Alphafly 3 vs Vaporfly 3

Most carbon marathon shoes want strong, well-trained legs before they give much back. The Alphafly 3 asks for less than its looks suggest, and that came through in almost every review we read. Nike made the midsole one continuous piece for this version (the Alphafly 2 had a big gap under the midfoot) and took a lot of weight out. Reviewers describe a smoother roll from landing to toe-off, and it no longer feels clumsy on a warm-up jog. Ben Parkes, who has raced marathons in it, reckons it isn't so aggressive that only elites benefit, and thinks plenty of intermediate marathoners will get a lot from it.

It's still a specialist carbon racing shoe, and at £285 RRP it sits near the top of the market. It's also loud on the road, and some feet find it snug. For 5K and 10K races the lighter, snappier Vaporfly 3 makes more sense. For the half and the full marathon, we'd still put the Alphafly 3 near the front of the queue.

The Vaporfly 3 is Nike's carbon racing shoe for runners who want to go fast without the towering stack of an Alphafly. It is a pure road racer, built for 5k up to the marathon, and it does that one job very well. At 194g it is light, the 8mm drop keeps you rolling forward, and the carbon plate gives you real pop when you commit to race pace. This is not a shoe for plodding. It rewards a quick, efficient stride and comes alive the harder you push. If you have run in earlier Vaporflys you will know the feeling: fast, slightly twitchy, and unmistakably a tool for race day. The newer Vaporfly 4 refines the formula, but the 3 remains a serious marathon shoe, and when it drops below RRP it is one of the better-value carbon racers you can buy. We rate it for runners who already have a daily trainer and want a dedicated PB weapon.