Vaporfly next% lifespan

Haven't tested worn vs. new pair of Vaporfly, but the Alphafly seem to hold up pretty well in terms of performance benefits. Almost good as new at 400 km, nearing 600 km on my old pair now so will hopefully test again soon. The visible creases in the foam show up pretty early on in wearing them, so I wouldn't necessarily take that as a sign they are done for.

labratrundown.com

How long does the Alphafly magic last?

Dustin Joubert

Many have wondered how many miles the running economy benefits last for in a pair of super shoes. For the Alphafly specifically, I compared a new pair to an old pair that had over 400 km (240 miles on them). Here's what I fou...

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Believe In the Run just did a podcast with the scientists at Heeluxe who do testing for a lot of major manufacturers.

*The answer is 150 miles.*

The forefoot compresses 15% by 150 miles, which is the threshold for when the average runner starts to feel a shoe is getting old.

Heavier runners or faster runners will get less miles.

I have a pair of the pink vaporfly from 2020 that I bought, put in closet, and haven't touched yet. I figure they'll be retro-cool in 20 years, if I'm still able to run by then that is. Seriously.

I just ran a 1:13 half PR with a pair with about 150 miles on them so take it for what you will.

I have a pair of horrible battered pink next % that I bought second hand. I reckon they've got about 400km (250mi) on them and I do a fair few sessions in them. The outsole is so worn-down that I can see the carbon plate! They still feel amazing, I even managed to win a race I was training through with them on. I have another pair of newer Nike racing shoes and while I do notice the difference, the new ones can't be more than a second per kilometre faster than the old. The old ones still have great cushioning and allow me to complete & recover from sessions way better than in normal/traditional trainers.

To sum up - they last much longer than advertised!!

The pink shoes are vaporfly... The newer ones are next %...

If a corporate behemoth creates a new product/technology and cost-of-running goes UP, I believe it is a revolutionary act to buy/race/return the product as an act of revolt and rebellion against the new paradigm introduced by virtue of the technology. It is legally fraud but ironically revolutionary.

It is the responsibility of the Running Community NOT to raise the barriers to entry for serious runners (i.e. subsistence farmers in Iten, first generation collegiate runners in America) but to CUT COSTS, DISSOLVE BARRIERS TO ENTRY...

Carbon plates and Alphaflies (and all their Hoka/Asics/Brooks/Adidas competitors) are the worst thing/cost/barrier to entry to happen to the running community since NIKE AIR was introduced as a marketing prop -- which KILLED the jogging revolution by convincing people a sh*t product would help them run faster (whereas the carbon plates are killing the American distance running renaissance by LITERALLY MAKING AMERICANS FASTER THAN broke-a$$, impoverished KENYANS/Ethiopians, etc. etc. etc).

That said, I appreciated the moment a nike rep this past weekend introduced me to the "entry model" of a new show coming out next year.

I think we as a community have a long way to go in making competitive running open to EVERYONE regardless of cost/class/race/socioeconomics.

I’d say around 150 before retiring them from racing. I’ve gotten multiple pairs to this amount, and by then they definitely lose the energy return/recovery benefits that they apply in their earlier miles. Everyone is different of course, and you could certainly get as many miles out of them as you want; but in my experience, the shoes definitely lose a significant amount of efficiency at around 150 miles.

I’m a 130 pound OTQ hopeful. I race in them for 100 miles, do workouts for another 200 miles, then use them as regular trainers for another 100 (400 miles total). I land mid foot.

LOL. That good be very interesting if you would give us a baseline. 1:13 is excellent but is it better than usual and if so by how much?

What can't he do? I don't get it. Do you mean he can't return them? He said he already does. I'm confused.

Funny- I just returned a pair of the Alpha Next% 2 to Dick's this asfternoon. I had ordered them online. Last night I ran 2 miles in Zoom Alpha's (100 miles on them), and then two miles in new Next %2s. Kept same effort for both and pace was no different. The Zoom Alpha's felt much better on my foot- more arch support and even more springy- hence the return. I'd like to find the Zoom Alpha's online somewhere but can't find size 11 anywhere. Can anyone recommend a site? I tried all the major ones.

Some still go to the outlet stores though

Have you tried StockX?

Based on these responses I better stop using them as a workout shoe unless I want to buy a replacement in the next couple months...

Thanks for the tip! Just got them for 221- with shipping, taxes, etc.

Raced two marathons, a half marathon, and a few longer quick runs. By the 2nd marathon, I had almost 200 miles on them. They were DONE.

100ish seems like a reasonable amount of time to be confident they keep their full bounce. For training they last a really long time though - I have a pair with at least a few hundred miles and they still work great. Wouldn't wear them to race though.

The material properties of the foam hold up quite well. I’ve tested pairs throughout their life on a materials testing machine, and the energy return and compliance were largely maintained through ~500km/300+ miles. The energy return dropped by a few percentage points by the end (82% vs 84-85%), but still much better than older foams. That maintenance of function is better than EVA-based shoes, which start to decline pretty early in their life. Though they do have a higher cost, I think they have better lifespans than EVA flats.

The limiting factor for me is the actual integrity of the foam. The exposed foam on the bottom starts to get ripped apart from pavement abrasion before the foam mechanically deteriorates.