Nike Victory 2 Review
By Andrea Myers
Nike Victory 2Price: $189.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 4.8oz, 136g (men's size 9)
Stack Height: Not specified
Drop: Not specified
Shoe Purpose: Mid distance super spike
Pros: Extremely lightweight, secure fit, extremely responsive forefoot, good durability thus far for a spike
Cons: As a true mid distance spike, only designed for midfoot/forefoot landings, so may be too aggressive for milers who land further back
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Nike Victory 2 is a lightweight, aggressive super spike with an Air Zoom unit, ZoomX midsole, full length carbon fiber Flyplate, and a 4 spike design. Nike markets it as a mid-distance spike (800-mile) and that likely be its best use unless you are a world class runner like Beatrice Chebet in her 5000/10000 double gold or Jakob Ingebrigtsen in his 5000 gold. Version 2 features a wider base and an elevated medial forefoot platform, which Nike says improves stability on both straightaways and turns. Nike also says the carbon Flyplate is lighter and more responsive than in version 1, and that the durability of the outsole has been improved.
SIMILAR SHOES: Saucony Cheetah
PAST MODEL: Nike Air Zoom Victory
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Andrea: I have always been on the edge of a women's 9.5 and 10 in Nike super shoes, so to be safe I requested a women's 10 in the Victory 2, and I am glad I did because I think the 9.5 would have been much too short in the toe box. I had half a thumb's width between the front of my big toe and the front of the shoe, and the overall fit is snug, as a spike should be. It did not take much work to lock down the laces and I did not experience any heel insecurity. The width of the forefoot, midfoot, and heel are normal to snug, but I appreciated the somewhat squared off toe box, which resulted in a very comfortable fit across my MTPs, and no abnormal pressure on my toes. I normally wear the thinnest Balega Hidden Comfort socks for racing, and found them to work well in the Victory 2 as well. I know many athletes go sockless in the Victory 2 and the internal surface of the upper seems smooth enough for this to be comfortable. There is a small amount of padding that runs along the medial and lateral heel and extends all the way to the midfoot. The center of the rearfoot features a large cutout, which I really did not notice at all when running in the shoe. The thin tongue is not gusseted, but is held partially in place by a lace loop. The tongue tended to fold over when donning the shoe unless I was careful to keep it flat over the dorsum of my foot. The thin, serrated laces stay securely tied and did not create any uncomfortable pressure on the dorsum of my foot, despite the thin tongue. I found the Victory 2 to be a secure, relatively comfortable fitting shoe (as comfortable as a mid distance spike can be) and I have been pleased with the fit.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: Brooks Hyperion Max 1 and 2, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, ASICS Novablast 4 and 5, PUMA MagMax Nitro
Shoes that have fit snug: Altra Escalante 4 (toe box width and volume), Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and 3 (length), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-4 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: NO
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: N/A
Recommended for Haglunds: Maybe
Recommended for Sockless: Yes
Durability Expectation: Average
PERFORMANCE
Andrea: I was a mid distance runner when I was younger, starting out in the 800 in elementary school and then branching out to the 400, 300/400 hurdles, and occasionally the 100 hurdles in high school. As I've focused on longer distance training, and particularly the marathon over the past few years, I always thought about trying the track again. When I found out Masters Indoor Worlds were in Florida this year, I decided it was a sign to give mid distance a try again. I was thrilled when Nike sent me the Victory 2, as I got along well with the Air Zoom units of the original Alphafly, and was just generally excited to have track spikes to run in again. All of my runs in the shoe thus far have been on indoor tracks, but I plan to continue using the Victory 2 in outdoor meets this summer. Once I eased myself back into running in spikes again after 25 years away, I was able to use the Victory 2 for all of my weekly track workouts and several indoor track mile and 800 races.
The Nike Victory 2 is designed for midfoot or forefoot landings (as mid distance shoes should be), with a wider forefoot base and a very narrow rearfoot and midfoot base. There is a small piece of plastic traction material in the heel and the forefoot features a large plastic traction plate in addition to the 4 metal spikes. The Air Zoom units respond best to forceful loading at initial contact, which in combination with the plate, aggressive forefoot rocker, and moderate toe spring, provide an extremely propulsive and almost explosive push off. The Victory 2 felt better the faster I ran in it, meaning 400-800 pace felt even better than mile pace, although I definitely enjoyed racing the mile in the shoe and do not think I would want a long distance spike for mile racing. The indoor track where I train is not banked and has very long curves and short straights, and I found the Victory 2 to feel quite stable even on the sharpest part of the curves and when running in the inner lanes. All of the races I did with the exception of 1 mile race were on banked tracks, and I never felt unstable in the shoes, even on the banked curves. At 4.8oz for a men's 9, the Victory 2 is extremely light and almost disappears on foot. While Nike does not provide stack height or drop specs, the stack height is extremely low and the shoe feels like a 0mm drop shoe. This is a shoe that requires a high amount of calf strength and flexibility, even greater than other mid distance spikes.
I have been impressed by the durability of the shoe, considering I have used it for a weekly track workout for the past 3 months and 4 races. There is absolutely no visible wear on the plastic traction plate and only a small amount of discoloration on the heel from walking/standing in the shoe between reps. I expect to be able to use the shoe through the entire outdoor season, and will update this review in the fall regarding durability.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Andrea: The Victory 2 is an aggressive, low stack, likely 0mm drop mid distance spike. It is a very neutral shoe and will require a high amount of calf strength and flexibility. However, compared to the original Victory spike, it does appear to be more stable for the demands of the track thanks to its wider forefoot base and elevated medial forefoot platform. These features are likely more noticeable on indoor tracks, due to the tighter and typically banked surface. I did not have any stability issues racing on banked tracks, despite this being my first experience on a banked track (I do not recall any banked indoor tracks when I was in high school) and having no ability to practice on the banked track prior to racing on it.
Thoughts as a DPT: Reintroducing Spikes After 25 Years (or Just After the Offseason)
By Andrea Myers
I am writing this review at the beginning of April, and a common complaint in running shoe stores and at youth track practices is sore calves and feet after the first practice in spikes of the year. As we like to emphasize here at DOR, shoes are tools, and spikes are specialized tools that require graded exposure at the beginning of a season to avoid pain and injury. Spikes are basically very stiff minimalist shoes, with low to zero drop, low stack heights, and a stiff platform. Like all minimalist shoes, they require sufficient calf strength and flexibility, and even the strongest runner cannot go months without running in spikes and then lace up and do a full workout in them at the beginning of the spring. For me, it had been 25 years, not just a few months, since I had last run in spikes. Fortunately, I test a fair amount of minimal shoes, have good calf strength thanks to regular heavy strength and plyometric training, and do regular speed work in lower drop, moderate stack shoes like the Topo Cyclone 2. Even so, I knew I would need to very gradually introduce the stress of running in spikes to my body. I started by doing 3 out of 6 pre-workout strides in the Victory 2 the first week, then all 6 strides the second week, followed by using them for 1/3 of my main workout reps the following week, and gradually increasing until I was able to use the Victory 2 for all of my reps prior to my first mile race. I did experience some calf soreness during the transition period, which did not affect my gait pattern or ability to train. I managed this soreness with myofascial work with a foam roller, percussion massager, and regular massage. I also made sure my easy running days were actually easy and including one very easy cycling recovery day per week, which I always find most beneficial for running related calf soreness.
For those reading who are at the start of their outdoor season and are experiencing calf or foot soreness from reintroducing spikes too quickly, talk to your coach, take a step back, and figure out a plan like the one I detailed above in which you gradually increase the volume of work you do in your spikes. You do not need to do every track workout in spikes and make sure that you are balancing the hard runs that you do with active recovery, whether that is through running or cross training if needed. Do not hesitate to seek out a physical therapist for help with spike related soreness; it is better to get any issues addressed early in the season so you can be healthy for your upcoming meets.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Andrea: I feel like I really lucked out that the first pair of spikes I received to test for my rediscovered love for mid distance track are ones I have absolutely loved training and racing in. I have no complaints about the fit or performance of the Nike Victory 2 and I am quite impressed at their durability over the past 3 months of weekly workouts and several races. I am actually at a loss for how they could be improved, so I will just say I hope Nike doesn't change a thing for version 3.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Andrea: The Nike Victory 2 is an aggressive mid distance spike that is best suited for the 800-mile, despite its use by superstar athletes at longer distances. It is designed for midfoot/forefoot landings, which shouldn't be an issue in the 800, but may be an issue for milers who may land a further back. The squared off toe box makes the fit more comfortable than many spikes with a more tapered toe box, so those who are sensitive (like myself) to narrow toe boxes may like the fit of the Victory 2. At $190, I think it is a good value based on its durability thus far as well as its stellar performance for me in the 800 and mile.
GRADES
Andrea
Fit: A (squared off toe box relatively comfortable for a spike, overall snug and secure fit that I expect in a spike. I did go 1/2 size up, so those who are on the edge of two sizes should go up.)
Performance: A (Propulsive, explosive push off that rewards faster and faster paces. For me, a perfect 800 shoe and a great mile shoe. No stability issues on banked indoor tracks a huge plus.)
Stability: [neutral] B+ (This is a neutral, aggressive shoe that will require exceptional calf strength and ankle mobility. I gave it a B+ because the geometry did make it quite stable for indoor track racing.)
Value: A ($190 is steep for a spike, but this is a super spike that has won numerous gold medals and appears to be quite durable. I would buy this shoe if I didn't receive it for testing.)
Personal: A (Exceptional shoe. I have loved training and racing in it the past 3 months and plan to get many more workouts and races in it.)
Overall Design: A
SHOP | SUPPORT DORNike Victory 2Price: $189.95 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING
A $100 flat!?
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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