Nike Alphafly 3 vs New Balance SC Elite V4: Two Top Marathon Racing Shoes Compared

Introduction

The Nike Alphafly 3 and the New Balance SC Elite V4 are two of the more exciting carbon racing shoes released recently, and both now sit at the top of their company’s ranges for runners chasing a fast marathon. They share the same basic recipe: a full-length carbon plate, a thick foam midsole, and a rocker shape designed to keep you moving forward. The differences sit in the finer details of fit, ride, and price, and at this level those details matter.

Key Specs at a Glance

The Alphafly 3 is the more expensive shoe at £285 or $285, while the SC Elite V4 comes in at £260 or $250. The Nike is a touch lighter: 220g (7.7oz) in a UK 9 versus 243g (8.6oz) for the New Balance. The drop differs too, with 4mm on the New Balance and 8mm on the Alphafly, while both sit at the 40mm stack height limit at the heel.

Fit and Sizing

Both shoes fit true to size in testing, though note that a UK 9 is not the same length in both brands: a UK 9 New Balance is a US 9.5, while a UK 9 Nike is a US 10.

The Alphafly 3 uses an Atomknit 3.0 upper, a very thin, slightly stretchy open knit that is highly breathable. It is a racy, fairly tight fit with plenty of padding around the heel and good structure at the back, hugging the Achilles closely. It can be awkward to get on at first, but once on, testers with narrower feet found the heel held beautifully without any Achilles irritation.

The SC Elite V4 takes a very different approach with a mesh upper and minimal padding around the tongue and heel. The heel design is notably open and does not cradle or pad the Achilles much at all, which means zero Achilles rubbing but can feel a little loose at the back for some runners. Heel-lock lacing solved that entirely in testing, and there was still enough toe box room for long runs. If you dislike tight racing shoe uppers, the New Balance is the friendlier option here.

Midsole and Outsole Design

Underfoot, the Alphafly 3 pairs Nike ZoomX PEBA foam with Air Zoom pods under the forefoot, the feature that separates the Alphafly from the Vaporfly in Nike’s range. A full-length carbon plate runs through a continuous midsole, replacing the cutouts of the Alphafly 1 and 2 with a long canyon-like cutout along the bottom of the shoe. The outsole is fairly minimal at the heel with small diamonds of rubber and much better coverage at the forefoot.

The SC Elite V4 brings a new version of New Balance’s FuelCell, now a PEBA-based foam, plus a full-length carbon plate with New Balance’s Energy Rocker and a similar long cutout underfoot. Rubber coverage is actually better than the Nike, with a well-protected forefoot and slightly more extensive coverage at the rear. Both shoes keep everything outside the midsole very minimal to save weight.

Running Performance: Nike Alphafly 3

The Alphafly 3 impressed across the board. The continuous midsole makes the shoe flow better, producing a tippy-forward feeling similar to the Vaporfly but with the extra punch from the slightly more foamy Alphafly design. The Air Zoom pods feel better engaged than in previous versions, delivering a big bounce off the forefoot.

It is notably lighter than the Alphafly 2, which was a more purely bouncy shoe with less aggressive turnover. The 3 has been raced twice and used in plenty of hard sessions, from fast 1K reps at around 5K pace to extended marathon-paced efforts, and it felt excellent for everything. It tilts slightly toward long distances but works as a very accomplished all-rounder, and the front of the midsole arguably has even more pop than the much-loved Alphafly 1. The one question mark is a noticeably softer heel section than its predecessor, something only longer racing will fully settle.

Running Performance: New Balance SC Elite V4

The SC Elite V4 is a fast improvement on the V3, with more foam that feels bouncier and a little more propulsive. It is a comfortable, friendly carbon shoe that protects the legs well, reminiscent of the RC Elite V2, and it handled a demanding track session of mile reps at 5:30 per mile with marathon-pace floats very well indeed.

Marathon pace feels like the sweet spot. Compared with the Alphafly or even the SC Elite V3, it lacks the tippy-forward turnover for shorter, nimbler efforts, but it carries a lot of propulsion and comfort. Testers found it more subtle than the sharpest super shoes, closer in character to the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, and while it would be a genuinely satisfying marathon shoe, it sits just behind the very best on outright speed.

Verdict: Which Shoe Should You Buy?

Both are fantastic super shoes, and either would be a great choice for most races. But with the Alphafly 3 at £285/$285 and the SC Elite V4 at £260/$250, the prices are close enough that the fine margins matter. For a goal race, the Alphafly 3 edges it: it is slightly faster, a touch lighter, and more aggressive all around, and it would be the pick for a marathon every time.

The SC Elite V4 remains an excellent shoe. If the Alphafly did not exist, it would be an easy recommendation for a marathon, and for runners who find the Alphafly too aggressive, it offers a more approachable, comfortable ride that can plausibly log plenty of miles. It is just up against the best Nike shoe right now, and New Balance narrowly lose out.

Conclusion

The Nike Alphafly 3 takes this comparison on performance, comfort, and pace for money, making it the marathon racing shoe to beat. The New Balance SC Elite V4 is a superb, comfortable alternative for runners who want a more subtle super shoe, but at similar prices the Alphafly 3 is the one to go for.