The Nike Apex Is a Race-Day Predator

Oh, you thought they were done?

Earlier this September, Nike debuted the anticipated Alphafly 4 – but it wasn’t their only race-day runner ready to burst onto 2026’s scene. Today, Team Swoosh have unveiled the Apex, built for those elite beasts who crave unimaginable speed, as well as the fresh-faced Swooshfly for first-timers – meaning the brand’s race-ready speedsters now come in a three-tiered system, similar to their Vomero, Pegasus and Structure franchises.

You may already recognise the Apex silhouette, and that’s because leaked imagery has been floating around the internet for some time – though you could’ve also spotted Jacob Kiplimo donning a prototype of the model when he came third in the London Marathon back in April.

‘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.’

The Nike Apex is already set to be savage on the streets, and that’s mostly thanks to the new visible double-stack of Air Zoom, marking the greatest amount of Air ever used in a Nike running shoe. The dual pods are designed to compress, store and return energy, allowing for efficiency in every stride. ‘Air remains critical because it delivers lightweight cushioning, responsiveness and energy return while maintaining its performance over the full marathon,’ McCartney said. ‘That means runners can experience a more consistent ride from the first mile to mile 26.’

There’s no drop on the Apex, with both the heel and forefoot boasting a 40mm stack all the way through. The foam situation revolves around the fresh ZoomX LT, also featured in the Alphafly 4. A carbon fibre Flyplate is situated above the Air Zoom units, with both sets of tech working in tandem to provide support while propelling you to the finish line. Further down below on the outsole, Nike deliver a combo of GOATEK – an innovation we first witnessed on the Picklejus – and Fast Shot traction tech. The upper of the Apex comes kitted in Flyknit X, which is said to be breathable, light, and to fit like a glove.

Nike’s Swooshfly is the latest beast to arrive in the brand’s lineup, and acts as something of a beginner-friendly shoe for race day, opening the doors for marathoners who aren’t yet ready for the elites. Don’t get it twisted – the Swooshfly is still oozing with tech. SkyX supercritical foam is the centrepiece of this runner, which proffers a stable, responsive and cushioned ride. A carbon plate is slotted within the foam, and complemented by a GOATEK outsole and a brand new Vaporweave upper. Together, all of these tech elements are said to provide 16 per cent more energy return than the men’s size 10 Vaporfly 4, when compared to the same-sized Swooshfly – wild!

‘A first race can feel exciting and intimidating at the same time,’ said Ryan Shi, product footwear lead. ‘We created Swooshfly to give runners the support they need to say yes to that challenge, step onto the starting line with confidence, and know they can do it in the shoes and belong there. For us, that’s what makes race day feel more possible.’

Nike’s Apex, Alphafly 4 and Swooshfly are the brand’s next generation of supershoes – can they match Team Trefoil’s stacked Adizero lineup? The Nike Apex is at the cutting edge of Nike’s race-day offerings, giving elite athletes the most advanced innovations to draw every ounce of performance in a marathon setting. The Alphafly 4 is a balanced race-day performer, looking to provide comfort, stability, responsiveness and efficiency over the 42.2 KM distance. Finally, the Swooshfly is the runner for the first-timer that blesses beginners with confidence.

‘Race day is one of the most meaningful moments in a runner’s journey, but that moment looks different for everyone,’ says VP of Nike Running Footwear, Bret Schoolmeester. ‘With Nike Apex, Alphafly 4 and Swooshfly, we created a system that helps runners choose the experience they want on race day, whether that means finding the confidence to step onto a starting line for the first time or chasing every possible second in pursuit of a breakthrough performance.’

The Alphafly 4 dropped on September 17 in limited quantities, with a global release to go down on October 29. You can expect the Apex to launch through select channels in January next year, and the Swooshfly to land exclusively in China in February 2027.

Keep up to date with this year’s marathon-winning supershoes here.