Not even two weeks have gone by since the unveiling and retail debut of the Alphafly 4, but Nike is shaking up the world of marathon racing footwear once again by announcing Apex, its next, most-advanced leap in raceday shoes for the marathon distance.
Nike Apex arrives alongside Swooshfly, a $145 racer built with performance innovation that aims to accommodate a wider range of athletes ready to lineup for 26.2 miles. The move is rooted in Nike Running's—specifically Nike Racing—acknowledgment that different athletes have different needs and commitment to meet these needs wherever they are.
Well-aware of the industry-shifting legacy of the Alphafly franchise, the Swoosh wanted to build a standalone racer for those chasing every second possible. Years of experimentation and dozens of hours of athlete insight have led to the development of Nike Apex, which promises another breakthrough in marathon racing.
Design Breakdown: Nike Apex
Visually, Apex isn't too dissimilar from the Alphafly 4, but there are a number of major differences that begin to stand out with some more thorough inspection.
The design team, however, wasn't interested in simply building upon existing product—it wanted to build for the future, predicting the evolutionary needs of the world's fastest racers before the athletes themselves might realize what they need to attack the marathon better.
To this front, Nike Apex's technical breakdown consists of:
- Double-Stacked Air Zoom Units: A first for any Nike Racing shoe; the visible system uses the same Radio Frequency (RF) Air units seen on the Alphafly 4, which saves weight & is quieter than previous Airbags; delivers up to 40% more energy return than Alphafly 3 in a Men's U.S. size 10.
- Glove-Like Flyknit X Upper: An evolution of Atomknit, debuting on Apex; lightweight, comfortable & durable.
- ZoomX LT Foam: An all-new, lighter edition of Nike's Pebax foam, coming in at 17% lighter while offering 8% more energy return.
- Wider Carbon Fiber Flyplate: Redesigned as a raised inverse-wave propulsion element shaped for direct loading onto the double-stacked Air Zoom units.
- GOATEK & Fast Shot Outsole: Proprietary rubber tread solutions that are strategically placed underneath to ensure optimal grip regardless of footstrike style—all while shaving weight.
Nike's Apex weighs approximately 6.2 ounces (176 grams) in a Men's U.S. size 8.5. By comparison, the Alphafly 4 comes in at around 6.63oz (188g) in the same size.
What further sets apart Nike Apex is the zero-drop, 40-millimeter midsole—most comparable marathon racing shoes have around an 8mm drop from heel-to-toe. This means that Nike Racing's pinnacle expression of marathon-ready footwear provides consistent support from heel to forefoot. Additionally, the shoe has been constructed with no sockliner, meaning an athlete's foot sits directly upon the Apex's premium performance system—including 40mm of ZoomX LT foam.
"I’ve relied on Nike prototypes during some of the most important races of my career in the last few months, from breaking the half marathon world record in Lisbon to running the fastest marathon time of my life in London," expressed Jacob Kiplimo, Ugandan Nike Athlete. "The best innovations are the ones that let you focus less on what's happening beneath your feet and more on the challenge in front of you — that is what Apex does."
Release Date & Colorways
The Apex marathon racer its global Nike.com debut in January 2027. The premium raceday model is priced at $350, up $70 from the Alphafly 4's $280 MSRP.
The debut colorway is a predominantly "Black" pair that features vibrant pink and neon green Air Zoom units.
For more performance footwear from the Swoosh, check out the Air Jordan 41. If you want to stay within the world of running, read about the Pegasus Plus 2.
