Products
Tested using Methodology v1.0
Updated Oct 22, 2026 05:14 PM
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Amazon
Tested using Methodology v1.0
Updated Oct 22, 2026 08:04 PM
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PUMA
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
39.3 mm
Weight
173.3 g (6.11 oz)
Heel-To-Toe Drop
8.9 mm
Plate
Carbon Fiber
Our Verdict
Nike Alphafly 3
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3
The Nike Alphafly 3 and PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 are both marathon super shoes, but the PUMA is significantly lighter and more aggressive. Its forefoot geometry works especially well for runners landing farther forward, while the Nike provides a more stable platform and accommodates heel strikers. Get the PUMA if low weight and an aggressive ride are priorities; get the Nike if you want a more stable marathon racer.
Variants
- Alphafly 3 (Black/Olive Aura/Metallic Silver - (Men - US 9))
- Alphafly 3 (Bright Crimson/Lime Blast/Mint Foam/Cave Purple - (Men - US 9))
- Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 (Mint Melt/Speed Blue - (Men - US 9))
- Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 (Mint Melt/Speed Blue - (Women - US 7))
Main Differences for
Half/Full Marathon Racing
Half/Full Marathon Racing
Threshold
Half/Full Marathon Racing
8.2
8.4
Weight
8.1
8.9
Outsole Arch Width
68 mm (2.7")
25 mm (1.0")
Full Comparison
Design
Weight
8.1
8.9
Right Shoe Weight Photo
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Left Shoe Weight Photo
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Weight
200.7 g (7.08 oz)
173.3 g (6.11 oz)
Stack Heights
Stack Height Photo
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Heel Stack Height
39.8 mm
39.3 mm
Forefoot Stack Height
33.4 mm
30.4 mm
Heel-To-Toe Drop
6.4 mm
8.9 mm
Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop
8.0 mm
8.0 mm
External Shape
3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
Preview 3D
Outsole Heel Width
91 mm (3.6")
82 mm (3.2")
Outsole Arch Width
68 mm (2.7")
25 mm (1.0")
Outsole Forefoot Width
116 mm (4.6")
113 mm (4.4")
Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio
2.29
2.09
Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio
3.47
3.72
Internal Shape
3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
Preview 3D
Internal Length
273 mm (10.7")
273 mm (10.7")
Internal Heel Width
59 mm (2.3")
60 mm (2.4")
Internal Forefoot Width
90 mm (3.5")
93 mm (3.7")
Wide Sizing Available
No
No
Forefoot Fit: Width
9.4
9.4
Forefoot Width Photo
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Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation
-0.8 mm (-0.032")
-1.0 mm (-0.039")
Toe TTS Deviation
-2.2 mm (-0.087")
-2.3 mm (-0.091")
Forefoot Fit: Height
9.7
6.9
Forefoot Height Photo
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Toe TTS Deviation
-0.8 mm (-0.030")
-3.7 mm (-0.146")
Arch Fit: Width
6.2
8.8
Arch Fit Photo
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Arch Width TTS Deviation
-5.6 mm (-0.219")
-2.2 mm (-0.087")
Length Fit
10
10
Toe Clearance Photo
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Heel Rocker Geometry
6.6
8.4
Heel Rocker Photo
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Heel Spring
16 mm (0.6")
30 mm (1.2")
Heel Apex Position
15.3%
22.2%
Heel Rocker Angle
21.3°
24.8°
Forefoot Rocker Geometry
6.7
7.8
Forefoot Rocker Photo
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Toe Spring
45 mm (1.8")
55 mm (2.2")
Toe Apex Position
66.4%
59.0%
Forefoot Rocker Angle
26.6°
24.6°
Foam
Primary Foam Picture
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Secondary Foam Picture
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Primary Foam Name
ZoomX
Nitrofoam Elite
Primary Foam Type
PEBA
A-TPU
Secondary Foam Name
No Secondary Foam
No Secondary Foam
Secondary Foam Type
No Secondary Foam
No Secondary Foam
Laces
Laces Picture
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Lace Type
Sawtooth
Flat
Width
6.0 mm (0.2")
6.0 mm (0.2")
Thickness
1.2 mm (0.0")
2.1 mm (0.1")
Stretch
10.5%
15.0%
Breathability
7.5
9.0
Breathability Video
Upper Breathability
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Upper Microscope Photo
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Time-To-Dry
8.1
9.5
Time-To-Dry Timelapse
Time-To-Dry Graph
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Time To 30% Dry
5.1 hrs
3.5 hrs
Time To 70% Dry
14.9 hrs
8.6 hrs
Time To Dry
24.3 hrs
13.1 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%
22.8%
Other Features
Other Features Photo
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Tongue Gusset Type
Non-gusseted
Non-gusseted
Plate
Carbon Fiber
Carbon Fiber
Performance
Heel Compression Energy Return
8.2
8.8
Heel Compression Video
Heel Energy Return
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Heel Energy Return
82.0%
86.1%
Forefoot Compression Energy Return
8.2
8.9
Forefoot Compression Video
Forefoot Energy Return
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Forefoot Energy Return
82.2%
86.7%
Heel Cushioning
7.6
8.1
Heel Cushioning Picture
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Heel Cushioning
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Energy Absorbed At 550N
3.82 J
4.30 J
Energy Absorbed At 1100N
9.18 J
9.78 J
Energy Absorbed At 1900N
14.96 J
15.43 J
Forefoot Cushioning
8.0
8.7
Forefoot Cushioning Picture
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Forefoot Cushioning
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Energy Absorbed At 800N
4.68 J
5.56 J
Energy Absorbed At 1300N
8.55 J
9.67 J
Energy Absorbed At 2050N
13.10 J
14.13 J
Heel Firmness
7.4
5.9
Heel Firmness Graph
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Firmness At 550N
38.8 N/mm
32.8 N/mm
Firmness At 1100N
52.3 N/mm
46.2 N/mm
Firmness At 1900N
75.9 N/mm
68.5 N/mm
Forefoot Firmness
7.9
6.0
Forefoot Firmness Graph
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Firmness At 800N
57.0 N/mm
49.5 N/mm
Firmness At 1300N
73.1 N/mm
64.5 N/mm
Firmness At 2050N
99 N/mm
89 N/mm
Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
7.8
8.0
Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Energy Absorbed At 10km
8.41 J
8.81 J
Energy Absorbed At 20km
8.33 J
8.60 J
Energy Absorbed At 30km
8.27 J
8.47 J
Energy Absorbed At 40km
8.24 J
8.39 J
Rocker Stiffness
7.9
8.5
Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video
Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Force To Flatten The Rocker
117 N
144 N
Forefoot Bending Energy Return
8.0
8.9
Forefoot Bending Video
Forefoot Bending Energy Return
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Forefoot Bending Energy Return
71.3%
80.2%
Forefoot Bending Stiffness
9.5
8.3
Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture
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Forefoot Bending Resistance
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Forefoot Bending Stiffness
41.6 N/mm
23.0 N/mm
Forefoot Bending Force
484 N
322 N
Forefoot Compression Depth
6.1
6.9
Forefoot Compression Graph
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Forefoot Compression At 800N
14.0 mm
16.2 mm
Forefoot Compression At 1300N
17.8 mm
20.2 mm
Forefoot Compression At 2050N
20.6 mm
22.9 mm
Heel Compression Depth
6.3
7.2
Heel Compression Graph
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Heel Compression At 550N
14.2 mm
16.8 mm
Heel Compression At 1100N
21.0 mm
23.8 mm
Heel Compression At 1900N
25.0 mm
27.8 mm
Dry Concrete Grip
5.6
5.6
Dry Concrete Forefoot Video
Dry Concrete Forefoot Graph
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Sliding Force
149.8 N (33.7 lbf)
149.8 N (33.7 lbf)
Coefficient Of Friction
0.58
0.58
Wet Concrete Grip
4.9
7.6
Wet Concrete Forefoot Video
Wet Concrete Forefoot Graph
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Sliding Force
129.7 N (29.2 lbf)
213.7 N (48.0 lbf)
Coefficient Of Friction
0.50
0.83
Wet Aluminum Grip
4.2
3.6
Wet Aluminum Forefoot Video
Wet Aluminum Forefoot Graph
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Sliding Force
70.1 N (15.8 lbf)
60.0 N (13.5 lbf)
Coefficient Of Friction
0.42
0.36
Gravel Grip
1.4
1.8
Gravel Forefoot Video
Gravel Forefoot Graph
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Sliding Force
23.2 N (5.2 lbf)
27.5 N (6.2 lbf)
Coefficient Of Friction
0.14
0.17
Mud Grip
3.6
3.5
Mud Forefoot Video
Mud Forefoot Graph
Preview Graph
Preview Graph
Sliding Force
60.0 N (13.5 lbf)
59.2 N (13.3 lbf)
Coefficient Of Friction
0.36
0.36
Exposed Foam
6.0
6.0
Outsole Photo
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Heel Exposed Foam
4.0
4.0
Forefoot Exposed Foam
8.0
8.0
Outsole Abrasion Wear
6.0
4.0
Outsole Durability Video
Outsole Durability Photo
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Heel Abrasion Wear
4.0
4.0
Forefoot Abrasion Wear
8.0
4.0
Nike Alphafly 3
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3
Comments
Nike Alphafly 3 vs PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3: Main Discussion
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