Hot rod flames are ensuring that Nike’s record-breaking marathon sneaker is faster then ever.
The Nike Alphafly 3 “Ekiden” is one of several sneakers that will soon be covered in flame graphics. Four different models will take on the treatment for the collection from the “Ekiden” line, which first birthed the theme with a rendition of the Air Streak Spectrum Plus from 2002.
The turbo-charged Alphafly 3 features flames streaking back from the toe across the white upper, and a yellow, orange and red gradient takes over much of the midsole. An almost identical look comes to the Vaporfly 3, while the Zoom Fly 6 replicates the flames but not the gradient and the Rival Fly 4 moves the flames to the Swoosh graphic.
“The Ekiden Pack supports runners from daily training to race day by letting you select the right shoes to match your needs, whether it’s the Rival Fly for easy runs, the Zoom Fly for faster distance runs, or the Vaporfly or Alphafly for speed training and the race,” Toyo University Ekiden runner Kosuke Ishida said in a press release. “Ekiden is a race where the items you wear also attract attention, so running in distinctive shoes motivates you to push your limits. This year’s flame design really gets me fired up for the race.”
Nike launched the Alphafly 3 at the top of the year, and it’s been a fixture of marathons and other races ever since. Just months prior to the debut release, Kevin Keptum wore a prototype of the shoe while setting the new men’s marathon world record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon with a time of 2 hours and 35 seconds.
The Swoosh has enlisted input from runners of the Ekiden Japanese relay race since the ’90s, and a stylish collection bearing the same name is now an annual tradition ahead of the competition. In 2018, Supreme revived the Air Streak Spectrum Plus’s “Ekiden” look for a collaboration with its own branding added.
The Nike Alphafly 3 “Ekiden” and the rest of the 2025 “Ekiden” pack will first release Friday, November 22, in Japan before a global launch December 4. Matching apparel will also be available in the form of a Windrunner jacket and long-sleeve T-shirt, and the Alphafly 3 will come with a cinch backpack with Kanji lettering. Pricing for the Alphafly 3 is set at $285.
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
