Overview
- Nike announced the ‘race‑day system of speed’ on Sept. 30, 2026, formally listing three models: the elite-focused Apex, the refined Alphafly 4, and the entry-level Swooshfly.
- The company published specs, company-reported test figures, and retail prices with Alphafly 4 at $280, Apex at $350, and Swooshfly at $145, and set a staggered release cadence through spring 2027.
- Nike describes the Apex as its new pinnacle marathon shoe with four forefoot Air Zoom units, a ZoomX LT foam midsole, an updated carbon-fiber Flyplate, a zero-drop 40mm stack and a Goatek/Fast Shot outsole, claiming roughly 40% more energy return versus the Alphafly 3.
- The Alphafly 4 will have an immediate limited release this fall with broader availability in October, while the Swooshfly uses SkyX beaded-foam and a tailored Flyplate to offer a lower-cost race option starting in China in February 2027 and globally in spring 2027.
- Analysts say the launch is a clear commercial play to convert running-technology advances into sales and to counter adidas’s recent marathon successes, though all performance gains cited in Nike’s materials are company‑provided and not independently verified.