The Vaporfly 3 is lighter, more agile and cheaper than the Alphafly 3 and a great choice for racing at any distance. However, it is not the most durable shoe and less stable than the Alphafly 3.
For
- Lighter than Alphafly 3
- Less expensive
- Still very promotional
Against
- The outsole is not durable
- Narrower and less stable
- Less propellant than Alphafly 3
The latest version of the Alphafly 3 is almost as light as the Vaporfly 3, and Air Zoom pods under the forefoot add even more bounce. However, it is one of the more expensive shoes and the Vaporfly 3 matches its performance for smaller events.
For
- Propulsive, efficient driving
- The lightest Alphafly to date
- More durable outsole than Vaporfly
Against
- Expensive
- Heavier than Vaporfly 3
The original Nike Vaporfly was the shoe that started the carbon plate running shoe revolution, and the latest version—the Nike Vaporfly 3—remains one of the best available. However, I rate Nike’s newest running shoe, the Nike Alphafly 3, higher than the Vaporfly 3.
It’s pretty close, though, and there’s definitely a case to be made for the Vaporfly 3, especially if you’re focused on shorter races. I’ve run and logged many miles in both the Alphafly 3 and Vaporfly 3, as well as previous generations of the shoe — here are the key differences to consider.
Nike Vaporfly 3 vs. Nike Alphafly 3: Price and Availability
The Nike Vaporfly 3 launches in February 2023 and costs $250 in the US and £235 in the UK, with some editions such as the Eluid Kipchoge colorway being slightly more expensive. The Nike Alphafly 3 launches in January 2024 and costs $285/£285. As the older shoe of the pair, the Vaporfly 3 is most likely to appear on sale and has been widely discounted in the UK during Black Friday 2023.
How I tested these running shoes
I’ve run more than 100 miles in the Nike Vaporfly 3 and about 50 miles in the Nike Alphafly 3. I’ve run twice in both shoes, including running 2 hours 33 minutes in the 2023 London Marathon in the Vaporfly, as well as several hard training sessions sessions in both. I’ve also tested every generation of both shoes, running my current marathon PR of 2hr 28min in the Vaporfly 2, as well as 2hr 30min marathons in the Alphafly 1 and 2.
Design And Fit
There are more similarities than differences in the overall designs of the two shoes. Both use Nike’s lightweight and springy Peba-based ZoomX foam in the midsole, and both feature a full-length carbon fiber plate running through that foam to help create a more efficient and propulsive ride.
Both shoes also have a 40mm stack height in the heel. and a drop of 8 mm. The shoes are also quite heavy—the Vaporfly 3 is 7.3oz/206g in my UK size 9, the Alphalfy 3 is 7.7oz/220g.
The main difference between the shoes is the addition of Air Zoom pods under the forefoot of the Nike Alphafly. These pods are more stable than ZoomX foam and according to Nike offer more energy return than foam alone.
The Alphafly is also a slightly wider shoe and its plate is wider on the inside of the foot to create more stability than with the Vaporfly, although neither is particularly stable given the large stack of soft foam underneath from the feet.
In the past, the Alphafly had a large notch in the center of the midsole that separated the foam in the front and back of the shoe, but the Alphafly 3 now has a continuous midsole, which creates a smoother ride and a more similar feel. with Vaporfly 3.
Both uppers are lightweight and breathable, with the Alphafly 3 using Nike’s Atomknit 3.0 material and a bootie-style fit, while the Vaporfly 3 features a Flyknit mesh upper and a more traditional tongue design.
I found that both shoes fit me well in my normal running shoe size, but I prefer the heel design of the Alphafly 3 which creates a comfortable, secure fit. With the Vaporfly 3 the thin strip of padding in the back sometimes irritated my Achilles or caused heel rubbing and I had to lock the shoe with the heel to reduce it.
Both shoes have fairly minimal rubber coverage on the outsole to keep weight down, but while the Alphafly 3’s rubber seems pretty durable, the Vaporfly 3’s outsole started to show wear after just 30 miles, especially in the heel.
This wear wasn’t too bad for me and I haven’t noticed any drop in performance after 100 miles, but other runners I know have completely torn the rubber in the heel of the shoe, so the Alphafly 3 seems to have the edge in durability.
Running performance
I consider the Vaporfly 3 and Alphalfy 3 to be the two best racing shoes on the market (although I haven’t tried the super expensive Adidas Pro Evo 1 yet) and they share some characteristics. Both put you forward on your toes and help propel you on your way, while having the comfort for big events while also being light and fast enough for short ones.
I’ve run in both shoes at the same time and also did a workout where I did one set of reps in the Vaporfly 3 and another in the Alphafly 3, and the Air Zoom pods were the main difference I noticed between the two. The Alphafly 3 has a firmer feel in the forefoot and the pods add a bit more spring to your toes.
The Alphafly 3 also feels better and more stable when cruising at your racing pace, but the narrower Vaporfly 3 feels lighter and more agile when accelerating or rounding tight turns.
I’ve also found that when you’re getting tired from racing, the lightness of the Vaporfly 3 means it’s easier to rotate your feet in the shoe and it doesn’t feel too different underfoot compared to when you’re fresher. The Alphafly 3 felt at its best when I was running with control early in races and it helps you keep a pace as you tire, but it’s not as easy to get the same bounce out of the shoe when you’re tired.
Verdict
For me, the Nike Alphafly 3 is the best overall running shoe, especially if you’re planning to run a marathon, where the extra push you get from the shoe and the way it helps you keep up your race even when you’re tired. making it the best bet for PB seekers.
However, the Vaporfly 3 is an equally good choice for shorter races, and is still an amazing marathon shoe. It’s also the cheapest shoe, especially since it goes on sale pretty regularly now, and if you already own the Vaporfly 3 I wouldn’t feel compelled to rush out and buy the Alphafly 3.
