Nike's latest Alphafly running shoe is every marathoner's dream

Nike's latest Alphafly running shoe is every marathoner's dream

Nike has announced its Air Zoom Alphafly Next%, the second version of the Air Zoom Alphafly Next% running shoe.

For those who don't know, the original shoe helped legendary distance runner Eulid Kipchoge run a marathon in under two hours, breaking a world record. It's definitely one of the best road running shoes ever made, it's said to improve running economy by around 4%, and the new iteration should be even faster.

The Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next%2, like its predecessor (opens in a new tab), has a ZoomX foam midsole, a single curved carbon fiber plate, and two Zoom Air pods, small air indentations designed to Reduce shoe weight while maintaining optimum shape for better running economy. It's said to offer riders a "supportive, light, propulsive ride," but there have been a few changes since last lap.

Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% 2

(Image credit: Nike)

The upper of the Next%2 features a revised version of the original Atomknit, called Atomknit 2.0. This new upper is said to be designed to provide breathability in the toe area, greater containment in the forefoot, and cushioning under the tongue of the shoe.

There's an increased amount of ZoomX foam under the Zoom Air pockets in the midsole, while the heel is wider for stability during heel-to-toe transitions.

This means that in essence, the shoe will be more comfortable, more stable and more stable over marathon level distances than even the original, keeping your feet nice and stable when planted, while increasing the amount of lift that usted gets. cuando el pie se levanta del suelo de nuevo. Puedes ir más lejos por más tiempo.

The shoe is available in its "Prototype" colourway in limited quantities worldwide, starting today at €275 in the US, €275 in the UK (opens in a new tab) and the Price in Australia is to be confirmed. Other colors should follow.

Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% 2

(Image credit: Nike)

Analysis: A shoe for a few?

With a high price tag and limited stock, it seems like this shoe was made just to break records and break records. However, Nike insists that even if you're not planning on breaking world records, if you're targeting your own PB over a long distance, you'll want this shoe.

During the announcement, Elliott Heath, product manager for Nike Running Footwear, said: "The Alphafly NEXT% 2 is designed for athletes chasing their personal best in marathons... The updates we made to the second iteration continue to equip athletes elite athletes competing on the world stage, but we are focused on improving the racing experience for all runners in search of their personal best."

If you are an avid distance runner, this is your shoe. If you run a half marathon, 10k, or 5k and don't want to increase your distance, this shoe will be too expensive and too designed for you to get any noticeable benefit. You'll be better off with a good-looking, budget-friendly mid-range shoe like the Saucony Ride 14.