Nike’s Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% Shows Us Their Innovation Knows No Bounds
A runner's dream!
Nike is making leaps once again with their incredibly innovative new sneaker design, the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%, it’s like someone couldn't decide on just one name...joking aside these new kicks are dope and we’re about to tell you exactly why.
Rumours spread quickly that these super shoes could be banned from major sporting events as they could ‘enhance performance’ and leave others at a disadvantage. When we tell you that a prototype was worn by Eliud Kipchoge who broke the unofficial world record for running a marathon in just under 2 hours in Vienna last October, you can sort of see why.
However, these sneakers do indeed meet the requirements of the World Athletics New Shoe Rule, they just happen to be crafted to an impeccable standard for runners. The NEXT% design really is a reflection of the determination within Nike’s mission to engineer footwear that breaks down barriers for runners.
Speaking about Kipchoge, Tony Bignell the VP of Footwear Innovation says that it’s these barriers that test human potential and inspire the innovators to think differently and push ‘game-changing’ ideas within footwear design, "for runners, records like the four-minute mile and two-hour marathon are barometers of progress...”
The NEXT% is about creating efficient intersections between body & technology that will allow runners to push their limits and reach their potential. It is designed to give wearers a measurable performance benefit that is informed by sport science and tested by experienced athletes.
Verified by Nike Sport Research Lab, the NEXT% features 3 key elements, the full-length Carbon Fiber Plate, which provides stability and a smooth transition, Nike ZoomX Cushioning, a lightweight feature that provides energy return, allowing for minimal energy loss when you perform and finally, the Nike Zoom Air Pods. As well as this, the NEXT% is complete with ZoomX foamand a breathable, lightweight Flyknit upper which again supports cushioning.
It’s dropping in summer 2020 along with a collection of other sneakers including the Nike Air Zoom Tempo NEXT% and Nike Air Zoom Tempo NEXT% FlyEase. Tempo NEXT% is designed to be specifically for training, with the plate shifting from carbon to composite for added comfort over higher mileage but still providing stability.
ZoomX is more tailored towards giving the wearer that all important energy return, allowing for maximum impact protection and durability, with Nike React Foam in the heel. These designs truly are the ideas of the future, that will give athletes the chance to smash their boundaries and motivate them to set even higher goals.
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