Nike Alphafly 3
The Alphafly 3 is Nike's flagship marathon racer, combining a full carbon Flyplate, ZoomX foam, and dual forefoot Air Zoom pods on a continuous single-piece midsole. It was the shoe under Kelvin Kiptum's world record and remains one of the most propulsive long-distance racers available. The tall, springy platform rewards rhythmical midfoot striking and is strictly a race-day tool.
Reach for the Nike Alphafly 3 for race day. It's a neutral shoe, best for runners with an efficient stride who don't need pronation support. The tall, soft stack favors comfort over ground feel. That's great for high mileage and bigger runners, less so for racing snappiness.
- Elite marathon performance
- Propulsive Air pods plus carbon plate
- More stable and smoother than Alphafly 2
- Very expensive
- Limited durability
- Ride is too specialized for training
| Shoe | Cushion | Support | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 | Maximum | Neutral | $250 | Analyze |
| ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo | Maximum | Neutral | $275 | Analyze |
| ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris | Maximum | Neutral | $250 | Analyze |
| New Balance SC Elite v5 | Maximum | Neutral | $250 | Analyze |
Ratings compare the current lineup. Price favors lower cost.
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