Nike Alphafly 3 - Women's Review
Our Verdict
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This Product
Nike Alphafly 3 - Women's | |||||
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Awards | Most Race Ready Road Running Shoe | Best Overall Running Shoe for Women | Best Value for a Women's Road Running Shoe | Best Balance of Comfort and Responsiveness | |
Price | $249.99 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $249.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods Compare at 2 sellers | $120.93 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $89.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $179.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | This racing shoe is built for speed demons who want to add a high-functioning piece of gear to their existing shoe collections | This shoe provides the ultimate power and pep thanks to its natural-feeling rocker, trampoline-style midsole, and aerodynamic shape | This running shoe offers the performance technology and comfort needed to be your go-to shoe, no matter your running goals | Affordable and minimally-minded, the updated Kinvara is a great everyday shoe that is suitable for a myriad of running situations | Though it lacks the lightweight tech of super shoes, the balance between its responsive midsole and lateral stability makes this a powerful everyday trainer |
Rating Categories | Nike Alphafly 3 - W... | Asics Metaspeed Sky... | Asics Novablast 4 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Brooks Hyperion Max... |
Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
Stability (15%) | |||||
Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
Weight (15%) | |||||
Traction (5%) | |||||
Specs | Nike Alphafly 3 - W... | Asics Metaspeed Sky... | Asics Novablast 4 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Brooks Hyperion Max... |
Measured Weight | 5.72 oz | 5.10 oz | 7.36 oz | 5.44 oz | 7.17 oz |
Measured Heel Stack Height | 38 mm | 38 mm | 38 mm | 27 mm | 35 mm |
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 8 mm | 6 mm | 8 mm | 3 mm | 8 mm |
Plate Type | Carbon | Carbon | None | None | Full length plastic |
Rocker Angle | 26.0 deg | 26.5 deg | 22.0 deg | 25.0 deg | 24.5 deg |
Rocker Apex Location | 72.3% | 68.0% | 69.5% | 64.7% | 65.0% |
Style | Racing | Racing | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer |
Upper | Atomknit | Motion Wrap 2.0 mesh | Engineered knit mesh | Mesh | Mesh |
Midsole | ZoomX | FF Turbo Plus | FF Blast Plus Eco | PWRRUN | DNA Flash v2 |
Outsole | Rubber | AsicsGrip rubber | AHAR outsole | Rubber | Rubber |
Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | None | Finger loop | None | Extended heel pull |
Sizes Available | 5 - 12 US, regular | 5 - 14.5 US, regular |
5 - 12 US, regular | 5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 12 US, regular |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Weighing in at under 6 ounces per women's size 6.5 shoe (5.72 ounces, we measured), the Nike Alphafly 3 rides like a smooth machine. It offers a bit of arch support, secure, notched laces, and a breathable, bootie-style upper. If speed is your game and it fits into your budget, the Alphafly 3 is a fun shoe to take for a spin.
Performance Comparison
Landing Comfort
The snappiness of the full-length carbon fiber plate does not inhibit the landing comfort of the Alphafly 3. With a tall 38 mm heel stack and an 8 mm drop, even the lowest point of the forefoot holds you securely above the ground. The landing platform is rigid since this is a shoe designed for racing, but the ZoomX midsole and rubber outsole provide a comfortable crash pad to soften your footfalls. The AirZoom pods add an extra dose of bounce and resilience underfoot, creating a prime launch pad for your speedy endeavors.
Nike built the Alphafly 3 as a long-distance racing shoe, and it 100% delivers on this promise. Its slight softness and natural arch curvature create a more natural fit than Nike's other supercharged shoe, the Vaporfly 3. The previous version of the Alphafly has an aggressive arch and narrow midfoot taper. This iteration has toned down the slope of the arch and provided a bit more real estate, which corrected the major arch blister epidemic caused by the Alphafly 2.
Responsiveness
Well… The Nike Alphafly is one of the most responsive racing shoes on the market today, but you likely won't feel that way on your first run or two in it. Once you get used to the stride length and style that this shoe requires, you'd better be ready to blow your existing PRs out of the water.
The 8 mm heel-to-toe drop is perhaps the only average component when it comes to the Alphafly. This slight heel lift pairs beautifully with the Air Zoom units as you start to pound the pace. With an aggressive and loud snap underfoot, each footfall rolls into the next. Many shoes feel like they are recycling energy as one footfall parlays into the next. The bounce of the Alphafly feels more like it is creating energy as you run, providing more energetic feedback the harder you push — almost like a reward for your own self-challenge.
To us, the Alphafly rides like a double black diamond run in that it is not exactly a suitable shoe for beginner runners. Other plated and propulsive shoes require less dramatic learning curves with far less of an investment and would likely suit newer speed seekers better. We felt like we needed to be fully tuned into what your body was doing with each step to proficiently handle the sheer amount of tech that these shoes offer. Most runners will be able to find a responsive shoe that is a bit more user-friendly, but if you are interested in truly upping your game, this responsive race shoe is worth shelling out the cash for.
Stability
Stability and speed don't always coexist in harmony, and we found that to mostly be the case with the Nike Alphafly. However, from a comparative perspective, we found the Alphafly to be more stable than the Vaporfly due to its slightly more anatomical footbed. Neither shoe offers anything in the way of lateral stability, so if that is what you are looking for, count these speedy kicks out. We often harp on the benefit of lateral stability for newer runners chasing their marathon dreams, but true stability has its time and place.
What Did Our Men's Testing Team Think?
Our male testers enjoyed the speed that the Nike Alphafly 3 offers but prefer the Vaporfly for its ability to maintain speed around sharply-curved race courses. Our female testers felt that the natural footbed shape of the Alphafly adds an element of comfort and security that makes it more comfortable for racing overall. Our men's team had a bit more trouble dialing back their speed in the Alphafly, citing the learning curve as a hindrance to controlled performance.
For speed workouts and races, the Alphafly takes the cake, especially if you are comfortable with your stride and gait patterns. The anatomical footbed shape and updated arch support help all of the energy built while running in these shoes move forward. Once you start to create zigzag patterns or take turns, the Alphaflys have the tendency to feel incredibly unstable. This is to be expected with such a powerhouse shoe, but it is worth noting if you are considering trying out a pair of racing shoes for the first time.
Upper Comfort
There really isn't much to the upper comfort of the Alphafly. It isn't designed to be comfortable — it is designed to be functional. The Atom Knit upper is profoundly breathable, even when worn with thicker socks, and the notched laces lay flat and stay tied during brutal efforts. The lower half of the heel cup is incredibly rigid, but the upper counter has a slight bit of cushion to secure the heel and prevent blisters from forming. The bootie style fit is contoured enough to lay flat and snug against your ankle, but the upper does not have an extra eyelet for runners who like to really tamp their lace beds down.
Weight
The stack of the Alphafly is huge, so it's incredibly impressive that each women's size 6.5 shoe weighs only 5.72 ounces. The bulk, if you could even call it that, of the Alphafly's weight rides beneath the midfoot, where the AirZoom units are. This weight distribution takes a bit of getting used to, but it hardly impacts the shoe's overall function.
Traction
The rubber outsole of the Alphafly is grippier than one might expect of their speed shoe. Combined with its slightly amped-up stability, we never had any trouble with slips or slides as we hurdled down our favorite dew-covered streets. This shoe isn't the best for super wet conditions, but it does well on damp and lightly graveled roads.
Should You Buy the Nike Alphafly 3?
With some caveats, we definitely think the Nike Alphafly is worth buying. If you are on a budget and looking for a single, versatile shoe, then we do not recommend the Alphafly. Its high price point and race-specific application make it a lesser value than some of the more versatile options on the market. If you have a few pairs of running shoes that you already love and want to diversify your collection with a speed-focused shoe, the Alphafly might make a good addition. It is tempting to believe that shoes like these can bolster your performance, and while they can, other daily trainers can, too, without the elitist price tag.
What Other Road Running Shoes Should You Consider?
The most notable comparison is the Nike Vaporfly 3. The Vaporfly offers a bit less upper comfort and a flatter landing pad, which suits some runners better than others. Our female testers prefer the underfoot curvature of the Alphafly, but our male testers ranked the Vaporfly slightly higher because of its impossibly low weight. Both the men and women elected the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris as a top pick for racing because of its balance between comfort, function, and power. If you want a smoother, more versatile shoe, the Asics Novabast 4 is a prime contender thanks to its supreme comfort. Finally, if you are set on buying the Alphafly but understand that it shouldn't be your everyday running shoe, we recommend also purchasing the Reebok Floatride Energy 5. The Floatride Energy is an incredibly versatile and affordable wear-everywhere shoe that would round out a road-running shoe collection.