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Nike Alphafly 3 · Official Nike Alphafly 3 supplied product photograph; complete supplied canvas, background and alpha preserved.
Nike · Alphafly
Alphafly 3
The Alphafly 3 is Nike's top marathon racing shoe, combining ZoomX foam, a full-length carbon-fibre Flyplate and two forefoot Air Zoom units, suited to half-marathon and marathon racing.
- Made for
- Racing
- Weight
- 218 g
- Heel height
- 38.1 mm
- Drop
- 8 mm
What reviewers say
Reviewers agree it is the best Alphafly yet and among the top marathon racing shoes, light and bouncy with a smoother ride from its continuous midsole and a more comfortable, wider midfoot. The main criticism is the very high price, which Running Shoes Guru felt outstripped the shoe; it also noted a narrow midfoot that can still rub the arch.
From runrepeat.com, doctorsofrunning.com, believeintherun.com and runningshoesguru.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specFit and feel
- Made for
- Racing
- Weight
- 218 g
- Heel height
- 38.1 mm
- Forefoot height
- 29.6 mm
- Drop
- 8 mm
- Carbon plate
- Yes
- Midsole foam
- Fully connected, full-length ZoomX foam midsole with two forefoot Air Zoom units
- Plate
- Full-length carbon-fibre Flyplate, slightly wider than before
- Upper
- Atomknit 3.0 upper; notched laces; integrated knit tongue with lofted padding
- Outsole
- Fast Shot outsole for multidirectional traction
- Fit
- New last for better arch comfort; moulded sockliner for a lower-profile arch
Use
- Best for
- Half-marathon and marathon racing
- Measured figures
- RunRepeat lab: 201 g, 38.1 mm heel, 29.6 mm forefoot, 8.5 mm drop
Design
- Colourways
- Black/Bright Crimson/Wolf Grey/Metallic Silver, Platinum Tint/Ocean Cube/Moon Particle/Purple Dynasty ("Prototype") and others
Pros and cons
Pros
- Lightest Alphafly so far, about 218 g for a men's UK 9
- Full-length carbon-fibre Flyplate, slightly wider than the Alphafly 2's for stability
- One continuous ZoomX midsole and outsole for smoother heel-to-toe transitions
Cons
- Very expensive for a shoe built mainly for racing
- RunRepeat found the heel outsole can wear quickly for heel strikers
Closest rivals
Model | Made for | Weight | Heel height | Drop | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Racing | 200 g | 39 mm | 6 mm | Jan 2025 | |
| Racing | 265 g | 39.7 mm | 8 mm | Nov 2024 | |
| Racing | 206 g | 39.5 mm | 8 mm | Feb 2026 |
Newer model: Alphafly 4.
Sources
- nike.com/gb/t/alphafly-3-mens-road-racing-shoes-KnKE5jwD/IR1996-001
- about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-alphafly-3-official-images-release-date
- runrepeat.com/nike-alphafly-3
- about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/vaporfly-4-streakfly-2-official-images
- Nike Alphafly 3 Prototype finish side-view studio photograph: Nike newsroom press-pack member 001_nike-alphafly-3/001_rg119l-sp24-alphafly3-ta-swanson-proto-profile-3827-1x1.jpg; Alphafly 3 Prototype finish photograph, complete supplied canvas and framing preserved.
- Nike Alphafly 3 Prototype finish outsole photograph: Nike newsroom press-pack member 001_nike-alphafly-3/002_rg119l-sp24-alphafly3-ta-swanson-proto-bottom-3728.jpg; Alphafly 3 Prototype finish photograph, complete supplied canvas and framing preserved.
- Nike Alphafly 3 Prototype finish top-view studio photograph: Nike newsroom press-pack member 001_nike-alphafly-3/003_rg119l-sp24-alphafly3-ta-swanson-proto-top-3754.jpg; Alphafly 3 Prototype finish photograph, complete supplied canvas and framing preserved.
- Nike Alphafly 3 Prototype finish close-up of the forefoot Air Zoom unit: Nike newsroom press-pack member 001_nike-alphafly-3/004_rg119l-sp24-alphafly3-ta-swanson-proto-detail-3563.jpg; Alphafly 3 Prototype finish photograph, complete supplied canvas and framing preserved.
- Nike Alphafly 3 development prototypes and physical shoe assemblies in the supplied workshop photograph: Nike newsroom press-pack member 001_nike-alphafly-3/005_rg119l-sp24-alphafly3-ta-swanson-components-3891.jpg; official Alphafly 3 development photograph, complete supplied scene and framing preserved.
- Athlete wearing Nike Alphafly 3 development footwear during treadmill testing in Nike’s laboratory: Nike newsroom press-pack member 001_nike-alphafly-3/010_alphafly-3-nsrl-testing.jpg; official Alphafly 3 development photograph, complete supplied scene and framing preserved.
- Nike Alphafly 3 development footwear being examined during athlete testing in Kenya: Nike newsroom press-pack member 001_nike-alphafly-3/011_nike-product-kenya22-day4-0389-1.jpg; official Alphafly 3 development photograph, complete supplied scene and framing preserved.
- Athlete testing group pictured in Nike’s Alphafly 3 development photograph in Kenya: Nike newsroom press-pack member 001_nike-alphafly-3/012_nike-af3-kenya-run.jpg; official Alphafly 3 development photograph, complete supplied scene and framing preserved.
- Eliud Kipchoge winning the Berlin Marathon in developmental Nike Alphafly 3 shoes: Nike newsroom press-pack member 001_nike-alphafly-3/013_eliud-kipchoge-marathon-win-berlin.jpg; official Alphafly 3 development photograph, complete supplied scene and framing preserved.
- Kelvin Kiptum wearing developmental Nike Alphafly 3 shoes while celebrating his Chicago Marathon win: Nike newsroom press-pack member 001_nike-alphafly-3/014_kelvin-kiptum-marathon-win.jpg; official Alphafly 3 development photograph, complete supplied scene and framing preserved.
- Sifan Hassan celebrating a marathon win in developmental Nike Alphafly 3 shoes: Nike newsroom press-pack member 001_nike-alphafly-3/015_sifan-hassan-marathon-win.jpg; official Alphafly 3 development photograph, complete supplied scene and framing preserved.
- Red Nike Alphafly 3 with green Air Zoom units in the supplied dark studio composition: Nike Newsroom release “Nike Alphafly 3 and Zoom Fly 6” asset member 003_nike-alphafly-3-and-zoom-fly-6/001_nike-alphafly-3.jpeg; complete supplied canvas and framing preserved.
- Red Nike Alphafly 3 pair with green Air Zoom units in the supplied angled studio photograph: Nike Newsroom release “Nike Alphafly 3 and Zoom Fly 6” asset member 003_nike-alphafly-3-and-zoom-fly-6/003_nike-alphafly-3-1.jpg; complete supplied canvas and framing preserved.