AlphaFly vs Next%

Yes. I am planning on HM and up = alpha and anything else = next%

Just curious, is it a real race?

Canada Rnr wrote:

Just curious, is it a real race?

2020 real. Getting set off in waves of 12...

@HM Runner

Anything below half - Vaporfly

Anything above half - Alphafly

Half marathon exactly - Well which ever you choose is going to be small margins. If it were me any dead turns or multiple corners over 90 degrees then Vaporfly otherwise Alphafly (I found them tough to corner on a race I did on Sunday).

I ran Antrim in Alpha’s a couple of weeks ago.

If I had a fresh pair of both I’d go for Next% but if, like me, your Next% have 200+ miles I’m them I’d call it a toss up.

I have a box fresh pair of each, because shoes, Jack.

Nexts for half marathon

Alphafly for marathon

Just wear the Alphas, Trent.

Hahah I love some of the "advice" here - "below half wear the Nxt's, above wear the Alpha". What?!

I'll give you some facts here - the Nxt % gives the most running economy benefit in the industry and that includes the Alpha. I know because I've seen the results. The Nxt is still around 1% more economical than the Alpha.

Well how could that be Salvatore? Didn't Kipchoge wear the Alphafly and run 1.59? Isn't it the shoe after the Nxt which should mean it's better? Don't Nike claim that the zoom air pods delivery more energy return than just the zoom X foam?

Well it's not that simple. The Alpha is almost 50 grams heavier (at US9 it's 187g vs 233g) which, in a situation where a saving of 100g of weight = 1% of running economy benefit is worth almost 0.5%.

Salvitore Stitchmo wrote:

Hahah I love some of the "advice" here - "below half wear the Nxt's, above wear the Alpha". What?!

I'll give you some facts here - the Nxt % gives the most running economy benefit in the industry and that includes the Alpha. I know because I've seen the results. The Nxt is still around 1% more economical than the Alpha.

Well how could that be Salvatore? Didn't Kipchoge wear the Alphafly and run 1.59? Isn't it the shoe after the Nxt which should mean it's better? Don't Nike claim that the zoom air pods delivery more energy return than just the zoom X foam?

Well it's not that simple. The Alpha is almost 50 grams heavier (at US9 it's 187g vs 233g) which, in a situation where a saving of 100g of weight = 1% of running economy benefit is worth almost 0.5%.

sorry didn't get to finish...

The remaining difference is tied up in the construction where yes, even though on a 1-1 component level a zoom air pod might be more energy responsive than a comparatively sized block of foam, stuff like glue etc reduces the economy effect.

Quite simply the Vape is the better shoe. Why did Kipchoge wear the Alpha? 1) I would not believe for a second that the shoe he wore resembles the shoe you own and 2) Marketing. Keeping the story going. Selling more stuff. Dominating the market even more.

Hey if it was my company I'd do the same too. Doesn't mean its better and it's not. If you want the most economy benefit from your shoe during a marathon (btw where it matters the most, thus making the idea of wearing the less economical shoe in the 'thon and the more economical one in the half complete nonsense), wear the Vaporfly NXT%. Period.

Ran a half last weekend, 1st & 3rd (me) were wearing next %, and 2nd had on alphaflys. I talked to him after the race since I've been kind of interested in picking up a pair. It was his first time racing in them, and he said he wasn't a fan of them and in the future he would be sticking with next %. I think his main complaint was his feet felt super beat up. This was the first time I've talked to anyone who has raced in them. For reference it was a hilly course and I think he was right at 1:16.

Yeah, I wouldn't wear them for a half, unless you know you're going to wear them for a full marathon so you want to get used to them. The Alphafly is almost 1 oz heavier. The Vaporfly has more than enough cushioning for a half. For a full, maybe it's a tossup with pros and cons for each. I could still see why some would prefer the Vaporfly in a full.