Did Nike Already Unveil the Next Super Shoe to Take Over the Alphafly?

Time flies when you’re Conner Mantz.

As the former BYU track star crossed the line at this year’s Chicago Marathon, he was no longer just the best American marathon runner of his generation.

Mantz, who finished the race in 2 hours, 4 minutes and 43 seconds, had cemented his legacy as the greatest marathon runner in US history, beating Khalid Khannouchi’s longstanding record set in 2002.

Getty Images/Geoff Stellfox

In the 23 years since, much has changed within the sport of running. Advancements in training, nutrition and, crucially, shoe technology have fueled times once thought humanely impossible.

But if Mantz’s performance proved anything, it’s that we still have a ways to go. Or do we … ?

Getty Images/Geoff Stellfox

The road to records

Leading up to the Chicago Marathon, Nike made Mantz the face of a new campaign around the Vomero Premium, its new high-stack training shoe with unparalleled cushioning.

It turned out to be something of a diversion from what Mantz would actually wear during the race itself: a prototype of the Alphafly called Nike-Dev 16141, approved by World Athletics just days before.

From afar, the shoe bore a striking resemblance to the Alphafly 3, which has claimed both the men’s and women’s world records, set at the same race in 2023 and 2024. (Ruth Chepngetich later tested positive for a banned substance, although her record continues to stand.)

Getty Images/Geoff Stellfox

There was the Atomknit upper, exposed Air Zoom pods and, of course, a fat stack of foam. However, text on the side of the Mantz’s shoes, which read which read “Dev 16141,” confirmed they were indeed Nike’s prototype model.

So what’s new? The running world isn’t quite sure.

Early predictions

Some online have speculated that the prototypes pack even more foam underfoot, namely by taking advantage of a loophole in the way World Athletics enforces its stack height limitations, currently set at 40mm.

While the organization is clear that the “maximum thickness of the sole must not exceed 40mm,” it only measures shoes at the center points of the forefoot and heel, defined as 75 and 12 percent of its total internal length.

“The thickness of the sole outside of these points is not relevant for the purposes of meeting the technical requirements,” the guidelines go on.

Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

In other words, parts of the midsole can measure beyond 40mm, as long as the heel and forefoot fall under the established benchmark.

It’s also entirely possible the foam itself is new. Soft, bouncy and quick, ZoomX revolutionized the sport when it featured in the first Vaporfly.

That said, the PEBA-based foam is nearly a decade old by this point, and other manufacturers like Puma, Asics and Hoka have already pivoted to A-TPU — widely seen as the future of super-shoe technology.

Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

As of now, Nike has yet to confirm any details about the prototype. We don’t even know if it will replace the two-year-old Alphafly 3, which is due for a refresh.

Ahead of the Chicago Marathon, Mantz was candid about his intention to go after the American record. So it’s entirely possible that Nike-Dev 16141 was tailored specifically to him, especially in the context of a high-profile race.

Whatever it turns out to be, one thing is certain: Nike-Dev 16141, like the super shoes that came before, is already historically fast.

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