Air Zoom Alphafly Next% 2

To second this - I buy end of life performance shoes to see if I would like them in their prime. I.e. Metaspeed Sky for $50 and 200 miles, Vaporfly 2s that have done two marathons for $40, and Alphafly 2s for $30 that are pretty beat up, but I’m willing to make a bet they have some life left for $30. Then occasionally you get people that just don’t know what they have. This week I should be getting a pair of Endorphin Speed 3s that I paid $10 for that someone had listed as “Stylish Pink Saucony Shoes”

I will say that they do feel different between brands and shoes. Personally I'd rather run barefoot than my alpha flys V2 at 5 min km or slower. They just feel so bad and unstable. But faster than that they feel pretty fucking great. Versus some other which feel much better faster but don't feel bad slow. So someone running slow in certain shoes may get less benifit than another but at faster paces the benefits probably converge

What pace were you running at? I'd rather run barefoot than in my alpha flys for anyislowrr than 5 min kms. I just feel so stupidly unstable. Going faster they feel great. Some are also more unstable than other with alpha flys being on the more unstable end. Also going from stability shoes to probably the most unstable shoe I've ever encountered is funny and means you probably don't need stability shoes.

I do agree, the biggest thing that it affects is the biomechanics. At least with the Nike alphafly 1 and 2, the higher stack height and foam changes my strides. I sometimes would get quad cramps with marathons that I don't normally see in my normal shoes.

The correct answer is the shoe which you find the most comfortable, over your most recent long runs, OP. I personally prefer the plate in my AF to the rods in my AP’s, due to a metatarsalgia issue.

Ok so you have chosen wisely so far. The Clifton’s are your cruiser and Evo for your tempo. Here’s what I can tell you from the ones I’ve tried. The vapourfly 4s not enough cushion for marathon. Adios Pro 4 are very squishy/unstable. Weird rocker Alphafly expensive and lockdown quite difficult but super once that issue is sorted. Advice Sauconny endorphin pro 4 would be my suggestion. Stable propulsive and durable.