Nike Vaporfly 4 vs Nike Alphafly 3
Two shoes people weigh up against each other constantly. Here is what actually separates them, taken from the same database that drives the Shoe Finder quiz, with nothing added by hand. The short version: the Nike Vaporfly 4 is 44g lighter, only the Nike Vaporfly 4 comes in a wide fitting.
Side by side
| Nike Vaporfly 4 | Nike Alphafly 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £239.99 RRP | £284.99 RRP |
| Type | Race day | Race day |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Weight | 166g | 210g |
| Heel drop | 8mm | 8mm |
| Heel stack | 40mm | 40mm |
| Widths | Standard and wide | Standard only |
| Plate | carbon | carbon |
What the differences mean
Weight
The Nike Vaporfly 4 is 44g lighter, at 166g against 210g. As a rough guide every 100g costs about one percent in running economy, so 44g is worth a fraction of a percent. You will feel it more than it costs you, and it counts for more on a fast 5k than on a slow long run.
Heel drop
Both sit at around 8mm, so neither will feel unfamiliar if you are coming from the other. Nothing to choose here.
Width fittings
The Nike Vaporfly 4 comes in a wide fitting and the Nike Alphafly 3 is standard width only. If your feet are broad this is likely to settle it on its own, because no amount of cushioning makes up for a shoe that squeezes. Sizing up does not fix width, it just makes the shoe longer.
Feel underfoot
The Nike Alphafly 3 is the softer ride. The other sits in the middle. Preference rather than performance.
How long they last
The Nike Alphafly 3 is built to take more mileage. If one pair is doing all your running, that is worth more than it sounds, because cost per mile matters more than the price on the box.
Price
£239.99 against £284.99 at full price, so the Nike Vaporfly 4 is £45 less. Both are discounted often enough that the gap on the day may look nothing like this, which is worth checking before you decide on price alone.
Which should you buy?
Neither, until you have tried both on. Fit decides more than any specification on this page, and the two shoes above are close enough that a foot shape will separate them faster than a spreadsheet will.
Nike Vaporfly 4
Feather light race shoe for 5k up to marathon. Save it for the big days.
Nike Alphafly 3
Nike's flagship marathon shoe. Springy air pods and a carbon plate for one big effort.
Or let the quiz decide
This page compares two shoes. The shoe finder compares all 104 of them against your width, your weight, where you run, your budget and any recurring niggles, then gives you three and tells you why each one made it. It takes about a minute.