Nike Alphafly 3 vs On Cloudboom Strike

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Nike Alphafly 3
On Cloudboom Strike

Tested using Methodology v0.11

Updated Apr 10, 2026 07:58 PM

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Nike.com

Tested using Methodology v0.10

Updated Feb 26, 2026 10:50 PM

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On
Nike Alphafly 3 Picture

Track

On Cloudboom Strike Picture

Track

  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Nike

Our Verdict

Nike Alphafly 3

On Cloudboom Strike

The Nike Alphafly 3 and the On Cloudboom Strike are two high-performance racing shoes designed for serious runners, both tailored for marathon distances, but they excel in different ways. The Nike shoe has marginally better energy return and lateral stability. Its design prioritizes efficiency, making it a top choice for runners seeking an aggressive race-focused shoe. In contrast, the On focuses on a more cushioned ride, particularly in the forefoot area. It provides a softer landing experience, benefiting runners looking to reduce impact stress during races. While it may not offer the same explosive toe-off as the Nike, it delivers a well-balanced ride that's particularly effective for maintaining comfort and performance over the full marathon distance.

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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))
  • Cloudboom Strike (Limelight/Wolf - (Men - US 9))
  • Cloudboom Strike (Limelight/Wolf - (Women - US 7))
Read more

Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

8.5
8.4
No major differences between these running shoes for marathon racing. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

8.1
7.9

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Alphafly 3 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
On Cloudboom Strike Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Alphafly 3 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
On Cloudboom Strike Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

200.7 g (7.08 oz)
207.2 g (7.31 oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Alphafly 3 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
On Cloudboom Strike Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

39.8 mm
39.7 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

33.4 mm
35.7 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

6.4 mm
4.0 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.0 mm
4.0 mm
Show Text 

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
Nike Alphafly 3 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
On Cloudboom Strike 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

91 mm (3.6")
84 mm (3.3")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

68 mm (2.7")
64 mm (2.5")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

116 mm (4.6")
112 mm (4.4")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.29
2.16

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.47
3.14

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Nike Alphafly 3 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
On Cloudboom Strike 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

273 mm (10.7")
274 mm (10.8")

Internal Heel Width 
 

59 mm (2.3")
59 mm (2.3")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

90 mm (3.5")
95 mm (3.7")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

No
No

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

9.4
9.8

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
On Cloudboom Strike Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

-0.8 mm (-0.032")
0.1 mm (0.004")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-2.2 mm (-0.087")
3.6 mm (0.142")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

9.7
8.4

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
On Cloudboom Strike Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-0.8 mm (-0.030")
-2.1 mm (-0.082")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

6.2
9.8

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Alphafly 3 Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
On Cloudboom Strike Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-5.6 mm (-0.219")
2.4 mm (0.096")

Length Fit 
 

10
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Alphafly 3 Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
On Cloudboom Strike Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

6.6

Heel Rocker Photo  

Nike Alphafly 3 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

16 mm (0.6")

Heel Apex Position 
 

15.3%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

21.3°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

6.7

Forefoot Rocker Photo  

Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

45 mm (1.8")

Toe Apex Position 
 

66.4%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

26.6°

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Alphafly 3 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
On Cloudboom Strike Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Non-gusseted

Plate 
 

Carbon Fiber
Carbon Fiber
Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return 
 

8.2
8.2

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Alphafly 3 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
On Cloudboom Strike Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

82.0%
81.7%
Show Text 

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

8.2
8.1

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
On Cloudboom Strike Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

82.2%
81.5%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.6
8.0

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Alphafly 3 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
On Cloudboom Strike Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Alphafly 3 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
On Cloudboom Strike Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.82 J
3.65 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

9.18 J
9.70 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

14.96 J
16.52 J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

8.0
9.0

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
On Cloudboom Strike Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
On Cloudboom Strike Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

4.68 J
5.83 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

8.55 J
10.15 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

13.10 J
15.04 J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

5.9
5.4

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Nike Alphafly 3 Heel Firmness
 Preview Graph
On Cloudboom Strike Heel Firmness

Firmness At 550N 
 

49.4 N/mm
49.9 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

129.6 N/mm
109.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

277.3 N/mm
244.1 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

7.4
7.0

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Firmness
 Preview Graph
On Cloudboom Strike Forefoot Firmness

Firmness At 800N 
 

103.1 N/mm
84.0 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

170.1 N/mm
167.9 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

370.8 N/mm
343.0 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

7.8
8.6

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
On Cloudboom Strike Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

8.41 J
9.59 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

8.33 J
9.46 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

8.27 J
9.40 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

8.24 J
9.35 J
Show Text 

Rocker Stiffness 
 

7.9

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

117 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

8.0

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

71.3%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

9.5

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture  

Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

41.6 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

484 N

Nike Alphafly 3

On Cloudboom Strike

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