Nike Alphafly 3 The Sting International Running Pack 1978

Nike Alphafly 3 The Sting International Running Pack 1978: the super shoe that goes back to 1978

In 1978, the Nike Alphafly 3 The Sting with its orange/green colorway instantly became iconic in Japan — a historical connection that Nike has decided to honor in September 2025 at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with the International Running Pack. The AtomKnit 3.0 replicates the original gradient: reddish-orange Starfish invades the forefoot and lace loops, then gradually blends into sage green Aloe Verde towards the heel — forty-seven years of chromatic history transposed onto the most advanced super shoe of 2025. The ZoomX sole adopts a deliberately aged look, as if Nike's most advanced technology had traversed the decades, while Coconut Milk and Gum Medium Brown complete the palette with the warmth of natural materials associated with 70s archives. A pair released exclusively at the Union Running Dept. in Tokyo before its global launch — a sign that some stories deserve to be told where they began.

The triple technology of 2025 in the shell of a 1978 icon

Behind this retro patina reminiscent of Tokyo's vintage shop windows, the Alphafly Next% 3 Premium deploys its absolute competition architecture. Two Air Zoom pods under the forefoot — clear and transparent on this colorway — store and return energy with unmatched explosiveness with each push. The full-length ZoomX foam sole, fully connected for smooth transitions, maintains freshness throughout the 42 km. The full-length carbon plate converts every muscle extension into clear forward propulsion. The steam-treated AtomKnit 3.0 ensures multidirectional control and breathability with the precision that the original Sting could only imagine in 1978.

For whom?

The Nike Alphafly Next% 3 "The Sting" is for the runner who wants the top-tier marathon super shoe in Nike's hierarchy, in the edition most deeply rooted in running history — the one that connects 1978 to 2025 in a single gesture, designed for Tokyo and for all those who understand why Japan is the most passionate guardian of Nike's heritage. It will suit serious marathon and half-marathon runners who want the triple technology of Air Zoom + ZoomX + carbon in a collector's pair that honors its origins with rare cultural precision.

Technical data

• Weight: Approximately 218 g (M, US 10)
• Drop: 8 mm
• Foam: Full-length ZoomX foam (aged look)
• Plate: Full-length carbon
• Air Zoom: Double forefoot pods (Clear/transparent)
• Upper: AtomKnit 3.0, Starfish/Aloe Verde gradient colorway, Coconut Milk/Gum Medium Brown
• Collection: International Running Pack — tribute to the 1978 Nike Sting
• Exclusive release: Union Running Dept. Tokyo, August 30, 2025
• Outsole: High abrasion rubber
• Surface: Road
• Use: Marathon / half-marathon competition