Kelvin Kiptum gave a new meaning to the term “super shoe” on October 8, 2023, as he shattered the men's marathon world record in Chicago with a time of 2 hours 35 seconds.

The super shoe in question? Nike’s Alphafly 3, the latest high-performance sneaker to birth out of the label’s ever-growing carbon-plated conveyor belt.

While specifics of the Alphafly 3 remain a mystery, what we do know is that the speedy silhouette has taken a step away from the make up of its predecessors.

Though its upper is still be crafted from Nike’s AtomKnit fabric, the midsole looks to have been given a tasty makeover. The ZoomX foam has adopted a much chunkier form, while the sneaker’s overall shape is much more streamlined than before.

While this is all well and good to know, the only thing anyone’s asking now is: when will Nike’s Alphafly 3 actually release?

Initial rumors were that the Nike Alphafly 3 was set to land in August. However, following no such drop Nike confirmed on October 10 that it will be dropping in January 2024.

Truth is, Kiptum breaking the world record while wearing the Alphafly 3 couldn’t have come at a more convenient time for Nike following the recent release adidas’ $500 Pro Evo 1 and its subsequent women’s marathon record.

Kiptum, though — who surpassed Eliud Kipchoge's previous record time by more than 30 seconds — didn’t only set a new world record and, in turn, crank up the hype around the Alphafly 3, he also single-handedly reignited the hope that one day the two-hour barrier will be broken in a real race situation.

Question is: which shoes will they be wearing?

This article was published on October 9 and updated on October 10.