Alphafly 4 vs Adios Pro Evo 3: Bounce Against Bare Minimum

These two shoes come from very different ideas of what a race shoe should be. The Alphafly 4 is Nike's top shoe that most runners can actually buy. The Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 is Adidas stripping everything away in pursuit of the lightest possible marathon shoe.

Weight. This is the Evo 3's headline. Adidas says it breaks 100 g, and reviewers put it at around 97 g in its lightest size. The Alphafly 4 weighs about 208 g in a men's US 10. Even allowing for size differences, the Evo 3 is roughly half the weight. You feel that on every stride.

Stack and ride. Both sit near the 40 mm limit, but the shapes differ. The Alphafly 4 has an 8 mm drop with a 31 mm forefoot. The Evo 3 is closer to flat, with around 36 mm of foam under the forefoot, though published drop figures vary between 3 and 6 mm. Reviewers describe the Evo 3 as much softer and bouncier than the Evo 2, but also less stable than earlier Adidas racers. The Alphafly 4's Air pods and wider plate give a more structured, easier-to-control ride.

Durability. The Evo 3 is built for very few races. Its minimal upper and outsole save weight but wear faster, and Adidas doesn't pretend it's a shoe for training. The Alphafly 4 is still a race shoe, but it will survive workouts and a full marathon block far better.

Price and availability. The Evo 3 costs around $500 and has been released in limited drops, often to members first. The Alphafly 4 is around $280 and goes on general sale from October 29.

Our verdict: the Alphafly 4 is the better buy for nearly everyone. It's more stable, more durable, easier to find and $220 cheaper. The Adios Pro Evo 3 makes sense only for fast forefoot strikers chasing a specific time, who can get a pair and are happy to save it for one or two races. If you like Adidas's ride but not the price, the Adios Pro 4 is the sensible alternative.