NIKE ALPHAFLY 4 REVIEW
You know, that mate who was once the best at his company, and who comes back one day to tell you that some new guy has taken his job? He's still as good, still as reliable, but he's no longer the boss. That's exactly the story of the Alphafly 4. For years, the Alphafly ruled Nike's performance range. This season, the Apex has stolen its title as the brand's ultimate shoe. The Alphafly is therefore changing roles: it's no longer the experimental rocket of the range, it's now the safe choice for eating up marathons. We'd worn the V3 a lot, so we were curious to see how the new one had taken its demotion.
Tester: Lionel Fracture
Test duration: 2 long runs in a marathon build-up (around 45 km)
Usage context: Sunday morning long runs and marathon pace
Looks
No revolution, but it didn't really need one. The design stays effective and futuristic, with its visible Air Zoom cushions at the forefoot and its silhouette recognisable 200 metres away in a start pen. We'd have liked a bit more daring in the refresh: placed next to the V3, you need a trained eye to spot the difference. But when a line works, you don't break it.
Comfort
Here’s the real good news: the Alphafly 4 is much easier to put on. No more wrestling match with the shoe when you put it on in the start pen. The Atomknit upper has been refined and holds the foot more precisely. As for size, nothing changes: go with your usual size.
Nike promised us silence, at the request of its elite athletes: with the previous versions, there was no way to surprise a rival in a final sprint: you could hear them slapping the road long before you saw them. It may be a little quieter, but you can still hear it, especially on a Sunday morning when you're the only one in the group wearing them. To be honest, we’re not complaining that much: the sound of a pack of Alphaflys hitting the tarmac remains one of our favourite running sounds.
Performance
Underfoot, the Alphafly 4 stays very close to the V3, which is rather good news for those who loved it. Nike has nevertheless revised the recipe under the hood: a new, lighter ZoomX foam above the carbon plate, redesigned and lighter Air Zoom cushions at the forefoot, a wider carbon plate and base. Result: a light, cushioned and bouncy feel, with improved stability that you notice when your legs start to tire after 30 km. It’s a shoe that never surprises you, for better or worse. Over a marathon, that’s exactly what you want from it.
And if you still doubt what it’s capable of, ask Alassan: he set his marathon PB in the Alphafly 4, 2:24:13 at Berlin. Demoted perhaps, but still capable of smashing PBs.
Our verdict on the Nike Alphafly 4
No nasty surprises, no revolution either: the Alphafly 4 is a well-judged evolution, a very safe choice for long distances.
What we loved about the Nike Alphafly 4: it finally slips on with no effort, it gains stability without losing any of its bounce and it keeps that futuristic design that still makes an impact. We would have liked a bit more visual novelty and the promised silence, even if, mid-run, we’ve grown fond of its noise. For Alphafly loyalists looking for a sure thing for their next marathon PB, this is the pair. For Nike's latest and greatest, you'll have to look at the Apex. And if you want to compare with another approach to the long-distance super shoe, check out our LightSpray Cloudboom Strike 2 review.
Tech specs for the Nike Alphafly 4
- Weight: 208 g (men's US 10), 188 g (men's US 8.5 / women's US 10), 168 g (women's US 8)
- Sizes: true to size
- Drop: 8 mm
- Stack: 39 mm at the heel, 31 mm at the forefoot
- Price: €279.99
- Tech: ZoomX foam, Air Zoom cushions at the forefoot, Flyplate carbon plate, Atomknit upper
- Availability: limited edition since 17 September on nike.com, then more widely from 29 October on nike.com and in a selection of shops
As with most of the reviews we do, the product was provided by the brand for testing.