Nike Alphafly 3 vs Vaporfly 4: Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Oct 23, 2026 06:14 PM

See Nike Alphafly 3 Review

Heel Stack Height 39.8 mm

Weight 200.7 g (7.08 oz)

Heel-To-Toe Drop 6.4 mm

Plate Carbon Fiber

Heel Stack Height 35.1 mm

Weight 160.5 g (5.66 oz)

Heel-To-Toe Drop 8.8 mm

Plate Carbon Fiber

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Our Verdict

Nike Alphafly 3

Nike Vaporfly 4

The Nike Alphafly 3 is a better racer than the Nike Vaporfly 4 for the marathon. It's more stable and more protective over longer distances. The Vaporfly 4 is lighter, making it the better pick for 5K through half-marathon racing.

Variants

Alphafly 3 (Black/Olive Aura/Metallic Silver - (Men - US 9))
Alphafly 3 (Bright Crimson/Lime Blast/Mint Foam/Cave Purple - (Men - US 9))

Vaporfly 4 (Bright Crimson/Mint Foam/Cave Purple/Lime Blast - (Men - US 9))
Vaporfly 4 (Bright Crimson/Mint Foam/Cave Purple/Lime Blast - (Women - US 7))

Review

See Nike Vaporfly 4 Review

Check Price

Main Differences for

Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing

8.2

7.2

Forefoot Stack Height

33.4 mm

26.4 mm

Heel Stack Height

39.8 mm

35.1 mm

Weight

8.1

9.1

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

7.8

5.8

Outsole Arch Width

68 mm (2.7")

50 mm (2.0")

Full Comparison

Half/Full Marathon Racing

8.2

7.2

5K/10K Racing

8.1

8.5

Long Run

7.6

6.4

Daily Training

6.3

5.7

Design

Energy Return

8.2

8.4

Stability

6.9

5.7

Cushioning

7.8

6.3

Traction

4.6

5.4

Outsole Durability

6.0

7.4

Wet & Warm Weather

8.0

8.8

Bounciness

7.0

6.8

Snappiness

8.2

Roll

7.9

7.0

True To Size

9.0

7.6

Design

Weight

8.1

9.1

Right Shoe Weight Photo

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Left Shoe Weight Photo

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Weight

200.7 g (7.08 oz)

160.5 g (5.66 oz)

Stack Heights

Stack Height Photo

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Heel Stack Height

39.8 mm

35.1 mm

Forefoot Stack Height

33.4 mm

26.4 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop

6.4 mm

8.8 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop

8.0 mm

6.0 mm

External Shape

3D Model Full Shoe

Preview 3D

Outsole Heel Width

91 mm (3.6")

75 mm (3.0")

Outsole Arch Width

68 mm (2.7")

50 mm (2.0")

Outsole Forefoot Width

116 mm (4.6")

108 mm (4.3")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio

2.29

2.13

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio

3.47

3.84

Internal Shape

3D Model Internal

Preview 3D

Internal Length

273 mm (10.7")

271 mm (10.7")

Internal Heel Width

59 mm (2.3")

60 mm (2.4")

Internal Forefoot Width

90 mm (3.5")

92 mm (3.6")

Wide Sizing Available

Forefoot Fit: Width

9.4

8.6

Forefoot Width Photo

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Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation

-0.8 mm (-0.032")

-3.4 mm (-0.134")

Toe TTS Deviation

-2.2 mm (-0.087")

0.8 mm (0.032")

Forefoot Fit: Height

9.7

Forefoot Height Photo

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Toe TTS Deviation

-0.8 mm (-0.030")

-0.8 mm (-0.032")

Arch Fit: Width

6.2

6.7

Arch Fit Photo

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Arch Width TTS Deviation

-5.6 mm (-0.219")

-5.0 mm (-0.196")

Length Fit

7.0

Toe Clearance Photo

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Heel Rocker Geometry

6.6

7.5

Heel Rocker Photo

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Heel Spring

16 mm (0.6")

20 mm (0.8")

Heel Apex Position

15.3%

18.1%

Heel Rocker Angle

21.3°

21.8°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry

6.7

6.8

Forefoot Rocker Photo

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Toe Spring

45 mm (1.8")

46 mm (1.8")

Toe Apex Position

66.4%

60.1%

Forefoot Rocker Angle

26.6°

22.7°

Foam

Primary Foam Picture

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Secondary Foam Picture

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Primary Foam Name

ZoomX

Primary Foam Type

PEBA

Secondary Foam Name

No Secondary Foam

Secondary Foam Type

No Secondary Foam

Laces

Laces Picture

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Lace Type

Sawtooth

Flat

Width

6.0 mm (0.2")

4.0 mm (0.2")

Thickness

1.2 mm (0.0")

1.6 mm (0.1")

Stretch

10.5%

20.0%

Breathability

7.5

Breathability Video

Upper Breathability

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Upper Microscope Photo

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Time-To-Dry

8.1

9.7

Time-To-Dry Timelapse

Time-To-Dry Graph

Preview Graph

Time To 30% Dry

5.1 hrs

2.7 hrs

Time To 70% Dry

14.9 hrs

6.7 hrs

Time To Dry

24.3 hrs

11.8 hrs

Water Absorption

8.4

9.6

Dry Weight Photo

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Wet Weight Photo

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Water Absorbed

35.6%

23.3%

Other Features

Other Features Photo

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Tongue Gusset Type

Non-gusseted

Plate

Carbon Fiber

Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return

8.2

8.6

Heel Compression Video

Heel Energy Return

Preview Graph

Heel Energy Return

82.0%

84.4%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return

8.2

8.3

Forefoot Compression Video

Forefoot Energy Return

Preview Graph

Forefoot Energy Return

82.2%

82.6%

Heel Cushioning

7.6

6.4

Heel Cushioning Picture

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Heel Cushioning

Preview Graph

Energy Absorbed At 550N

3.82 J

3.64 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N

9.18 J

8.00 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N

14.96 J

12.32 J

Forefoot Cushioning

8.0

6.2

Forefoot Cushioning Picture

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Forefoot Cushioning

Preview Graph

Energy Absorbed At 800N

4.68 J

4.09 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N

8.55 J

6.59 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N

13.10 J

9.46 J

Heel Firmness

7.4

7.8

Heel Firmness Graph

Preview Graph

Firmness At 550N

38.8 N/mm

38.4 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N

52.3 N/mm

55.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N

75.9 N/mm

82.9 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness

7.9

8.8

Forefoot Firmness Graph

Preview Graph

Firmness At 800N

57.0 N/mm

60.8 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N

73.1 N/mm

83.3 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N

99 N/mm

118 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

7.8

5.8

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Preview Graph

Nike Vaporfly 4 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km

8.41 J

6.30 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km

8.33 J

6.19 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km

8.27 J

6.11 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km

8.24 J

6.06 J

Rocker Stiffness

7.9

6.9

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Preview Graph

Nike Vaporfly 4 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker

117 N

83 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

8.0

8.7

Forefoot Bending Video

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Preview Graph

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

71.3%

78.1%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness

9.5

8.5

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

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Forefoot Bending Resistance

Preview Graph

Nike Vaporfly 4 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness

41.6 N/mm

28.0 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force

484 N

325 N

Forefoot Compression Depth

6.1

5.4

Forefoot Compression Graph

Preview Graph

Nike Vaporfly 4 Forefoot Compression Graph

Forefoot Compression At 800N

14.0 mm

13.2 mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N

17.8 mm

15.6 mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N

20.6 mm

17.4 mm

Heel Compression Depth

6.3

6.0

Heel Compression Graph

Preview Graph

Heel Compression At 550N

14.2 mm

Sliding Force

60.0 N (13.5 lbf)

60.3 N (13.6 lbf)

Coefficient Of Friction

0.36

0.59

Exposed Foam

6.0

7.0

Outsole Photo

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Heel Exposed Foam

4.0

Forefoot Exposed Foam

8.0

Outsole Abrasion Wear

6.0

7.5

Outsole Durability Video

Outsole Durability Photo

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Nike Vaporfly 4 Outsole Durability Photo

Heel Abrasion Wear

4.0

6.0

Forefoot Abrasion Wear

8.0

9.0

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