Meet Nike Alphafly 3, the world-record-setting marathon shoe

Meet the carbon-plated race shoe leading the pack, shattering records and setting the pace for groundbreaking innovation in the sport. Earlier this week, Nike unveiled the release date and photos of the highly anticipated Alphafly 3, and guess what? You might be able to get your hands on it before your spring marathon.

History of the Nike Alphafly

The two previous iterations of the Alphafly pushed boundaries to new heights, with Eliud Kipchoge achieving the seemingly impossible in the OG Alphafly, breaking the two-hour barrier at the INEOS-1:59 event in 2019. In 2022, wearing the Alphafly 2, Kipchoge lowered his world record to 2:01:09 at the Berlin Marathon.

This latest iteration is the lightest and fastest Alphafly to date, redefining what people thought was possible in marathon running. The shoe is backed by results and endorsed by the world’s best marathoners. While it was still being developed, Sifan Hassan won the London and Chicago Marathons in the Alphafly 3, moving to No. 2 on the women’s all-time list and clocking 2:13:44 in Chicago. Further validation came on the men’s side with Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum breaking Kipchoge’s marathon world record, also at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, to become the first man to run sub-2:01. (Kiptum ran 2:00:35, inching toward that two-hour race barrier.)

The 3

At the heart of Nike’s competitive advantage lies the innovative system of speed embedded in the Alphafly 3. This proprietary combination features ZoomX foam, Air Zoom units and a carbon-fibre Flyplate, powering the Alphafly and providing marathoners with a distinct edge.

Improving on the success of its predecessors, the Alphafly 3 introduces key updates aimed at optimizing benefits to athletes. The brand has introduced a “continuous” outsole and midsole (unlike the split outsole in previous versions) for smoother heel-to-toe transitions, catering to various foot-strike patterns, rather than just forefoot strikers. The shoe also boasts enhanced traction and grip on the outsole, ensuring peak performance regardless of conditions.

Another innovation in the Alphafly 3 is the wider carbon-fibre Flyplate, giving runners a more stable, but still propulsive, ride, ensuring a smoother and more powerful race-day experience. The responsive midsole is complemented by dual Nike Air Zoom units in the forefoot, working in synergy with the expanded Flyplate and ZoomX foam to deliver unparalleled energy return and helping you reach your full potential on the course.

Colourway and availability

The Alphafly 3 debuts in the iconic Prototype colourway, exuding a laboratory-fresh appearance. The colourway features subtle pops of white/beige, orange and black, highlighting the dual Air Zoom units and bearing athlete wear-test numbers (20820-4).

The Prototype colourway of the Nike Alphafly 3 is set to hit select running specialty stores on Jan. 4, and will also be available on nike.com and the Nike app. The brand expects to release additional colourways in advance of the Paris Olympic Games.