Nike rebuilt its flagship marathon shoe from the outsole up with the Alphafly 4. The brand redesigned every component of the shoe to improve performance, but the question remains whether the changes create a better product than the stellar Alphafly 3.
From the outsole to the upper
The Alphafly is the company’s flagship marathon super shoe and arguably the most iconic racing shoe ever made. It was on the feet of Eliud Kipchoge in 2019 when he became the first human to break two hours in the marathon, and again in 2022 when he ran his 2:01:09 official world record. It stood atop the podium in Chicago in 2023 when Kelvin Kiptum broke Kipchoge’s record, and again in 2024 when Ruth Chepngetich ran 2:09:56 to break the women’s world record. Over the past six years, the shoe has consistently carried elites to podium finishes and personal records.
Bret Schoolmeester, Nike’s vice president of running footwear product management, said the Alphafly 4 is the biggest improvement in the model’s history. The biggest change came in the way the Air Zoom units are sealed. The Alphafly 3 used heat to seal the units, whereas the Alphafly 4 uses radio frequency. This creates thinner seams and, according to Nike, made the Air Zoom units 30 percent lighter and softer.
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Below the Zoom units, the carbon fiber plate keeps the same scooped geometry but has been slightly widened to improve stability. Nike also introduced a new ZoomX foam called ZoomX LT. It has the same ingredients as the current ZoomX but is processed differently, which Schoolmeester said makes it lighter and gives it better energy return.
The upper is much softer and easier to put on than the one on the Alphafly 3. The previous model was notoriously tight and hard to put on. Some runners reported that as their feet swelled during the marathon, the upper became even more uncomfortable. The new upper is roomier and more accommodating, allowing the toes to splay more freely.
For competitive masters athletes and coaches, the shift in the upper and the reworked foam marks a departure from the bouncy feel of previous iterations. The Alphafly 4 feels gentler underfoot, particularly in the forefoot. Even a casual walk puts enough pressure on the revamped Air Zoom units to engage them. While the Alphafly 3 is more responsive—the more force a runner puts into it, the more energy it returns—the Alphafly 4 takes less force to engage but doesn’t snap back as powerfully. This difference in energy return makes the new shoe more comfortable at slower paces but less explosive at faster speeds.
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Fit and comfort adjustments
The Alphafly 4 has a different feel than its predecessor. It seems the new model is both a good shoe, but different from what came before.
Verdict for different distances
The Alphafly 4 weighs 6.6 oz (men’s 8.5; women’s 10). It offers a softer and more cushioned ride, especially in the forefoot, making it suitable for long-distance running. Additionally, the Air Zoom units are easier to engage at slower paces, and the roomier upper provides a more comfortable fit.
