Nike Alphafly 3 vs Vaporfly 3

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Nike Alphafly 3
Nike Vaporfly 3

Tested using Methodology v0.10

Updated Feb 27, 2026 07:52 PM

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Nike.com

Tested using Methodology v0.8.2

Updated Oct 21, 2025 07:59 PM

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  1. Recommended in 2 articles:
  2. Nike
  3. Marathon

Our Verdict

Nike Alphafly 3

Nike Vaporfly 3

The Nike Vaporfly 3 and the Nike Alphafly 3 are two premium racing shoes, each catering to different types of runners and race distances, and your choice will depend on your priorities. The Vaporfly 3 is lighter and more agile and provides a firmer ride, making it a strong choice for shorter-distance races up to the half-marathon. It also has a lower stack height. However, the Alphafly 3 has somewhat better lateral stability, making it better suited for marathon racing. It's more cushioned, which can help absorb impact, especially in the later miles of a race. While the Vaporfly 3 is more snappy for shorter distances, the Alphafly 3 is designed to optimize efficiency over 26.2 miles, making it the preferred option for marathon specialists.

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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 3 (Black/Black/Oatmeal/Metallic Gold Grain - (Women - US 7))
  • Vaporfly 3 (Black/Olive Aura/Metallic Medium Ash - (Men - US 9))
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Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

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Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

N/A
N/A

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Nike Alphafly 3 Right Shoe Weight Photo Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Right Shoe Weight Photo Sample

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Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Nike Alphafly 3 Left Shoe Weight Photo Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Left Shoe Weight Photo Sample

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Weight 
 

Lock g (Lock oz)
Lock g (Lock oz)
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Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Nike Alphafly 3 Stack Height Photo Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Stack Height Photo Sample

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Heel Stack Height 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm
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External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Nike Alphafly 3 3D Model Full Shoe Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 3D Model Full Shoe Sample

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Outsole Heel Width 
 

Lock mm (Lock")
Lock mm (Lock")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

Lock mm (Lock")
Lock mm (Lock")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

Lock mm (Lock")
Lock mm (Lock")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

Lock
Lock

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

Lock
Lock

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Nike Alphafly 3 3D Model Internal Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 3D Model Internal Sample

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Internal Length 
 

Lock mm (Lock")
Lock mm (Lock")

Internal Heel Width 
 

Lock mm (Lock")
Lock mm (Lock")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

Lock mm (Lock")
Lock mm (Lock")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Locked
Locked
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Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

N/A
N/A

Forefoot Width Photo  

Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Width Photo Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Forefoot Width Photo Sample

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Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

Lock mm (Lock")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

Lock mm (Lock")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

N/A
N/A

Forefoot Height Photo  

Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Height Photo Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Forefoot Height Photo Sample

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Toe TTS Deviation 
 

Lock mm (Lock")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

N/A
N/A

Arch Fit Photo  

Nike Alphafly 3 Arch Fit Photo Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Arch Fit Photo Sample

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Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

Lock mm (Lock")

Length Fit 
 

N/A
N/A

Toe Clearance Photo  

Nike Alphafly 3 Toe Clearance Photo Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Toe Clearance Photo Sample

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Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Nike Alphafly 3 Other Features Photo Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Other Features Photo Sample

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Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Plate 
 

Locked
Locked
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

N/A
N/A

Heel Compression Video  

Nike Alphafly 3 Heel Compression Video Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Heel Compression Video Sample

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Heel Energy Return  

Nike Alphafly 3 Heel Energy Return Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Heel Energy Return Sample

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Heel Energy Return 
 

Lock%
Lock%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

N/A
N/A

Forefoot Compression Video  

Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Compression Video Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Forefoot Compression Video Sample

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Forefoot Energy Return  

Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Energy Return Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Forefoot Energy Return Sample

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Forefoot Energy Return 
 

Lock%
Lock%
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Heel Cushioning 
 

N/A
N/A

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Nike Alphafly 3 Heel Cushioning Picture Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Heel Cushioning Picture Sample

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Heel Cushioning  

Nike Alphafly 3 Heel Cushioning Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Heel Cushioning Sample

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Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

Lock J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

Lock J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

Lock J
Lock J
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Forefoot Cushioning 
 

N/A
N/A

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Cushioning Picture Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Forefoot Cushioning Picture Sample

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Forefoot Cushioning  

Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Cushioning Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Forefoot Cushioning Sample

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Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

Lock J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

Lock J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

Lock J
Lock J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

N/A
N/A

Heel Firmness  

Nike Alphafly 3 Heel Firmness Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Heel Firmness Sample

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Firmness At 550N 
 

Lock N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

Lock N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

Lock N/mm
Lock N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

N/A
N/A

Forefoot Firmness  

Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Firmness Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Forefoot Firmness Sample

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Firmness At 800N 
 

Lock N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

Lock N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

Lock N/mm
Lock N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

N/A
N/A

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning Sample

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Nike Vaporfly 3 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning Sample

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Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

Lock J
Show Text 

Nike Alphafly 3

Nike Vaporfly 3

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Nike Alphafly 3 vs Nike Vaporfly 3: Main Discussion

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