What to know Nike’s competitive advantage is our system of speed — a proprietary combination of Air Zoom units, ZoomX foam and a carbon fiber Flyplate that powers the Alphafly. The Nike Alphafly 3 is the lightest and most tested Alphafly ever, validated by elite marathoners and powered by Nike Air Zoom to help all athletes break barriers in the marathon no matter their pace. During development, the Alphafly 3 helped Nike athlete Kelvin Kiptum claim a new marathon world record with a time of 2:00:35. The engine of the Alphafly remains the same — a triple threat of Air Zoom units, a carbon Flyplate and ZoomX foam — but the recipe for the overall system has been tuned to optimize and improve the overall benefit to the athlete. Key updates include one continuous bottom for smoother heel-to-toe transition; a wider full-length carbon fiber Flyplate for a propulsive, stable ride; a new Fast Shot outsole for optimal traction and grip; and a new Atomknit 3.0 upper for improved containment, breathability and midfoot support.