Nike Alphafly 3 v Alphafly 2 v Alphafly 1: Comparisons

[@m.ch4rmaland3r10]

If the AF1 was still selling, I would pick that any day. I have four pairs of v1. My really first pair is close to 700km. Now I use it on fast trails. It is amazing if you land forefoot.

[@OldManRunner]

If only I could for the duration of the marathon…!

[@JohnBirtchetSharpe]

Loved the gate crasher at the end 😄. I have a full 2023 Saucony rotation for 2024 , so shoe rack filled up, but I appriciate the comparison.

[@OldManRunner]

Glad you enjoyed the end...wondered about leaving it in. I think a pair of New Balance shoes are arriving in Dublin today...might even be on the same flight as me...

[@shanegill5091]

Always the best reviews.

[@LiveYoung0]

Great Details ❤

[@andrewgiassa4987]

Great video & looking forward to seeing how do in Boston! I was able to snag a pair of Alphafly 3's in Volt colour this morning, plan to use these for an upcoming marathon in May!

[@OldManRunner]

Brilliant Andrew, I saw last night they were going on sale, they are nearly all gone now, only very small sizes left...

[@al_conroy]

The slow mo of the foot strike on the af3 was interesting, hard to see in real time, if you have slow mo of all three it would make an interesting short form video.

[@OldManRunner]

I had planned to do exactly that… but have had a complicated week… so might get it done at some stage in the next few…

[@bartekzielinski1645]

I also have a l o n g way to go before my multiple pairs of AF1s wear out ... but am looking forward to eventually getting into a pair of AF3s. They look like 🔥🔥🔥 and more importantly the quicker transition (without the decoupled midsole) will make it even harder to pick anything other than the 'magic clogs' for my top races. And I'm encouraged to hear that the heel width is the same on both AF1 and AF3. In all promo side shots, AF3 seems to have its heel taper in towards the ground so I'm glad the width is the same as AF1. The sound of an Alpha striking the ground is like the sound of a Harley-Davidson ... I'm gaining on you, all power, best let me pass = love it that everyone hears it coming behind them, they won't get in your way ... throw a casual, "morning" as you pass by 💨💨💨

[@bev9708]

😂😂 go Bartek go!!! 🚀 I just noticed in my last race it’s my breathing that alerts those quite a ways in front actually … I guess I’m a loud breather!!😂💨🏃🏻‍♀️💨 Even in my Alphaflys, others make WAY more footfall noise than I do, it really puts me off my cadence when they drop in behind me, slapping the ground so hard, so that just makes me run faster too!!!😁

[@OldManRunner]

It’s when someone is close behind you and they are plopping along for miles and never quite get by….

[@bev9708]

@@OldManRunner I’m happy when someone falls in beside me, but not behind me … it actually sounds louder behind too!!

[@bartekzielinski1645]

@@bev9708 @OldManRunner ... got to alternate taking the lead in a group ... otherwise you're either doing all the work 🥵 or freeloading 😴

[@bev9708]

@@bartekzielinski1645 Yeah of course I've heard this Bartek, but me, I guess I'm a loner ... I just do my own thing, 🎶all by myself🎶!!😅

[@bobgibson1303]

Was able to get a new AlphaFly 1 for $100, I will keep hunting for deals on the AF 1 as I do marathon training runs and will patiently wait for AF3 deals to come in the coming months

[@bev9708]

VERY interesting comparison Barry, thanks so much!!! You didn’t mention the "feel" of the drop Barry, ‘cause those drop stats are quite deceptive for how it actually feels… I think you agree that the V1 actually feels like a negative drop and for heel strikers like me it does take a little getting used to over the marathon distance!! The first time I ran a marathon in them, they severely pulled on my calves for the final 10k!! How does the drop on the V2 and 3 feel?? Also, have you checked out the paper linking mid-foot stress injuries to plated shoes?? I got this problem not long after getting my Alphaflys and that’s exactly where I feel pain after each marathon in them OR when I overdo my training a bit, I do a couple of days on the elliptical when it occurs, and regular barefoot yoga keeps it at bay!!

[@OldManRunner]

They do feel like a negative drop after I have tired myself in them. But I have never had any pain. I have seen the paper about the plates but have not read it in detail. I have found no ill effects from using them… so far… The drop on the V2 and V3 feels more natural…

[@bev9708]

@@OldManRunner Normally I don’t like drops over 4-5mm, but it totally depends on the shoe of course! I sure hated the On Cloudsurfer 7 for example, the drop feels way more than the 8mm of the specs

[@bartekzielinski1645]

@@bev9708 Hi Bev, try using a heel raise in your AF1s. You can get them online or from podiatrists or shoe stores. It's a wedge of foam which sits under your heel and changes the shoe drop. Worked wonders for me in AF1s, no more 'negative' drop 👍

[@TolunayOrkun]

I think that paper on plated shoes is not conclusive. Personally, the plate actually could even reduce the stress as it disperses the point stress over wider area. That said. having a rotation of slightly different shoes help avoid repetitive stress type injuries. Alphafly v1 requires strong calves due to its low drop (and different compression characteristics between zoomx and pods). v2/3 normalized that a bit. Strength training with heavy loading is useful. I spend some time at the calf extension machine every time I visit the gym.

[@bev9708]

@@TolunayOrkun OH totally agree on both counts Tolunay, though since the plate acts as a lever and not a spring as is widely believed, clearly it is removing some of the pressure from spreading across the toe area where it naturally should go, so certainly some level of adaptation would be advisable for most of us!! Hope you’re training is going well!!🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

[@timtrenholm3698]

AF V1 last year at 3:30hr was rough after 32km, after 37km my calves were screaming. AF V2 last fall at around 3:23 (moving time) on a hilly course, pouring rain and post tropical storm winds was a great shoe, but I definitely felt the added weight and bulk in the last 10k. But I felt great after the race, zero issues. AF V3 is pure magic for me personally, strongly suspect I will go sub 3:15 this May, and hopefully BQ for 2025 and not get cutoff. The reduced weight, added stability and smoothness during transition just works wonders for me. Curious to see what your Stryd pod LSS data says against the 3 shoes. Mine has the V1 the highest, with the V2 slightly behind it. But the V3 is significantly reduced and only slightly better than the Tempo Next%. But the HR data and RPE in the V3 beats the others significantly on shorter duration workouts.

[@OldManRunner]

Best wishes for May! Let me know how you get on. I have had a completely hectic week so I didn't get to do any long run data in the three shoes. I filmed the piece outside my front door. Will do.a comparison run of all three when in the next couple of weeks.

[@TolunayOrkun]

I think it was said that in v3 they moved the pods slightly more back to create a bit more rocker in the front and the end effect is that shoe has become more usable for mid-foot strikers and heel strikes do have time to load the pods in rolling over before toe-off. Oh, the noise is almost the same level for me. Not much improvement. I think covering the middle of the shoe has muffled some of the sound from the pods.

[@OldManRunner]

I tried to measure if the foot pods had moved. I could not measure that they had, at least not significantly… but it is a better shoe for me…

[@mrmoneymark]

Really helpful video, thank you. Between the 1 and 3, which would you wear for a marathon?

[@OldManRunner]

Me, the 3. I sag back too much in the 1 and use it for shorter distance racing an time trials. I liked the 2, but the additional weight meant I did not race in it. The light weight/high drop in the 3 seems better to me...

[@mrmoneymark]

@@OldManRunner Thanks! First marathon on Sunday, and completely torn between the1 and 3😬

[@OldManRunner]

Very best wishes for Sunday. To be honest you will make the most difference, not the shoe. If you are a forefoot striker, which I am not, the 1 might suit really well.

[@mrmoneymark]

@@OldManRunner Thank you!

[@ChristopherPietruczuk]

alfa 2 are broken -5sek per km