A Comparison of the Nike Vaporfly and Nike Dragonfly’s Effect on Running Economy

Student Author(s)

Maggie Peckham, Hope College
Aidan Jones, Hope College
Taylor Truman, Hope College
Anastasia Tucker, Hope College

Faculty Mentor(s)

Dr. Maureen Dunn, Kinesiology; Dr. Mark Northuis, Kinesiology

Document Type

Poster

Event Date

4-14-2023

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the oxygen consumption, stride rate, and stride length of highly trained distance runners wearing the Nike Vaporfly and Nike Dragonfly spikes while running at competitive speeds. Fifteen (6 men and 9 women) collegiate volunteers (aged 18-22) were recruited from Hope College’s Division III cross country team. Participants engaged in a total of 3 visits. On the first visit, all participants were familiarized with the testing protocol. For visits 2 and 3, a planned crossover was completed, and either the Vaporfly or Dragonfly was assigned for each participant to wear. All trials were completed on an antigravity treadmill with body support set at 100%. Participants ran three 4-minute running economy stages, and then immediately performed a maximal test to volitional exhaustion (VO_2max). Mean oxygen consumption for females wearing the Vaporfly shoe at 14 and 16 kph were 42.3 ± 1.4 and 47.1 ± 1.71 ml/kg/min respectively, while mean oxygen consumption for females wearing the Dragonfly shoe at 14 and 16 kph were 42.2 ± 1.7 and 45.9 ± 1.6 ml/kg/min, respectively. Mean oxygen consumption for males wearing the Vaporfly shoe at 14 and 16 kph were 43.1 ± 1.0 and 49. 2 ± 1.0 ml/kg/min respectively, while mean oxygen consumption for males wearing the Dragonfly shoe at 14 and 16 kph were 43.5 ± 1.9 and 49.3 ± 1.8 ml/kg/min, respectively. No differences were found in oxygen consumption (p=0.603 for females, p=0.930 for males), stride rate (p=0.487), or stride length (p=0.428) between shoe types. Based on the results of this study, the Vaporfly and Dragonfly shoes result in similar running economy and stride parameters. Further research should investigate the performance of the Vaporfly and Dragonfly on a traditional treadmill instead of the BOOST antigravity treadmill utilized for the present study.

Recommended Citation

Repository citation: Peckham, Maggie; Jones, Aidan; Truman, Taylor; and Tucker, Anastasia, "A Comparison of the Nike Vaporfly and Nike Dragonfly’s Effect on Running Economy" (2023). 22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023). Paper 42.
https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/curca_22/42

April 14, 2023. Copyright © 2023 Hope College, Holland, Michigan.

Comments

This project was funded by Hope College Kinesiology.

Title on poster differs from abstract booklet. Poster title: A Comparison of the Nike Vaporfly and Nike Dragonfly on Running Economy