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Nike Zoom Alphafly Next%

Racing shoe · Neutral · Road · 6.9 oz · 39/35mm stack · 4mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% 2 replaced it

How it ranks

The Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% is one of the strongest racing shoes in our data. Looks and cushioning are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 22 runner reviews and 1 other rated shoe in the Alphafly Next% product line.

Nike Zoom Alphafly Next%

of 4

Exceptional

99
Overall
99
Appearance
99
Cushioning
98
Comfort
84
Value
73
Durability
69
Confidence

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

86 High

86

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

  1. Our ratings
  2. Brand rating
  3. External ratings

What runners say

“My feet don't feel beat up after a run in the alphafly like they do with any other shoes.”
5/5 Full review 20 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 12
“The Alphafly is the fastest of them with limitless rebound.”
5/5 Full review 1 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
“Amazing lock down though a tad narrow in the midfoot.”
4/5 Full review 10 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
“The width of the heel causes me to hit my ankle and cut up the skin there.”
4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
“Could really feel the difference in race speed and recovery time.”
4/5 Full review 20 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 26
“Bouncy and responsive as nothing else.”
4/5 Full review 10 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
“The toe-bumper is rigid/hard.”
4/5 Full review 10 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
“They wearout fast but it's worth it!”
5/5 Full review 20 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 12
“The arch seemed to dig into my foot and needed a lot of breaking in.”
4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
“Really durable and seems to be able to deal with a lot of miles.”
4/5 Full review 10 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
“Performance benefits seem on par with the Vaporfly, with less comfort and more cost.”
4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
“The recovery is a big deal.”
4/5 Full review 20 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 26
“These are bulky.”
4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
“Incredibly light as well.”
5/5 Full review 1 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%

Prefer this shoe over another

55% 6/11

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.


Pros

  • Reviewers call the ride bouncy and responsive, one of them the fastest of the super shoes he owns.
  • Light at 7.4 oz for a 40mm stack.
  • Three reviewers say their legs recover faster after races in it.

Cons

  • Durability is its lowest-rated dimension at 3.9 out of 5, and one reviewer says they wear out fast.
  • Two of twenty-two reviewers find the midfoot narrow, and one reports the arch digging in and the heel collar cutting the skin at the ankle.
  • It lists at $275, and value rates 4.1 out of 5.

Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale

Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.

Confidence
50 60 70 80 90 100 25 50 75 100

Better Shoes Rating

Zoom Alphafly Next% rates 99. This shoe has high confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Nike Alphafly Next%

Each dot is one version of the Alphafly Next%, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.
  • Zoom Alphafly Next% 2

    2022 · 23 reviews

    99 Exceptional

    87 Confidence

  • Zoom Alphafly Next% This shoe

    2020 · 22 reviews

    99 Exceptional

    86 Confidence

Runner Ratings

22 ratings
5/5 17
4/5 5
3/5 0
2/5 0
1/5 0

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight
6.9 oz
Men's / women's
Men's 7.4 oz · Women's 6.5 oz
Release
2020 Q2
MSRP
$275
Stack
39/35mm
Drop
4mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 1–5 of 9 written reviews

Best shoe

5/5

Overall

Nah 

Anonymous runner · Dec 20, 2023

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

alphafly

5/5

Overall

I'm 6'2", 168 lbs. and my feet don't feel beat up after a run in the alphafly like they do with any other shoes, they wearout fast but it's worth it !

David Owens · Nov 1, 2023

20 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 12

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
2/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
4/5

This shoe enables volume for an older runner

5/5

Overall

Nike AF's have played a role in my ability to run volume sufficient to achieve my goal: BQ.  In the process, my times at shorter distances have improved.  In summary, Alpha Fly's are an important part of my ability to train then recover.

Anonymous runner · Jul 31, 2023

45 mpw training for a marathon

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Costs high but this one is worth it

5/5

Overall

Believe it or not I actually set a (Masters) record for the outdoor 3k in this shoe. (as well as 5k and 10k road) . Apparently not for everyone but for me the "super shoe to rule all super shoes" - just wish you could still get them 

Bhudha of Bushy · Jul 31, 2023

training for a half marathon came from the Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% 2

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Fastest of the super shoes

5/5

Overall

I own almost every super shoe and the Alphafly is the fastest of them with limitless rebound. Much more stable  than the Next % 1 and 2. Incredibly light as well. Would not change a thing about this shoe. I don’t have the Alphafly 2, but I am not surprised it did not get as positive reviews as this shoe is pretty much perfection 

P. Gino · Jul 29, 2023

1 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%

Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

More from Nike

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
Choose a model
Best appearance / Best value rating
Best comfort / Best durability
Lightest / Newest
Shoe properties
Type
Racing shoe
Racing shoe
Racing shoe
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
6.9 oz
6.6 oz
6.1 oz Lightest
Stack
39/35mm
40/32mm
35/29mm
Drop
4mm
8mm
6mm
Release
2020 Q2
2022 Q3
2025 Newest
MSRP
$275
$295
$260 Lower MSRP
Best price
—
—
$111
Ratings
Overall
99 Exceptional
99 Exceptional
98 Exceptional
Comfort
84 Good
93 Excellent Best comfort
86 Good
Cushioning
98 Exceptional
98 Exceptional
97 Exceptional
Durability
69 Below average
72 Decent Best durability
53 Bottom-tier
Appearance
99 Exceptional Best appearance
98 Exceptional
98 Exceptional
Value
73 Decent Best value rating
67 Below average
69 Below average
Specific shoe

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