Searching only gave me a few vague answers, so here goes:
I mostly race sprint and olympic distance. I manage to podium every now and then, but I have newer gotten that elusive (small, local race) 1st place.
I’m considering upgrading my run shoes this year to something like alphafly/vaporfly/metaspeed etc. Unfortunately, none of these are available to try in store for me. What are your experiences racing in these shoes without socks? Are any of these shoes to be avoided if this is important?
You gotta get a pair of 1 of the 3 you mentioned. Those are the 3 shoes that have tested the best & you don’t want to give away free time if it’s there. You can run in all 3 without socks.
Alphafly is the noisiest one if that matters to you. Alphafly or Next% will give you good run time. I have Metaspeed Sky but I haven’t raced in them yet. Somehow, I don’t feel like they are fast when I run on treadmill. I need to do some track workout to see they are race worthy.
The metaspeed and next% v2 feel about the same stability wise. The bounce of the next% though hits differently and the heel of the second version should go easier on sock less running. It all comes down to whether you’re a responder to the geometry of the shoe. The AlphaFly is a giant clog. All three are tight fits so it affects transition. RW and their free return shipping is convenient and I’ve been a loyal customer for a very long time, thus, no guilt.
I haven’t raced in any of those sockless but you could also check eBay for the flyknit vaporfly. Used those a handful of times sockless a few years ago before getting next%.
You are leaving speed on the table without one of those shoes, IMO. I use Next% and it does have a few negatives in my experience for quick transitions. The inside isn’t soft so I don’t think it would be comfortable sockless, even at a sprint distance. I tested quick laces and found that they didn’t work well, so I went back to traditional laces, which lock everything in place a lot better.
I’ve read that some experienced the same issues with the Next% and prefer the Metaspeed for these reasons.
The metaspeed and next% v2 feel about the same stability wise. The bounce of the next% though hits differently and the heel of the second version should go easier on sock less running. It all comes down to whether you’re a responder to the geometry of the shoe. The AlphaFly is a giant clog. All three are tight fits so it affects transition. RW and their free return shipping is convenient and I’ve been a loyal customer for a very long time, thus, no guilt.
How tight are wa talking? Will I curse at the shoes the same way I curse at my wetsuit when I try to get that thing on in a hurry, or will it be a minor annoyance that I learn to deal with? Of course, my mileage will wary, but what’s your experience like?
You are leaving speed on the table without one of those shoes, IMO. I use Next% and it does have a few negatives in my experience for quick transitions. The inside isn’t soft so I don’t think it would be comfortable sockless, even at a sprint distance. I tested quick laces and found that they didn’t work well, so I went back to traditional laces, which lock everything in place a lot better.
I’ve read that some experienced the same issues with the Next% and prefer the Metaspeed for these reasons.
Are you talking about the AF next% of VF next%?
I find that typically people need to go up 1/2 size in the vaporfly.
The vaporfly is pretty easy to run sockless in imo.
Of course sockless is a HUGE ymmv from one to the other.
On your next vacation it may be good to find a local running store that stocks the super shoes and try them on. Just because A,B,C all love the alphafly doesn’t mean you will
The metaspeed and next% v2 feel about the same stability wise. The bounce of the next% though hits differently and the heel of the second version should go easier on sock less running. It all comes down to whether you’re a responder to the geometry of the shoe. The AlphaFly is a giant clog. All three are tight fits so it affects transition. RW and their free return shipping is convenient and I’ve been a loyal customer for a very long time, thus, no guilt.
How tight are wa talking? Will I curse at the shoes the same way I curse at my wetsuit when I try to get that thing on in a hurry, or will it be a minor annoyance that I learn to deal with? Of course, my mileage will wary, but what’s your experience like?
Something worth considering, if the transitions are of great importance: The Alphaflys have a pull loop on the tongue and heel, the Next% and Metaspeed do not. IDK how much of a difference this makes to you, but it’s probably a couple seconds faster and more repeatable.
You are leaving speed on the table without one of those shoes, IMO. I use Next% and it does have a few negatives in my experience for quick transitions. The inside isn’t soft so I don’t think it would be comfortable sockless, even at a sprint distance. I tested quick laces and found that they didn’t work well, so I went back to traditional laces, which lock everything in place a lot better.
I’ve read that some experienced the same issues with the Next% and prefer the Metaspeed for these reasons.
Are you talking about the AF next% of VF next%?
I use the Vaporfly. I tried the AF but didn’t like it as much.
My experience has been quite different. The VF Next % are about the most comfortable sockless shoes I have been in over the past 40 years. I also use elastic laces in them and they are perfect.
I raced in the vaporfly next% sockless last summer a bunch of times without issue. They are worlds better than the old school flats I used prior.
I found them somewhat difficult to put on in transition, I wish they had a loop like the alphas.
I race the VF next % 2. I tried pre lacing the shoes to slip into at T2 of a race last year and found that very difficult to get into them this way with adequate security.
In my next race I didn’t pre lace and tied full knots at T2. I still got out of T2 in 1:36 which is fine by me. The shoes easily save me 5 min (~4-5%) in a half marathon so def worth the price IMO.
Go with the Vaporflys
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