Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%

Writer: Ryan Willms

The Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% is one of the most talked about, anticipated and controversial running shoes ever to come out. Originally spotted on famed marathoner Eliud Kipchoge while he broke the tow-hour marathon in Vienna in 2019, onlookers began to ask “what are those?”

Speculation started and details began to come out on the prototype Nike’s that no one had seen before. There were a lot of questions around if the shoes should be allowed in races, is it fair that a Nike runner had access to them but nobody else did? World Athletics put up some boundaries and began to investigate but over time all parties came to an agreement and have since approved the shoes for racing.

Now to the shoes and the innovative technology that just might give you an edge. The shoes combine a full-length carbon fibre plate that offers stability and smooth transitions while increasing stiffness in the forefoot to increase perceived propulsion. The ZoomX cushioning is extremely lightweight and has increased the amount of energy return, while the new Zoom Air Pods which look quite strange on first glance, increase energy return and diminish energy loss as well. Efficiency is the goal, creating the most energy efficient ride possible. The final piece of the new puzzle is Nike’s AtomKnit technology, an evolution of the FlyKnit upper that changed the game when it came out.

Releasing February 29th

Footnote:

Personally, I am always excited to see what Nike produces as they are truly leaders in innovative technology in performance. I feel that these products can enhance and support performance, placebo effect, enjoyment and aesthetics—however—they cannot make you run with proper form with a balanced stride, forefoot striking or even over-running. It’s fun to experiment with new products, but it’s important to remember ‘form over function’ and no piece of technology is more advanced than the human body, we just need to remember to listen in and not hand over the reigns to anyone or anything but ourselves.