Four Air Zoom units. Zero drop. A January 2027 launch. Nike’s newsroom just introduced Apex — the brand’s next pinnacle marathon racing shoe — with on-track frames of Eliud Kipchoge, Brigid Kosgei, and Jacob Kiplimo already live.
Per Nike’s September 30 newsroom release (also covered by Sneaker News and Footwear News), Apex is the first racing shoe to run two double-stacked Air Zoom units — four chambers total — under a redesigned carbon-fiber Flyplate and a Flyknit X upper. Nike says the setup returns up to 40% more energy than Alphafly 3 in a men’s size 10, with a zero-drop, 40-millimeter stack aimed at race-day speed rather than training miles.
Retail is pegged for January 2027 at nike.com and select retailers. Apex sits above Alphafly 4 in Nike’s race-day system as the brand’s most extreme expression of marathon speed.
Update (October 6): Sneaker News now lists the Apex at $350 with a release date of January 7, 2027, under style code IU2397-001. Nike’s own newsroom still says January 2027.
Update (October 10, evening): The Apex already has its first big win, months before it hits shelves. Eliud Kipchoge won the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday (Saturday night here in the States) in 2:09:10, a new race record by two seconds, according to the Associated Press via CBC. It was his first marathon win since Berlin in September 2023, and the 41-year-old broke away inside the last 10K before waving to the crowd on the final half-lap inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground. On his feet: a custom pair of Apex, per Sole Retriever, and Boss Hunting reported before the race that he was bringing the new shoe to Melbourne. Melbourne was the third stop on his tour to run a marathon on every continent.
A three-year win drought snapped in a shoe you can't buy until January is about as good a launch trailer as Nike could ask for. The retail pair still lands January 7, 2027 at $350, per Sneaker News. You just won't get the custom touches, or the legs.
Key details
Model: Nike Apex
Tech: dual double-stacked Air Zoom · carbon Flyplate · Flyknit X · zero-drop 40mm stack
Athletes: Eliud Kipchoge, Brigid Kosgei, Jacob Kiplimo
First win: Kipchoge, Melbourne Marathon, October 11, 2026 (local), 2:09:10 race record
Style: IU2397-001
Price: $350 (per Sneaker News)
Release: January 7, 2027 (per Sneaker News; Nike says January 2027)
Where: nike.com + select retail
Sources: Nike Newsroom; Sneaker News; Footwear News; Melbourne result via AP/CBC; Apex at Melbourne via Sole Retriever and Boss Hunting. Images: official Nike newsroom campaign assets.
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