Which should you buy?
Choose the Alphafly 3 if you find it at a good discount and it already suits you.
Choose the Alphafly 4 if you want the latest version and its updates.
The Alphafly 3 is 14 g heavier than the Alphafly 4. It costs £20 more at full price.
Side by side
| Spec | Alphafly 3Nike | Alphafly 4Nike |
|---|---|---|
| Review score | 95/100 (2 reviews) | Not enough reviews yet |
| Type | Race day | Race day |
| Weight (men's UK 8.5) | 201 g | 187 g |
| Heel stack | 40 mm | 39 mm |
| Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| Cushioning | Soft | Soft |
| Bounce | Springy | Springy |
| Plate | Carbon plate | Carbon plate |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Fit | Runs small | True to size |
| Widths | standard | standard |
| Waterproof version | No | No |
| UK RRP | £275 | £255 |
Weights are for a men's US 9 / UK 8.5. Prices are UK RRPs; shops often sell for less.
What the critics say
The reviews comparedReviewers rate both as top marathon racers, and both make plenty of noise. RunRepeat's Carlos Sánchez and Running Shoes Guru's Brandon Law found the Nike Alphafly 3 smooth and breathable, though Law needed blister tape for its narrow midfoot. Believe in the Run's Meaghan Murray and Thomas Neuberger praised the Nike Alphafly 4's late-race pop, while RTINGS found it unstable.
Alphafly 3
- Smooth, rhythmic transitions over the marathon distance
- Light and breathable for such a big shoe
- Snappy, responsive feel from the stiffer midsole
- Narrow midfoot can rub the arch on long runs
- Expensive and noisy on landing
Scores from RunRepeat, Road Trail Run.
Alphafly 4
- Softer and livelier underfoot than the Alphafly 3
- Forefoot pods give a noticeable pop late in a race
- Wider base feels more planted and transitions more smoothly
- Production pairs squeak loudly for the first runs
- Still a narrow, tall platform that is not very stable
Paraphrased from published reviews.
What's new in each
Nike Alphafly 3: A continuous midsole replaces the Alphafly 2's split forefoot, the Air Zoom pods move rearward, the rocker shifts forward, and it is roughly 40 g lighter with an Atomknit 3.0 upper.
Nike Alphafly 4: Adds a lighter, livelier ZoomX LT layer, a wider and more aggressively rockered Flyplate, heat-welded Air Zoom pods and a stretchier Atomknit upper; stack and drop are unchanged and the price drops.
About each shoe
About the Alphafly 4
Designed for half-marathons, marathons and other long road races, the Alphafly 4 is Nike's long-distance racing shoe and replaces the Alphafly 3. It differs from the lower Vaporfly 4 by adding forefoot Air Zoom units to its ZoomX and carbon plate construction.
The headline change is a new ZoomX LT layer, which Nike calls the lightest version of its most responsive cushioning and says is up to 17 per cent lighter than standard ZoomX. It sits over standard ZoomX foam, with added cushioning beneath the curved forefoot. The Air Zoom units are updated for the first time in the Alphafly's history, and Nike describes them as softer and quieter. A wide carbon-fibre Flyplate is intended to keep the shoe stable over the full distance. The Atomknit upper gains open-hole mesh zones and midfoot cables, Fast Shot rubber covers the outsole, and the drop is 8 mm.
Specs and features from nike.com, fleetfeet.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
Alphafly 3 vs Alphafly 4
In short
The Nike Alphafly 4 replaced the Nike Alphafly 3 in October 2026. What's new: Adds a lighter, livelier ZoomX LT layer, a wider and more aggressively rockered Flyplate, heat-welded Air Zoom pods and a stretchier Atomknit upper; stack and drop are unchanged and the price drops.
- LighterAlphafly 4
- CheaperAlphafly 4
Get the full story
NikeEverything on the Alphafly 33 video reviews, scores from 2 published reviews, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Alphafly 3
NikeEverything on the Alphafly 43 video reviews, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Alphafly 4More comparisons
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