Runhood Mag's Nike Alphafly 3 Review

The Nike Alphafly 3 provides maximum energy return from its ZoomX foam and Airpods, delivering a noticeably light and bouncy sensation during runs.

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The durability of the Nike Alphafly 3 is a well-known weakness, suggesting it should be reserved for crucial training sessions and race days.

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The shoe proved comfortable and effective for runs up to 25km at fast paces (4:30-4:40 min/km), making it suitable for maintaining high speeds over long distances.

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With upgraded Energy Rods 2.0 and a refined Lightstrike Pro midsole, the Adios Pro 4 offers increased stability and a firm, controlled feel, catering to runners who prefer less bounce.

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The Adios Pro 4 requires adaptation for heel strikers and its upper is noted to be less breathable compared to the Alphafly 3.

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Available in Sky (for stride) and Edge (for cadence) variants, the Metaspeed Tokyo focuses on efficiency, providing an economical stride rather than aggressive speed, benefiting runners with good form.

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The Endorphin Elite 2 has a very soft, bouncy foam that ensures comfort in later kilometers and is forgiving for slower paces, though it might compromise stability for heel strikers.

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The Deviate Nitro Elite 4 provides a snappy and explosive feel while being less demanding than other Supershoes, making it a suitable entry-level option for a wide range of runners.

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This local brand's Supershoe boasts an aggressive, agile fit, super breathable upper, and a plush, responsive ride. It also offers competitive weight compared to global brands.

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This lightweight and responsive local Supershoe has a firmer ride and a wider, stable base compared to the Ortus Eight Solar. It excels at helping runners maintain consistent fast paces over distances like 21km.

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The Mills Enercharge M2 provides a stable, responsive, and comfortable experience, being particularly forgiving for those new to carbon plate shoes, even accommodating slower paces.

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Nike Alphafly 3 Design & Responsiveness

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The Nike Alphafly 3 features an Atomknit upper that is light and hugs the foot, ZoomX foam for maximum energy return, and a carbon plate. It also has Airpods that create a spring-like sensation, making the run lighter and bouncier.

Nike Alphafly 3 Durability Issue

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A known drawback of the Nike Alphafly 3, like many Nike shoes, is its limited durability. The reviewer advises using it only for crucial runs like speed workouts or race days.

Nike Alphafly 3 Performance Test

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The reviewer personally tested the Alphafly 3 on a 25 km run at approximately 4:50 pace, finding it very comfortable. The sweet spot for this shoe is suggested to be around 4:30-4:40 pace for long distances.

Adidas Adios Pro 4 Stability & Feel

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The Adidas Adios Pro 4 features upgraded Energy Rod 2.0 and refined Lightstrike Pro midsole, resulting in a more stable feel without compromising performance. It's suitable for runners who prefer a firm and controlled ride over a bouncy one.

Adidas Adios Pro 4 Drawbacks

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The Adios Pro 4 is less suitable for heel strikers, requiring adaptation, and its upper is not as breathable as the Alphafly 3.

Asics Metaspeed Tokyo Variants

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The Asics Metaspeed Tokyo comes in two variants: the Edge is designed for runners focused on cadence, while the Sky is for those who focus on stride. Both use refined FF Turbo+ foam and a full-length carbon plate.

Asics Metaspeed Tokyo Efficiency

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The most notable aspect of the Asics Metaspeed Tokyo is its efficiency. It doesn't aggressively push for speed, but every step feels economical and efficient, making it ideal for runners with good form looking to improve efficiency over longer distances.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 Soft Feel & Stability

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The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 offers a significantly softer, very plush foam that provides a bouncy ride. However, this soft foam also makes the shoe less stable, especially for heel strikers.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 Comfort & Forgiveness

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This shoe is suitable for runners who prioritize comfort in critical later kilometers of a race. Its soft foam also makes it forgiving for slower paces, like 5-6 minutes per kilometer.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 Accessibility

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The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 offers a snappier and more explosive feel than its predecessor. It stands out by being more accessible for various types of runners, less demanding in terms of foam compared to other Supershoes, making it a good entry point.

Ortus Eight Solar 2.0 Features & Weight

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The Ortus Eight Solar 2.0 features a slim, aggressive, and agile fit, typical of race shoes. Its upper is super breathable with visible ventilation. The ride feel is plush and responsive, and its weight is competitive even when compared to global brands.

910 Geist Ekiden Elite X Ride Feel & Stability

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The 910 Geist Ekiden Elite X is lightweight and responsive. Unlike the Ortus Eight Solar, it has a firmer and responsive ride. Additionally, its wider base contributes to good stability for a race shoe.

910 Geist Ekiden Elite X Pace Maintenance Test

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The reviewer ran 21 km in the 910 Geist Ekiden Elite X, finding it effective for maintaining a tempo speed around 4:50 pace. Its firm ride helps in consistent pace management, preventing speed fluctuations common with other Supershoes.

Mills Enercharge M2 Forgiveness

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The Mills Enercharge M2 is stable, responsive, comfortable, and forgiving for new carbon plate users. It's accommodating even for easy paces, making it suitable for runners at 6 or 7 minutes per kilometer.

Which race shoe is best for maximum speed and explosive energy return?

The reviewer highlights the Nike Alphafly 3 as the primadonna of Supershoes, offering explosive energy return from its ZoomX foam and Airpods. It's ideal for runners seeking to go fast, with a sweet spot pace around 4:30-4:40 min/km over long distances, but its durability is a known issue.

What are the best race shoes for stability and a controlled feel?

The Adidas Adios Pro 4 provides a more stable and controlled ride, suitable for runners who prefer firmness over bounciness, and is good for half to full marathons. For local options, the 910 Geist Ekiden Elite X also offers a firm and responsive ride with a wide base, contributing to high stability and making it easier to maintain fast, consistent paces.

Are there accessible Supershoes for beginners or recreational runners new to carbon plates?

The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 is noted for being more accessible for various types of runners and less demanding in terms of foam compared to other Supershoes, making it a good entry point. Similarly, the local Mills Enercharge M2 is described as stable, responsive, comfortable, and very forgiving for those new to carbon plate shoes, even accommodating slower paces (6-7 min/km).

How do local Supershoes brands compare to international ones in performance?

The Ortus Eight Solar 2.0 is considered a pioneer in local Supershoes, offering significant updates like an aggressive fit, breathable upper, plush and responsive ride, and competitive weight, even against global brands. The 910 Geist Ekiden Elite X is a lightweight, responsive option with a firmer, stable ride that aids in maintaining consistent fast paces.

Which Supershoes are good for heel strikers?

The Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 is recommended for heel strikers, though it's noted to have a slightly narrow midfoot. In contrast, the Adidas Adios Pro 4 and Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 are mentioned as less suitable or less stable for heel strikers.

Which Supershoes are suitable for long distances like half or full marathons?

The Nike Alphafly 3 is comfortable for 25km and fast paces, making it suitable for long distances. The Adidas Adios Pro 4 is explicitly mentioned as suitable for half to full marathons. The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 offers comfort at critical kilometers and is forgiving for long runs. The Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 is also noted to accommodate races from 5K up to full marathon distance.

Are there Supershoes designed for specific running forms, such as cadence or strike-focused runners?

The Asics Metaspeed Tokyo series includes two variants: the Metaspeed Edge is tailored for runners who focus more on cadence, while the Metaspeed Sky is designed for those whose running style emphasizes stride. Both leverage FF Turbo+ foam and a full-length carbon plate to maximize efficiency for their respective target forms.