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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Weight
    2. Stack Heights
    3. External Shape
    4. Internal Shape
    5. Other Features
  5. Performance
    1. Heel Energy Return
    2. Forefoot Energy Return
    3. Heel Cushioning
    4. Forefoot Cushioning
    5. Heel Firmness
    6. Forefoot Firmness
  6. Comments

Nike Alphafly 3 vs Nike Vaporfly 3

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Nike Alphafly 3
Nike Vaporfly 3

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Apr 11, 2025 08:37 PM

Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Apr 11, 2025 08:50 PM

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Amazon.com
Nike Alphafly 3 Picture
Nike Vaporfly 3 Picture
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Running Shoes

Variants

  • Alphafly 3 (Sail/Crimson Tint/Guava Ice/Black - (Women - US 7))
  • Alphafly 3 (Volt/Dusty Cactus/Total - (Men - US 9))
  • Vaporfly 3 (White/Vivid Purple/Purple - (Men - US 9))
  • Vaporfly 3 (White/Vivid Purple/Purple Agate/Black - (Women - US 7))

Our Verdict

Nike Alphafly 3

Nike Vaporfly 3

The Nike Vaporfly 3 and the Nike Alphafly 3 are two premium racing flats, each catering to different types of runners and race distances, and your choice will depend on your priorities. The Vaporfly 3 is lighter, 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 energy return and lateral stability, making it better suited for marathon racing. It is 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.

0

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 

8.3
7.7
No major differences between these running shoes for marathon racing. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

8.2
0.0

Right Shoe Weight Photo  

Nike Alphafly 3 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Nike Vaporfly 3 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo  

Nike Alphafly 3 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Nike Vaporfly 3 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

200.7 g (7.08 oz)

Show text

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo  

Nike Alphafly 3 Stack Height Photo
Nike Vaporfly 3 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

39.8 mm
37.6 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

33.4 mm
29.4 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

6.4 mm
8.2 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.0 mm
8.0 mm

Show text

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Nike Alphafly 3 3D Model Full Shoe
Nike Vaporfly 3 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

91 mm (3.6")
74 mm (2.9")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

68 mm (2.7")
52 mm (2.0")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

91 mm (3.6")
107 mm (4.2")

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Nike Alphafly 3 3D Model Internal
Nike Vaporfly 3 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

273 mm (10.7")
267 mm (10.5")

Internal Heel Width 
 

59 mm (2.3")
55 mm (2.2")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

90 mm (3.5")
91 mm (3.6")

Show text

Other Features  

Other Features Photo  

Nike Alphafly 3 Other Features Photo
Nike Vaporfly 3 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Non-gusseted

Plate 
 

Carbon Fiber
Carbon Fiber
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

8.1
8.3

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Heel Energy Return 
 

86.0%
87.7%

Show text

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

8.5
8.2

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

88.4%
86.7%

Show text

Heel Cushioning 
 

8.2
7.7

Heel Cushioning Picture  

Nike Alphafly 3 Heel Cushioning Picture
Nike Vaporfly 3 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Energy Absorbed At 300N 
 

1.33 J
1.32 J

Energy Absorbed At 600N 
 

4.06 J
3.65 J

Energy Absorbed At 900N 
 

6.75 J
6.03 J

Show text

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

7.5
6.4

Forefoot Cushioning Picture  

Nike Alphafly 3 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Nike Vaporfly 3 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Energy Absorbed At 300N 
 

0.87 J
0.93 J

Energy Absorbed At 600N 
 

2.93 J
2.54 J

Energy Absorbed At 900N 
 

5.27 J
4.23 J

Show text

Heel Firmness 
 

5.6
6.7

Heel Firmness  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Average Firmness 0 To 300N 
 

32.4 N/mm
31.9 N/mm

Average Firmness 300 To 600N 
 

49.2 N/mm
57.7 N/mm

Average Firmness 600 To 900N 
 

83.1 N/mm
94.0 N/mm

Show text

Forefoot Firmness 
 

8.1
9.1

Forefoot Firmness  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Average Firmness 0 To 300N 
 

49.0 N/mm
45.1 N/mm

Average Firmness 300 To 600N 
 

65.0 N/mm
83.6 N/mm

Average Firmness 600 To 900N 
 

95.7 N/mm
132.4 N/mm

Show text

Nike Alphafly 3

Nike Vaporfly 3

Comments

  1. Comparison

Nike Alphafly 3 vs Nike Vaporfly 3: Main Discussion

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