The year is 2025, and Zara—yes, the fast-fashion giant known for making $50 blazers look like $500 ones (but wear like the former)—has entered the supershoe race. They’ve just released a carbon-plated running shoe, and honestly, we’re still processing.
If you’ve somehow avoided the madness of the last few years, carbon-plated running shoes have been the secret sauce behind records being obliterated in marathons and beyond.
Originally reserved for elite Nike-sponsored runners, these bouncy, energy-returning speed machines quickly became a must-have for anyone trying to shave a couple minutes off their marathon PR (or just feel fancy at their weekend 5K).
Now, concept has trickled down to Zara, a store best known for making trendy clothes that fall apart the second you wash them.
So, what exactly are we looking at? And will these Zaporflys (see what I did there!) come apart at the seams after just one race?
Zara’s Long-Distance Running Sneakers (yes, that’s the actual name) boast a breathable upper made of 85% RCS-certified recycled polyester, an Ortholite insole, and, of course, a carbon plate.
They’re supposedly built for road running, park running, and treadmill sessions, meaning they’re at least pretending to be a real running shoe.
The stack height is 39mm, and there’s an 8mm drop, which, on paper, puts them in the same general category as Nike’s Vaporfly or Adidas’ Adios Pro.
But that’s where the similarities end.
The midsole incorporates TPE-A material, which is meant to absorb impact and provide stability and lightness. The shoe also features a removable OrthoLite insole and a 100% rubber outsole, which should, in theory, improve durability. Much of the shoe is made from recycled materials, including the insole and lining, both composed of 70% RCS-certified recycled polyester, which comes from sources like PET plastic bottles.
It’s an admirable sustainability effort, though one has to wonder if recycled polyester belongs in a performance running shoe—or if it’s just a marketing flex.
Because let’s be real—who is actually running in these?
The internet is equally fascinated and horrified.
Over on r/RunningCirclejerk, the meme-laden reaction has been a mix of shock, laughter, and existential questioning about what this means for the future of supershoes.
One user dubbed them the Zarafly, which feels both appropriate and terrifying.
Others pointed out that Zara has never been known for durable footwear.
And that’s really the question here: Are these shoes actually meant to be run in, or are they just gym-bro fashion bait?
Let’s not pretend we don’t know the target market for these. There is a very specific kind of person who walks out of an Equinox decked head-to-toe in Alo Yoga and the most expensive Nike shoe available, despite using it exclusively for box jumps and incline treadmill walks.
Zara is betting big on that guy (or gal), who wants the aesthetic of a super shoe without the price tag or the whole, you know, running thing.
But what if Zara’s playing a bigger game here?
The move into running shoes—especially ones that mimic the pinnacle of race-day footwear—suggests that high-performance tech is no longer the domain of just Nike, Adidas, or Asics. If a fashion retailer is throwing its hat into the ring, does that mean carbon-plated shoes have officially jumped the shark?
Are we about to see H&M release a ‘sub-2-hour’ budget racer?
Of course, actual runners will likely remain skeptical.
For one, established brands spend years developing the foams and geometry of their supershoes, refining the balance between propulsion, comfort, and durability. Nike’s ZoomX, Adidas’ Lightstrike Pro, and Saucony’s PWRRUN PB are all products of extensive R&D.
What exactly is Zara using in its midsoles? EVA foam from the discount bin?
That’s not to say someone won’t actually race in them.
It’s entirely possible some brave soul will take these to a marathon and discover they’re either secretly amazing or a fast-track to shin splints. But given Zara’s history with shoes—frequently uncomfortable, rarely built for longevity—it’s hard to imagine these giving Nike, Adidas, or even Skechers a reason to sweat.
What this move does signal, though, is the continued commodification of the high-performance running shoe.
Supershoes used to be an exclusive, premium-tier innovation for serious runners. Now? They’re available for $129.90 from the same place you buy disposable going-out tops. That alone is a wild shift.
Would we recommend them?
Let’s put it this way: If you’re training for Boston, stick to what the pros wear. But if you’re just looking for a pair of flashy sneakers to flex at your boutique gym, or to wear ironically at your next local 5K, maybe—just maybe—the Zarafly is the move.
