Nike Alphafly 4 Review: Is It the Best Nike Racing Shoe?
I've just raced the Shoreditch Half Marathon in the Nike Alphafly 4, so this review is based on race day, not a easy jog around the block. I think race shoes should be judged when you're pushing hard and every gram and every rub matters. This isn't a paid advert either. Nike isn't paying me, and these are my honest opinions.
What's new in the Alphafly 4?
The Alphafly 4 got an early, brief release ahead of the Copenhagen Championships, with the full launch on 29 October 2026 and a lot more colourways to come, including a pink that matches the launch colour of the Pegasus Plus 2.
The price has come down to £255 from £285. The stack height is 39mm in the heel and 31mm in the forefoot, an 8mm drop. The Air Zoom unit in the forefoot is claimed to be 30% lighter, and the shoe overall is 5% lighter than the Alphafly 3. Much of that saving comes from a new ZoomX LT foam in the top layer, which Nike says returns 10% more energy than standard ZoomX. Underneath sits the regular ZoomX. There's also an updated Atomknit upper, a wider base and a redesigned, sculpted Flyplate. My UK 9.5 weighs 213g, and the fit is true to size.
Visually it's very close to the Alphafly 3, which has disappointed some people. I don't think that's a bad thing.
Why has the price dropped?
There's a good reason. Nike is expected to launch a new shoe called the Apex, possibly by the end of the year, that slots above the Alphafly in its range. Think of it as Nike's answer to Adidas's record-setting Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, which costs around £400. The Apex will likely be well over £300, so the Alphafly 4 is being repositioned below it.
Is the Alphafly 4 still noisy?
Only slightly better. Nike has made a big deal of reducing the noise, and the shoe is a fraction quieter than the Alphafly 3, but the trade-off is more squeaking. It squeaks for fun. I think it comes from the Air pods, because Nike's Vomero Premium and Pegasus Premium do the same. People love to complain about the noise of On shoes, but Nike's Air shoes are just as guilty.
That said, I barely noticed it during the race. With so many shoes around you at a half marathon, plenty of other pairs were squeaking too, including a runner's New Balance SC Elite v6 near me. It's still loud, just not as loud as the Alphafly 3.
The arch problem
The big news for me is the arch. The Alphafly 3 tore my arch to pieces and left me with awful blisters, and plenty of you have reported similar problems. I was nervous about wearing the Alphafly 4 on a warm race day, but I had no rubbing and no blisters at all. Everyone's feet are different, but for mine that's a huge improvement.
Upper and fit
I think the upper is an improvement over the previous model. It's breathable, my feet didn't overheat, and there was no rubbing anywhere. The sawtooth laces help with lockdown, and the padding at the back of the heel does its job well. It looks similar to the Alphafly 3, but it feels better on foot.
How does the ZoomX LT foam ride?
It feels lighter, softer and more responsive than I remember the Alphafly 3 being. Even at 213g, the shoe doesn't feel heavy. It's bouncy and simply nice to run in, and I didn't notice the weight at any point during the race.
The weight problem
That said, 213g is heavy compared to the competition, and I agree with anyone who says so. I suspect much of the weight comes from the Air Zoom unit, even with Nike's claimed reductions. Look at the other top-end racing shoes and none of them use air pods, gel or similar tech. Their makers have stripped it out to save weight.
I think Nike needs to rethink its approach. The Pegasus Plus 2 shows off the same technology as if it were magic, but it isn't, and it doesn't feel top end. With the likes of Adidas and ASICS moving to ATPU foams, this ZoomX and Air pod combination feels about five or six years old. Nike needs something new.
Is the Alphafly 4 just a minor update?
Honestly, yes, and I agree with those of you who say so. But performance matters more, and it performs much better for me than the Alphafly 3. I really enjoyed running in it. The outsole was brilliant, the stability was good, and I could pick up the pace with ease. I was gobsmacked by how much I enjoyed it, because the Alphafly has been hit and miss for me over the years.
Every update should improve the shoe, and this one does. The foam is better, the stability is better, the upper is better and the price is lower. Some of you will want more, and that's fair, but I think Nike has done a good job here.
