. It grips dirt tracks well but does not perform well on paved roads, gravel, trails, snow, ice, mud, or when climbing rocks or mountains.
Bottom Line
The Nike Zoom Celar 5 is a great track and field shoe. It has excellent grip and has minimal cushioning and stability features to keep the shoe lightweight and fast. It is comfortable to wear and flexible enough for fast, powerful and natural movement. It has great durability and can be worn for both daily trainings as well as to track meets. It has good support around the midfoot, especially the ankles, but could be more breathable for hot days. It has a good ground feel, picks up speed easily, and absorbs shock on tracks well. The price is great, and there is a wide variety of colors for different preferences, from neutral solid colors to multi-colored shoes. It is stable enough for neutral runners but is not a stability shoe that slows over-pronation. Overall, it is a good sprinting shoe for new and experienced runners alike.
