Nike Alphafly 4: Lighter, Bouncier and $5 Cheaper
New foam, a wider plate and quieter Air pods. Nike's marathon shoe gets a real update, not just a new colourway.
The Alphafly 4 went on limited release through Nike on September 17, sold out fast, and reaches Nike and selected retailers on October 29. At around $280 it costs a little less than the Alphafly 3 did at launch, which is rare for a super shoe.
Most of the change is underfoot. ZoomX LT replaces the old ZoomX, the carbon Flyplate is wider for a more planted landing, and the Air Zoom pods are retuned to be quieter. Nike says the shoe is 5% lighter and returns 10% more energy than the Alphafly 3, though those figures come from Nike's own lab.
On the scale, a men's US 10 weighs about 208 g, roughly 10 g lighter than its predecessor. Stack is 39 mm at the heel and 31 mm at the forefoot, an 8 mm drop that stays just inside World Athletics' 40 mm limit for road racing. The Atomknit upper is new too.
Early reviews agree that the ride is still unmistakably Alphafly, bouncy and propulsive, but more stable than before, which was the 3's main weakness. A few testers say it still squeaks, and it remains a race-day shoe rather than something to train in every day.
Our verdict: if the Alphafly 3 suited you, the 4 is the easy upgrade. If earlier Alphaflys felt wobbly, this is the version worth trying again. Heel strikers who prefer ground-feel should still look at the Adios Pro 4.
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