best racing shoe
5/5
Overall
it is a fast responsive shoe that I use for races and sometimes speedwork
Anonymous runner · Nov 28, 2023
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% 2
Racing · Neutral · Road · 6.2 oz · 8mm drop · 40/32mm stack
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Nike Alphafly 3 replaced it
How it ranks
The Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% 2 is one of the strongest racing shoes in our data. Looks and cushioning are its strongest sub-ratings. Value scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 23 runner reviews and 2 other rated shoes in the Alphafly product line.
Exceptional
99/100
Overall
99
Appearance
99
Cushioning
99
Comfort
98
Durability
77
Value
68
Confidence
100
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 will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
100/100
What runners say
“Too expensive to train in (can't waste the magic!).”
“They felt like I had to work a little harder to get the same pace out of the shoe than I had to on its first model.”
“Ran huge blisters in them.”
“Best suited to short, fast-paced workouts rather than long runs because of its firmer ride and prominent arch.”
“It has a very narrow midfoot.”
“The feedback is just not the same.”
“A more durable, flatter outsole and a wider, more stable midsole.”
“Fast responsive shoe.”
Prefer this shoe over another
33% 3/9
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.
Pros
- A 40mm heel stack at 6.2 oz.
- One reviewer calls it a fast, responsive shoe for races and occasional speedwork.
- One reviewer calls it a game changer for bigger distance runners over the marathon.
Cons
- Value is its lowest-rated dimension at 3.7 out of 5, and it lists at $295.
- Durability rates 3.9 out of 5, and one reviewer keeps them in reserve for race day only.
- Two reviewers find it a step back from the original Alphafly, and one of them got blisters from the narrow midfoot.
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
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Nike Alphafly
Each dot is one version of the Alphafly, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Rating
40
60
80
100
99
2020
99
2022
99
2024
Release year
-
2024 · 19 reviews
99 Exceptional
96 Confidence
-
Zoom Alphafly Next% 2 This shoe
2022 · 23 reviews
99 Exceptional
100 Confidence
-
2020 · 22 reviews
99 Exceptional
99 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 6.2 oz
- Release
- 2022 Q3
- MSRP
- $295
- Stack Height
- 40mm heel - 32mm toe
- Drop Height
- 8mm
Runner reviews
Brilliant Marathoning Shoe
5/5
Overall
The alphafly next% 2 is a game changer for bigger distance runners, like myself. Too expensive to train in (can't waste the magic!), I keep them fresh and in reserve, only taking them out for race day.
Anonymous runner · Aug 4, 2023
training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 2/5
- Appearance
- 2/5
- Value
- 2/5
More from Nike
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
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Best overall
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Best appearance
Newest
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Lowest price
Best comfort
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Shoe properties
Type
Racing
Racing
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
6.2 oz M
Lightest
7.7 oz M
8.5 oz M
Stack
40/32mm
—
40/35mm
Drop
8mm
8mm
5mm
Release
2022 Q3
2024 Q1
Newest
2023 Q1
MSRP
$295
$295
$145
Best price
—
$142.82
Lowest price
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Exceptional (99)
Best overall
Exceptional (99)
Exceptional (99)
Comfort
Exceptional (98)
Excellent (95)
Exceptional (99)
Best comfort
Cushioning
Exceptional (99)
Exceptional (97)
Exceptional (99)
Durability
Decent (77)
Below average (65)
Very good (92)
Best durability
Appearance
Exceptional (99)
Best appearance
Excellent (96)
Very good (91)
Value
Below average (68)
Good (84)
Good (88)
Best value
Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% 2 In Context
More on the Nike Alphafly
- Nike Alphafly 3 next version
- Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 1 runner
- Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% 1 runner
- Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% 1 runner