The AlphaFly 3 is Nike's top-end marathon racing shoe. Kipchoge wore the original to break the two-hour barrier, and this third generation is what Nike currently put on the feet of their elite runners. Retails at 270, so half price is hard to ignore.
What makes it different?
- Full-length ZoomX foam midsole
- Two visible Air Zoom units in the forefoot
- Carbon fibre plate between the foam layers
- Atomknit 3.0 upper
- Obsidian/Persian Violet colourway with volt accents
This is a race shoe, not a daily trainer. The stack height and carbon plate give you proper energy return, but durability is the trade-off. Most runners get 200-300 miles before the foam loses its bounce. If you race halfs or marathons and have been eyeing a carbon-plated shoe, 133 for the AlphaFly 3 is about as cheap as it gets.