Nike’s Alphafly 3 is perhaps the most hotly-anticipated running sneaker there has ever been. Not only is the Alphafly 3 Nike’s most innovative super shoe yet (which, considering the Swoosh’s extensive back catalog, is really saying something), it’s also the shoe recently worn by Kenyan marathoner Kelvin Kiptum as he sailed past Eliud Kipchoge’s marathon world record in Chicago. But, world records and sub-2 hour marathons aside, what exactly is it that makes the Alphafly 3 Nike’s most super-est super shoe yet? “Visually, the continuous bottom is the first difference between the Alphafly 3 and its previous iterations,” explains Bret Schoolmeester, Nike Running’s senior product designer. “This is to help improve a much smoother transition. With previous Alphafly a lot of runners felt a slight break in transition from heel to forefoot, so we’ve made the movement feel more seamless. We’ve also added comfort, stability, and a smoother transition. It really is everything you want in a shoe.” Despite the numerous additions and tweaks to the new look Alphafly, the sneaker’s overall weight has been reduced by 15 percent compared to the Alphafly 2, something Schoolmeester is exceedingly proud of. Elsewhere, the sneaker – which officially lands on January 4 – boasts a slightly wider-than-before carbon fiber Flyplate that delivers a stable and propulsive sensation underfoot, as well as an updated midsole that optimizes your foot’s engagement with the airbags and lets the Air Zoom units do more of the work for you. To help ensure runners can utilize their investment over multiple marathons – and even multiple race seasons – the Nike team tested the Alphafly 3 across varying locations, seasons, and settings to ensure the shoe can withhold the demands runners need from it. “It’s hard to put a durability number on a sneaker, but we do test the shoe up to 250 miles and it’s doing really well,” explains Schoolmeester. “Our team has found a way to not introduce sacrifices to runners. We’re always trying to push the edge of performance without compromising on anything. The Nike Alphafly 3 will debut in the Prototype colorway, a nod to Nike’s development process of testing with athletes, while an all-white silhouette features pops of color highlighting the dual Air Zoom units in the forefoot, an athlete wear test number on the lateral midsole, and V62 on the Atomknit upper that signifies the amount of upper iterations. More Information Nike.com