The podiums of major marathons show that Nike makes the fastest running shoes in the world According to Nike, this shoe is 15% lighter than the Alpha Fly 2 and is designed to be more stable underfoot Here is everything you need to know about the Alpha Fly 3, including when you can get this shoe and how much it will cost

The original Alpha Fly made headlines around the world when Eliud Kipchoge broke the 2-hour marathon barrier wearing the shoe in October 2019 Since then, the shoe has become a favorite of elite runners and amateurs alike with its full-length carbon fiber plate and Zoom Air unit in the forefoot

If you are looking for one of the best carbon fiber running shoes you can buy right now, read my Nike Alphafly 2 review and my matchup between the Nike Vaporfly 2 vs

Like most of the best carbon fiber running shoes, the Nike Alphafly 3 does not come cheap The shoe will be available in a prototype colorway starting January 4, 2024, for $285 This is slightly higher than the Alphafly 2, which was $275 when it was released in July 2022

Why would you want to buy the Alpha Fly 3 instead of the Alpha Fly 2? Here's what's different about this new super shoe:

If you're a super speed runner, you know that even an ounce can make a difference on race day The Alpha Fly 3 is 15% lighter than the Alpha Fly 2 and 4% lighter than the original Alpha Fly The latest shoe weighs 77 ounces in men's size US 10 and 62 ounces in women's size US 8

Nike accomplished this primarily by modifying the shoe's upper and outsole Nike also calls the outsole the Fast Shot, which is lighter but still provides grip and protection on the surface

One of the first things you will notice about the Alpha Fly 3 compared to previous iterations of this shoe is the continuous sole - the midsole and outsole are no longer discrete, as they were in previous iterations of the shoe Nike says this allows for a smoother heel-to-toe transition when you're running quickly

Previous iterations of this shoe have been incredibly fast, but unless you have strong feet like an athlete, they have felt a bit unstable underfoot Nike is trying to make the Alpha Fly 3 more stable by making the carbon fiber plates wider The third iteration of this super shoe is no different, with a high stack of ZoomX midsole foam and a Zoom Air pod under the instep to start the next step In other words, the Zoom Air unit is slightly adjusted both horizontally and vertically to increase energy return

I am excited to run in the updated shoes and predict that these shoes will be on the podium for Nike athletes in both the spring marathon and the Paris Olympic marathon next year