Matt reviews the Nike Alphafly 3, their premium racing shoe that's been under the feet of the best marathoners all year long. Catch our full episode on marathon recovery • Do These Things IMMEDI...
I would wear it for 5K if it’s very aggressive. I like the extremeness in shoes which justifies buying a pair for a certain purpose. There are too many shoe models in the middle that are so similar to each other, even within the same company.
I ran my 5K PB in Alphafly 1, so it can certainly handle every distance for me. I'm more curious about the reduction of midsole in the forefoot with the 8mm drop as a forefoot striker.
I've hit a brick wall in getting my 5K PR down, and I can't manage much more mileage than I have been doing, so I may have to bite the $280 bullet and see if the Vaporfly or Alphafly 3 can help. The Endorphin Pro 2 and Takumi Sen 8 are my "fast" shoes, but neither feel like they are doing anything special.
@@Feanaro5503The Takumi Sen is great, but even compared to the Vaporfly it's a world of difference. Sooo much more bounce. I think for anything but a track 5k a Vaporfly/Alphafly would be more efficient for me. Can't imagine what this new Alphafly is like, but it sounds like it'll be amazing at faster paces
I’d have to agree that AF are definitely a racing shoe made to run fast. When I warm up and run easy feel likes I’m falling back similar to those jump shoes back in the day. But when I’m HMP or MP running on mid to forefoot that’s where you feel the shoe working for you.
Will have to come back and comment about the shoe appropriateness when I actually can run in it. No way to know until then! Looking forward to this one though!
Thanks for the key point. I ran with AF3 and then AF2. I have bad hips, low back, and after interval running work out with AF3, I felt my hamstrings and hip soreness after. For now, I’ll do the AF2 for racing and AF3 until I get stronger.
The af2 has been a keystone for me this year from mild 30k training days, to sub 20 5k even to doing a 100k Altra. Has saved my legs and helped clock good times
Absolutely Excellent audio on this vid. Not sure what you are using for mics and settings in editing, but great all around. Oh ya, the AF3, I am super excited about them too. Hopefully, I'll have them on my feet when I tow the staht line in Hopkinton for the Boston Marathon. I have a pretty aggressive marathon schedule for 2024 as an Athlete with Disabilities. Like wearing all the compression I can find, the top shelf AF3s I am sure will help me slash time.
Very interesting. I’ve run in both previous iterations and it’s my fav shoe ever (yes, even AF 2). I’ve been able to feel confortable doing a 5k in 20 mins and my 1st marathon in 3:58. So, are you saying that this is not going to be the case in this version? I mean, it’ll be good for my 5k pace but not for my marathon’s one? Thanks Matt, I really love how technical your reviews are
2:45 what you said is exactly what I found. It was good for a 5k at 3:05-3:15 pace. When I am on my toes it’s great and the forefoot is so springy. For 10k and half marathon pace for me 3:20-3:26 it was terrible. I land mid-foot at this pace and the heel is so squishy and soft that my foot sinks back onto the heel and bogs down my stride, I have to push hard to get moving. I kept dropping my pace and my calves were working to lift my foot forward into the forefoot. In the invincibles this doesn’t happen and it snaps me forward onto my toes automatically as I land on my mid-foot. Sadly the AF3 doesn’t work for me.
Alpha 2 was meant for all types of runners / jogger’s etc. because it had broader heel that provides more stability. The new ones that is alpha 3 has a very narrow heel similar to adios pro and that will not be good for slow running or jogging. In other words, Alpha 2 is meant for larger section of the people that is for the fastest runners to slow simple joggers, however, alpha 3 is only meant for a very small section of the people who run fast all the time. Not sure whether fast runners would find any difference between the two alphas but slow runners and jogged should definitely stay out of this new model.
i was thinking about to take this shoe for my next marathon next year, but if it's so weird at slower pace i maybe buying the vaporfly 3's. feels like the vaporfly is more forgiving?
Great review! Are u saying this is for sub 3:30 marathoners, sub 3hr marathoners or sub 2:45 marathoners? How about distances. Obviously good for the marathon, but how about HM, 10K and 5K?
More agressive eh? Sign me up, sounds like a great shoe to walk the dog in. Or at least that's what I assume these shoes are for given the amount of Rocket X2s and Endorphin Pro 3s I see for dog walking shoes along my run route. Really excited for this though, I had my first run in the Vaporfly 3 today, and while I really enjoyed it, in the back of my mind I was saying "I wish this was a little more aggressive" so this sounds perfect. Ready to refresh the Nike page 100 times on January 4th
I doubt it would be more aggressive than the VF3. The VF3 is less aggressive than previous models but the Vaporflys have always been more aggressive than the Alphaflys.
I’d say 7:10 per mile or quicker. Slower than 7:10 and there’s definitely nicer options like Saucony’s Endorphin Pro 3. Basing that off my experience in the AF2. The arch issue is diabolical-they are fast, until the blisters they cause slow you down 😢
Is a sub50 10k (4:40-5:00m/km) fast enough for this shoe? Or its more for under 4min/km runs? I am looking at the takumi sen 9 (possibly 10) as a 10k race / interval shoe, but if its really that aggressive it might be good.
All reviews for the latest Nike shoes I saw are saying the same regarding the foam: „shoe got little bit firmer“… Invincible, Vomero, now Alphafly… can it be that Nike ruined their secret ZoomX recipe just to get that little extra cent out of their dollars?
Buy them and they will contribute to getting you a better time! I did exactly that with my Vapourfly and over the past weeks have taken my 5k from 23 minutes down to 20 Mins. Just go for it and ignore all the “ not fast enough for this shoe” BS
Because the shoe is so resilient that you get a ton of compression and potentially extra side to side movement. While the foot is decently stabilized in this shoe, the hip still has to work hard to being on a softer surface, especially in the heel.
I dunno, I think the Alphafly shoes like it (I'd say the Endorphin Elite and probably the new Fast-R) are not meant for anything more than workouts and race day. I'm not totally sure it's that slower runners can't use them so much as they need to be aware that the use case is limited. I also think there's still probably something to whose biomechanics it works for. Asics introduced the "stride" vs. "cadence" concept in their marketing, and these bigger bouncier shoes seem like they work for the stride runners. Are stride runners always faster? Maybe, but I wouldn't say this is necessarily true in all cases.
I feel like they advertised it as stride vs cadence but if you want to go fast you have to increase your cadence. It seemed more like mid foot forefoot vs heel striker
@@Skibidibobobeebop your cadence doesn't have to go up that much though. Most of my runs are 176-180spm. My cadence in my last few races (2 halfs , 2 5Ks) is only 184-186spm. My stride length is increasing about 35-40% from an easy run.
Aren't the Oregon Track Club and Nike in bed together? doesn't Nike sponsor OTC? Hard to trust this review with the conflict of interest, but he does seem pretty transparent.
I’m pissed! Now everybody loves this sneaker, keep the same energy, I mean this sneaker was never hard to get now it seems like everyone loves this sneaker, to the point I feel like I’m not going to get my hands on this pair because everyone is on the bandwagon now!!🤨
I would wear it for 5K if it’s very aggressive. I like the extremeness in shoes which justifies buying a pair for a certain purpose. There are too many shoe models in the middle that are so similar to each other, even within the same company.
I ran my 5K PB in Alphafly 1, so it can certainly handle every distance for me. I'm more curious about the reduction of midsole in the forefoot with the 8mm drop as a forefoot striker.
I've hit a brick wall in getting my 5K PR down, and I can't manage much more mileage than I have been doing, so I may have to bite the $280 bullet and see if the Vaporfly or Alphafly 3 can help. The Endorphin Pro 2 and Takumi Sen 8 are my "fast" shoes, but neither feel like they are doing anything special.
@@Feanaro5503The Takumi Sen is great, but even compared to the Vaporfly it's a world of difference. Sooo much more bounce. I think for anything but a track 5k a Vaporfly/Alphafly would be more efficient for me. Can't imagine what this new Alphafly is like, but it sounds like it'll be amazing at faster paces
This 🙌🙌
I’d have to agree that AF are definitely a racing shoe made to run fast. When I warm up and run easy feel likes I’m falling back similar to those jump shoes back in the day. But when I’m HMP or MP running on mid to forefoot that’s where you feel the shoe working for you.
Alphafly 3 is really exciting :) I'd also be really interested in hearing you guys talk about the Puma Fast-R 2 and the extended plate. Cheers
This was a review done properly !
I'm excited to try that one. I'm quite curious if it will replace my Adios Pro 3 as my main race day shoe.
Will have to come back and comment about the shoe appropriateness when I actually can run in it. No way to know until then! Looking forward to this one though!
Thanks for the key point. I ran with AF3 and then AF2. I have bad hips, low back, and after interval running work out with AF3, I felt my hamstrings and hip soreness after. For now, I’ll do the AF2 for racing and AF3 until I get stronger.
The af2 has been a keystone for me this year from mild 30k training days, to sub 20 5k even to doing a 100k Altra. Has saved my legs and helped clock good times
Absolutely Excellent audio on this vid. Not sure what you are using for mics and settings in editing, but great all around. Oh ya, the AF3, I am super excited about them too. Hopefully, I'll have them on my feet when I tow the staht line in Hopkinton for the Boston Marathon. I have a pretty aggressive marathon schedule for 2024 as an Athlete with Disabilities. Like wearing all the compression I can find, the top shelf AF3s I am sure will help me slash time.
Literally Matt just screaming into the phone 😂
@@DoctorsofRunning He's not even holding a phone unless it's inside the shoe.
Very interesting. I’ve run in both previous iterations and it’s my fav shoe ever (yes, even AF 2). I’ve been able to feel confortable doing a 5k in 20 mins and my 1st marathon in 3:58. So, are you saying that this is not going to be the case in this version? I mean, it’ll be good for my 5k pace but not for my marathon’s one? Thanks Matt, I really love how technical your reviews are
He's talking rubbish as other reviewers have said its the one AF that is suited to all paces. So not sure what he's experienced.
Interesting! Where does ‘fast’ start? Would this work for sub 3 hour marathon pace, or would you say you have to be faster than that?
2:45 what you said is exactly what I found. It was good for a 5k at 3:05-3:15 pace. When I am on my toes it’s great and the forefoot is so springy. For 10k and half marathon pace for me 3:20-3:26 it was terrible. I land mid-foot at this pace and the heel is so squishy and soft that my foot sinks back onto the heel and bogs down my stride, I have to push hard to get moving. I kept dropping my pace and my calves were working to lift my foot forward into the forefoot. In the invincibles this doesn’t happen and it snaps me forward onto my toes automatically as I land on my mid-foot. Sadly the AF3 doesn’t work for me.
I want a pair to review
Is it wider than the previous versions?
Alpha 2 was meant for all types of runners / jogger’s etc. because it had broader heel that provides more stability. The new ones that is alpha 3 has a very narrow heel similar to adios pro and that will not be good for slow running or jogging. In other words, Alpha 2 is meant for larger section of the people that is for the fastest runners to slow simple joggers, however, alpha 3 is only meant for a very small section of the people who run fast all the time. Not sure whether fast runners would find any difference between the two alphas but slow runners and jogged should definitely stay out of this new model.
i was thinking about to take this shoe for my next marathon next year, but if it's so weird at slower pace i maybe buying the vaporfly 3's.
feels like the vaporfly is more forgiving?
Definitely for faster runners.
Could you review Mizuno rebellion pro 2 please
Don't have it yet, heard it is on its way, SUPER excited for it. Andrea actually has it already so will bug her for a review.
Great review! Are u saying this is for sub 3:30 marathoners, sub 3hr marathoners or sub 2:45 marathoners? How about distances. Obviously good for the marathon, but how about HM, 10K and 5K?
yes would like to know too.
Exactly. 3.30 is not even superfast. Let's be a bit more specific..
I just ran a 1:36 half in them and they felt *awesome*
So you suggest buy true to size ? You not have toe box tough the toe if you true to size ?
When you say it's best for fast runners, is that relative? Or do you need to be like a 3 hour marathoner?
How’s the sizing? I have VF3 on 9.5. Do I need to get the same size with AF3?
Does is better than V1?
what is the meaning 208204 on alphafly3?
I’m bloody slow and have just ordered a pair… I’ll let you know!
What is fast pace?? Sub 4 min per km or sub 3.30 min per km...??
More agressive eh? Sign me up, sounds like a great shoe to walk the dog in. Or at least that's what I assume these shoes are for given the amount of Rocket X2s and Endorphin Pro 3s I see for dog walking shoes along my run route. Really excited for this though, I had my first run in the Vaporfly 3 today, and while I really enjoyed it, in the back of my mind I was saying "I wish this was a little more aggressive" so this sounds perfect. Ready to refresh the Nike page 100 times on January 4th
I see kids wearing vaporflys in school… guess they really don’t want to be tardy lol
I doubt it would be more aggressive than the VF3. The VF3 is less aggressive than previous models but the Vaporflys have always been more aggressive than the Alphaflys.
Do you feel more drop then in the Alphafly V1? In the Alphafly V1 I had to add heel insert because I felt like I am falling backwards...
V1 had a 4mm drop
Gonna be hitting Nike Clearance outlets for those returns
What pace would you say is the minimum pace to run in this shoe?
I’d say 7:10 per mile or quicker. Slower than 7:10 and there’s definitely nicer options like Saucony’s Endorphin Pro 3. Basing that off my experience in the AF2. The arch issue is diabolical-they are fast, until the blisters they cause slow you down 😢
Is a sub50 10k (4:40-5:00m/km) fast enough for this shoe? Or its more for under 4min/km runs? I am looking at the takumi sen 9 (possibly 10) as a 10k race / interval shoe, but if its really that aggressive it might be good.
Probably wouldn’t go with it until sub 40
Just go for them and use them to help work on improving your time!
Is 9 minutes to 8:30 half marathon pace too slow for this shoe?
I'm pretty sure that's too slow for AF
All reviews for the latest Nike shoes I saw are saying the same regarding the foam: „shoe got little bit firmer“… Invincible, Vomero, now Alphafly… can it be that Nike ruined their secret ZoomX recipe just to get that little extra cent out of their dollars?
Firmer zoomx + low/more secure upper = promising!
VF3 are a total nonsense on these points…
My PB marathon pace is around 5min 40sec per km. IYHO, is this pace too slow for this shoe?
Buy them and they will contribute to getting you a better time! I did exactly that with my Vapourfly and over the past weeks have taken my 5k from 23 minutes down to 20 Mins. Just go for it and ignore all the “ not fast enough for this shoe” BS
More agressive than Endorphin Elite? I love Elite and IS fast and smooth without noise.
how fast is fast?
Exactly. The review Makes no sense.
What do you consider "fast pace"? Is 7 min/mile too slow?
I think sub 6 min mile really 🤔
Optimum working pace is sub 5 min/mile, so 6 min/mile is in range.
Honestly I think it's more about effort. I ran a half in these a week ago at over 7 min pace and they were so good!
why someone with hip instabilty not great with this shoe?
Because the shoe is so resilient that you get a ton of compression and potentially extra side to side movement. While the foot is decently stabilized in this shoe, the hip still has to work hard to being on a softer surface, especially in the heel.
@@matthewklein1989great explanation
letsss goooo
"Way more aggressive"...
Good. Good. Aggressive is good for the intended purpose of this tool.
I dunno, I think the Alphafly shoes like it (I'd say the Endorphin Elite and probably the new Fast-R) are not meant for anything more than workouts and race day. I'm not totally sure it's that slower runners can't use them so much as they need to be aware that the use case is limited. I also think there's still probably something to whose biomechanics it works for. Asics introduced the "stride" vs. "cadence" concept in their marketing, and these bigger bouncier shoes seem like they work for the stride runners. Are stride runners always faster? Maybe, but I wouldn't say this is necessarily true in all cases.
I feel like they advertised it as stride vs cadence but if you want to go fast you have to increase your cadence. It seemed more like mid foot forefoot vs heel striker
@@Skibidibobobeebop your cadence doesn't have to go up that much though. Most of my runs are 176-180spm. My cadence in my last few races (2 halfs , 2 5Ks) is only 184-186spm. My stride length is increasing about 35-40% from an easy run.
You didn't mention the most important thing, is the prominent arch sensation still there?
Nope! So much better than V1 (didn't have V2)
#DripTooHard
Can you gift me old shoes I can't afford these shoes am I from India I want this shoes for 5 km event
lol
Aren't the Oregon Track Club and Nike in bed together? doesn't Nike sponsor OTC? Hard to trust this review with the conflict of interest, but he does seem pretty transparent.
It’s just a tshirt, we’re not affiliated with the Oregon Track Club.
@@DoctorsofRunning Thanks for clarifying. Your transparent review makes more sense to me now. Have a good one.
Brother gift me this shoes for Indian boy 😢 please
sure brah
who in their right frggin mind would take these out for an easy run haha
I’m pissed! Now everybody loves this sneaker, keep the same energy, I mean this sneaker was never hard to get now it seems like everyone loves this sneaker, to the point I feel like I’m not going to get my hands on this pair because everyone is on the bandwagon now!!🤨
alphafly is not built for runners above 3hours anyway....so i am not suprised if its built for faster pace. Hobby joggers dont need this shoe
Well… the only thing inappropriate about these shoes is the $$$$$$😂😂😂😂😂😂
5 min flat type of shoe
Gift me bro i am from india i want this shoes for 5km running i cannot afford this shoes
300 dollars. for shoes.
Bro Big fan from Pakistan. Bro gift me these shoes please