Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% Flyknit review
Our Verdict
A seriously fast shoes for serious runners
For
- Unmatched responsiveness
- An extremely exciting shoe
- One of the fastest shoes in the world
Against
- Tin experience a piffling unstable
Tom'south Guide Verdict
A seriously fast shoes for serious runners
Pros
- +
Unmatched responsiveness
- +
An extremely exciting shoe
- +
Ane of the fastest shoes in the globe
Cons
- -
Can experience a little unstable
A word of warning — these shoes will brand you experience like you're flying. The Alphafly Adjacent% was first seen on Eliud Kipchoge's feet when he ran his famous 1:59 marathon wearing a prototype of the Alphafly Next% in Vienna in 2019. When it was released in January 2020, it quickly became i of the most sought-subsequently running shoes in the world. It's seriously fast, seriously lightweight, and seriously cushioned.
Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% specs
Weight: 210g
Drop: 4mm
Type: Racing
Neutral/stability: Neutral
Widths: One width
Still, at $275, all that speed does come at a price. But how does it compare to some of the all-time Nike running shoes on the market, and running shoes like the Nike Vaporfly Adjacent% 2? Read our total Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Adjacent% review to find out.
Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% review: Price and availability
At $275, this is one of the well-nigh expensive running shoes on the market place. When it was showtime released, runners had to submit PR times on the Nike Run Club app to get on the waiting list. While it'south at present much more widely available, this shoe is definitely targeting runners who are looking to set records.
The shoe is available in women's and men's sizing, in a range of unlike colors. The women's shoe comes in sizes Usa five to US 12, the men's shoe comes in sizes The states 6 to US xv. The shoes simply come in one width, but the larger toe box should fit most runners.
As the Alphafly has been around for a while at present, you'll often observe old colorways are on sale for cheaper prices, so if you're lucky, you might be able to grab a bargain. There are rumors about an Alphafly 2 running shoe circulating, but at the time of writing, Nike has not said anything.
Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% review: Pattern and fit
These shoes are designed to go fast on race day. In fact, if you're spending $275 on these shoes, yous'll probably want to salve them for your races, and definitely won't exist plodding effectually the park in them. While Nike said they're durable plenty to do a few hundred miles, the visitor likewise released training companions, like the Nike Air Zoom Tempo Next%, to have the load of training miles.
The Alphafly Side by side% gives yous maximum cushioning, with a thick wedge of Nike's ZoomX foam, two Zoom Air units in the forefoot, and a carbon cobweb plate. The result underfoot is like running on a trampoline, and definitely takes some time to get used to. No shoe I've e'er run in compares to the sensation of the Alphafly Adjacent%, which literally makes you feel like y'all're flying every bit it propels you lot forward on each step.
The Alphafly Side by side% fit true to size — I clothing a UK5 in the Nike Pegasus 38 and chose the aforementioned size in the Alphafly. That said, like all running shoes, it'due south worth sizing up a one-half, or a full size from your everyday running shoes.
Upper
The upper of the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Adjacent% is made from Nike's newest Flyknit material, named AtomKnit. The fabric has been steamed and stretched, designed to deliver a lightweight, contoured fit effectually the pes, to back up it and hold it in identify as information technology sits on all that bouncy cream. The upper is super breathable and holds onto a minimal amount of water, preventing you from being weighted down by bad weather.
When compared to the upper of the Nike Vaporfly Adjacent% two, the AtomKnit feels tougher — there'southward very little stretch or give to it. For such a mesomorphic shoe, the Alphafly is deceptively lite, and you can tell Nike accept made savings wherever it could — there's about no padding on the upper of the shoe, with some slight cushioning effectually the heel to preclude the shoe from slipping, but nothing else.
Midsole
Here's where the magic happens. The midsole contains a thick platform of Nike's ZoomX cream, which is responsive and bouncy, as well as ii visible Zoom Air units under the forefoot. These Zoom Air units deed as springs under the ball of your foot, helping you achieve a faster toe-off. In fact, the faster you run and the harder your foot hits the ground, the more the Zoom Air unit of measurement compresses, and the higher the level of rebound. Again, like I mentioned above, this does take some getting used to.
Of class, like all of the best carbon cobweb running shoes on the market place, in that location's likewise a carbon fiber plate, which differs depending on the size of your shoe. In smaller shoes, the plate is more than flexible, and information technology gets stiffer in larger sizes. I wore a UK 5 (or Usa eight) and found the plate to exist pretty flexible.
These three elements of the midsole work together to create that super-responsive sensation underfoot in the Alphafly Adjacent%. They are far bouncier than Nike'due south other popular marathon shoe — the Nike Vaporfly Adjacent% ii. The stack height is also higher on the Alphafly Adjacent%, which has a tiptop of 35mm in the forefoot and 39mm in the heel, compared to the Vaporfly Next% 2, which has a height of 32mm in the forefoot and 40mm in the heel. Although the difference is merely a few millimeters, I definitely feel higher off the ground in the Alphafly Side by side%. Can't pick betwixt the two? Read my Alphafly Next% vs Vaporfly Next% 2 face off here.
Outsole
1 wait at the outsole tells you this is definitely a road racing shoe, and on roads, the grip is superb. (Due to the stack height, I wouldn't recommend wearing the Alphafly on trails, instead, cheque out our best trail running shoe guide for that.) The rubber outsole is thicker nether the forefoot, which is where most runners demand it, according to Nike. Nike say they created the outsole using data from hundreds of runners, placing traction where it'due south needed most.
I've tested these in a number of different weather condition weather condition on the road, and never had an issue with slipping, even when the pavement was wet.
Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% review: Performance
There's no doubt most it, these shoes are fast. I've set a one-half marathon and a 10K PR wearing them, and have felt similar I was running faster, without putting every bit much effort in. These shoes aren't congenital for like shooting fish in a barrel or slower miles, and it's actually difficult to slow downwards in them. Without a doubtfulness, they are i of the about exciting, and fastest shoes on the market.
That said, equally a 3:50 marathon runner, I felt like I didn't have the calf force to cope with these shoes. The bounce-back from the pavement felt absolutely fine during the run, but the next twenty-four hour period my calves ached. You also definitely feel a lot higher from the ground, and despite the wider forefoot, a little more unstable running around corners in the Alphafly Side by side% than you do in other racing shoes, although how much this matters when you've got a shiny medal and a new PR is upwardly to y'all.
Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Adjacent% review: Verdict
The Alphafly is the well-nigh super of the super shoes on the market place correct now. The air pods go far feel faster than any other shoe out at that place, plus the fact that Kipchoge wore it for what Nike called "the ultimate exam run" proves how basis-breaking the shoes are. If you've got the upkeep, and y'all're looking for an exciting shoe that'll help yous break records, this is a brilliant ane.
That said, if you lot slightly overpronate in the final miles of a marathon, or you're looking for something a little more stable and a lilliputian less money, the Nike Vaporfly Next% 2 is a fantastic racing shoe.
Finally, if you're looking for an everyday running shoe, this definitely isn't one worth spending your money on. Instead, opt for something more than durable, such as the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run, which has the same midsole cream as the Alphafly, but is built for easy, comfortable training miles.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/nike-air-zoom-alphafly-next-flyknit
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