Introducing Nike Apex: The Next Leap in Marathon Speed

What is Nike Apex? Nike Apex is Nike’s pinnacle expression of race-day innovation, created for marathon runners chasing every possible second. Its lightweight system combines a pair of double-stacked Air Zoom units, ZoomX LT foam, a redesigned carbon fiber Flyplate and a Flyknit X upper.

What makes Nike Apex different? Nike Apex is the first racing shoe to feature two double-stacked Air Zoom units — the most Air ever applied in the forefoot of a Nike running shoe. The platform is designed to compress, store and return energy, delivering up to 40% more energy return than Alphafly 3 in a men's size 10.

How does Nike Apex feel? Light and fast. A zero-drop, 40-millimeter platform provides consistent support from heel to forefoot, pairing cushioning and impact protection with unreal responsiveness, while a wider outsole, rocker geometry and tuned carbon fiber Flyplate support forward drive and stability.

When is it available? Nike Apex will be available in January 2027 at nike.com and select retail locations.

Every marathon asks the same question: How much more is possible? Nike Apex was built for runners determined to find the answer.

Created for athletes pursuing the outer edge of performance , Apex is built for the moments when every second matters, bringing together breakthrough Air Zoom technology, advanced materials and decades of runner insight in Nike's most efficient and advanced racing system yet.

Runners recognize that difference the moment they step into Apex. The shoe feels light, airy and impossibly fast, helping athletes move through the marathon with a sense of momentum that's difficult to describe and impossible to ignore.

The stats back up that feeling: Apex delivers up to 40% more energy return than Alphafly 3 in a men’s size 10 while weighing more than 10% less, creating a race-day experience that feels fundamentally different from anything that’s come before.

That experience is driven by one of the biggest advances in marathon racing since Nike’s original super shoe: four Air Zoom units configured in two stacked pairs, new ZoomX LT foam, a glove-like Flyknit X upper and a redesigned carbon fiber Flyplate.

"For decades, Nike has partnered with runners to better understand the demands of the marathon and turn those learnings into new performance solutions,” says Phil McCartney, Chief Innovation, Design and Product Officer. “The evolution of Air has been central to that journey, serving as a catalyst for some of the most important advances in running performance and helping propel the sport into a new era of speed. Apex builds on that legacy and represents one of the biggest leaps we've ever made in marathon racing, bringing together everything we've learned about speed, efficiency, endurance and Air-powered innovation in a system designed to help runners chase every possible second.”

Featuring the same new Air Zoom innovation introduced in Alphafly 4 , Apex's visible double-stacked Air Zoom platform creates a distinctive silhouette that reimagines what's possible within today's racing rules — bringing forward the most Air ever applied in the forefoot of a Nike running shoe. Designed to compress, store and return energy, the platform creates a uniquely propulsive sensation that helps runners move efficiently through every mile of the marathon.

Unlike traditional racing shoes, Apex features zero-drop geometry with a 40-millimeter stack height in both the heel and forefoot, creating a balanced ride designed to keep runners feeling supported through every mile. The highly cushioned platform is engineered to maximize energy return while maintaining the responsiveness elite marathoners demand.

“Air remains critical because it delivers lightweight cushioning, responsiveness and energy return while maintaining its performance over the full marathon,” says McCartney. “That means runners can experience a more consistent ride from the first mile to mile 26.”

Every component surrounding the Air Zoom platform is tuned to work as part of an integrated system of speed, developed through years of athlete feedback and research at the Nike Sport Research Lab , Nike's engine for performance innovation.

At its foundation is a plush bed of responsive ZoomX LT, a new race-specific midsole foam that’s softer, lighter and provides greater energy return than ZoomX. Above the Air Zoom system, a raised inverse-wave carbon fiber Flyplate is shaped to direct loading into the double-stacked units while also supporting forward drive and stability. A wider outsole and rocker geometry complete the system, helping runners stay connected to their rhythm and maintain belief in their pace when fatigue begins to set in.

Underfoot, a GOATEK and Fast Shot outsole provides strategically placed traction and durability only where runners need them most, reducing unnecessary weight while maintaining confidence on race day.

The same precision extends to the upper. Lightweight, breathable Flyknit X fabric, a fitted knit collar and sock liner-free construction create a minimal, glove-like fit that disappears on foot. Together, these innovations deliver a race-day experience that feels remarkably light, responsive and efficient.

“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,” says Nike athlete Jacob Kiplimo. “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 Nike Apex does.”

Nike’s advantage comes from decades of racing innovation shaped by athletes.

From co-founder Bill Bowerman’s earliest handcrafted spikes to the original super shoes that redefined racing more than a decade ago, Nike has consistently pushed running innovation forward for more than 50 years. Today, that commitment continues through a race-day system built around athlete insight, scientific research and breakthrough technologies designed to improve running economy and help runners unlock new levels of performance.

Nike’s contemporary system of speed brings together proprietary Air Zoom platforms, advanced foams and engineered plates to deliver distinct solutions for different runners, goals and race-day experiences, all in an easy-to-understand footwear construct .

Nike Apex pushes the edge of what racing innovation can become, delivering Nike’s most advanced expression of speed for athletes chasing the edge of marathon performance.

Nike Alphafly 4 unlocks speed for all, balancing responsiveness, comfort, stability and efficiency over distance.

Nike Swooshfly opens the door, offering an invitation to race day by helping runners feel confident, cushioned and ready to take on the unknown.

Each shoe has a distinct job — built to make race day feel more possible, personal and powerful.

Nike Apex will be available in January 2027 at nike.com and select retail locations.

Originally published by Nike.