When Kipchoge crossed the finish line, he did so in a pair of unreleased prototype shoesthe latest of Nike's world-beating % series, carbon plate-loaded super runners that have helped to spark a speed revolution across the athletic footwear industry. Now, the Breaking 2 shoe, dubbed the Air Zoom Alpha Fly Next% , is finally available in its finished consumer form after being revealed in February . I had a chance to hit the road and log some miles in a pair of my own before their wide release today for $250 on Nike.com. They'll likely sell out immediately, but heyin the case of the Alpha Fly Next%, speed matters above all else.
The Alpha Fly might look funky, but there's methodand strict design parametersbehind the madness. As Nike and other companies have continued to develop their racing shoes, which are largely designed to improve running economy, the governing bodies of the running world responded. Some even called for bans of the technologically advanced shoes. Ahead of the now-delayed 2020 Olympic Games, the World Athletics Council published a new set of rules to clarify what exactly would be fit for the road and track going forward. Shoes without spikes can have soles no thicker than 40mm and can only contain one embedded plate or blade of any kind (Kipchoge's prototype shoe from the Breaking 2 run was rumored to have up to three plates).
The production Alpha Flys conform to these new standards, with one full-length carbon fiber plate and a roughly 39mm stack of ZoomX foam, the super-responsive material that helped to make the earlier models in the % line the most popular marathon shoes on the market. New in this model are a pair of Zoom Air pods in the forefoot, which add to the Alpha Fly's sci-fi look (Nike says the inclusion is to add even more energy return), and ridiculously light and thin upper material called Atomknit. Even with all that foam, the Alpha Flys weigh in at just 7.4 ounces. Add a black and neon green launch colorway and pointed rear sole, and these kicks are what I imagine ultra fast aliens might wear.
How the Air Zoom Alpha Fly Next% Feels on Your Feet
Lacing up, the Air Zoom Alpha Fly Next % feel like nothing else I've put on my feet. The Atomknit upper is so thin I feel feel like I might tear it with one errant tug of the laces (so far it hasn't, it's quite sturdy), and there is absolutely no wasted space for cushioning above the midsole. These are as narrow as anything I've ever wornbut the toe box is wide enough to feel comfortable. There is no wasted material, and therefore no wasted weight.
I've tested out some other carbon plate racersBrooks' first run at the Hyperion Elite , Hoka's Carbon X, and most recently, Saucony's excellent Endorphin Probut none have as much foam as the Alpha Fly. I feel taller than when I'm wearing any other shoe, which is almost disconcerting at first. The ZoomX foam feels immediately responsive, however, so it's clear why there's so much of it. Each step feels bouncy, like how Nike's old Shox design used to be marketed in commercials, but actually in real life.
Once I start running, I can feel the effect of the carbon plates, helping to drive forward into each stride. The push is almost aggressive, and if you're not ready for that pace, I can imagine that burnout might come more quickly than usual. Especially on straightaways, the Alpha Fly almost makes my legs feel more like a vehicle to be steered than my own two feet in a pair of shoes. I took multiple runs wearing the shoes during testinga few quick jaunts to really try to open up the speed, and a longer 10 miler to establish a strong paceand the most surprising thing to me was how light they felt. At the end of my long run, my legs were spent, but I had no problem picking up my feet to avoid shuffling down the home stretch.
Do You Need Super Shoes?
After the Breaking 2 event and runners wearing the % series for top finishes in races around the world , the shoes and their carbon plate peers have become something of a status symbol among runners. But the Air Zoom Alpha Fly is not for the casual crowd. You should save the kicks for maybe one tune-up training session to get the feel, then race dayespecially because the shoes have a stricter mileage limit than your typical trainers before their foam is toast. While a Nike rep didn't confirm the exact estimate, stating that the range is different for each wearer and their gait on background, other specialized racers have topped out around 100 miles. The Alpha Fly might be more durable than those shoes, but it's still not a pair you should lace up for a casual Sunday jog, lest you run them down too quickly.
The price tag is another deterrent for non-competitive runners. Speed comes at a premiumin this case, $250 a pair, if you can even find them. That might not be a big deal for ultra dedicated racers looking to shave times off their PRs or qualify for bigger, better races, but for anyone else, a less expensive shoe can serve them just as well.
But if that describes you and you're looking for an edge, you won't be able to do much better than the Alpha Fly. These shoes have a reputation for a reason.