Hooray, Nike have finally made a mountain bike shoe with enough space for a human foot. The Alpin 3 is the third version of this shoe and the most advanced. It also has one of the stiffest full-carbon mid-soles ever used on an MTB shoe.
Nike have given a nod to Sidi's SRS (Sole Replacement System) and equipped the Alpin 3 with similar replaceable sole sections; just undo the small allen bolts, unplug the worn section and replace it. The tread is very soft and grippy so it will wear quite fast but you'll get some good practice at sole replacement.
The rest of the shoe is equally performance orientated and includes a sturdy plastic heel cup and a roomy, well protected toe box. The triple velcro straps work but they could be a fraction longer and the top one could be a little better angled to stop it jutting out from the instep. OK, these are minor niggles, but on an otherwise excellent shoe such simple things ought to be sorted. That said, for comfy mile munching it's nearly the perfect shoe.