Nike unveils Alphafly 4 marathon racing shoe

Nike has unveiled the Alphafly 4, the fourth generation of its premier marathon racing sneaker. The redesigned footwear is 5% lighter than its predecessor and offers a 10% increase in energy return.

Key technical updates include the introduction of ZoomX LT foam, which is 17% lighter and provides 8% more energy return than previous versions. The shoe also features a new seamless Atomknit upper, zoned midfoot cables, and a molded sock liner. Core components such as the carbon fiber Flyplate and dual Air Zoom units in the forefoot remain part of the design to optimize traction and performance.

The Alphafly lineage, which originated from Nike’s Breaking2 project, has been influenced by elite athletes including Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan. Addisu Gobena, winner of the Sydney Marathon, recently utilized the Alphafly 4, noting the confidence the footwear provided during difficult stages of the race. The shoe is available for early purchase on Nike’s website, with a general release scheduled for October 29.