ShoeGeometry

Adidas Terrex Agravic 4 vs Merrell Nova 4

Two shoes compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneAdidas Terrex Agravic 4: heel 34 mm, forefoot 26 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 38 % of length, radius 52 % of length; heel bevel 11 % of length, 25 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Adidas Terrex Agravic 4: toe rocker 38 % of lengthMerrell Nova 4: heel 29 mm, forefoot 21 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 36 % of length, radius 55 % of length; heel bevel 13 % of length, 21 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Merrell Nova 4: toe rocker 36 % of length
  • Adidas Terrex Agravic 434/26 mm · toe rocker 38 % · heel bevel 11 %
  • Merrell Nova 429/21 mm · toe rocker 36 % · heel bevel 13 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offAdidas Terrex Agravic 438.4 vs 36.4 % toe rocker; 39 vs 32.5 mm toe tip
More cushioning under the heelAdidas Terrex Agravic 434 vs 29 mm heel stack
More under the forefootAdidas Terrex Agravic 426 vs 21 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropAbout the same8 vs 8 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootAdidas Terrex Agravic 440 vs 18 /100 stiffness
A wider base under the forefootAbout the same119.4 vs 118 mm forefoot base

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricAdidas Terrex Agravic 4
Trail · Trail
Merrell Nova 4
Trail · Trail
Heel-to-toe drop8 mmDerived8 mmStated
Heel stack34 mmMeasured29 mmStated
Forefoot stack26 mmMeasured21 mmStated
Weight275 gStated—
Toe rocker38 %est.36 %est.
Rocker radius52 %est.55 %est.
Rocker rise angle24 degest.26 degest.
Rocker angle at toe52 degest.65 degest.
Toe tip over ground39 mm*est.32 mmest.
Visible rocker lift onset75.6 %est.75.7 %est.
Toe spring (relative)17.4 %est.17.8 %est.
Heel bevel length11.5 %est.12.8 %est.
Heel bevel height25 mmest.21 mmest.
Midsole width (forefoot)119.4 mmMeasured118 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)87.7 mmMeasured89.8 mmMeasured
Interior forefoot width97.9 mmMeasured96.9 mmMeasured
Toebox width73 mmMeasured74.5 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness40Derived18Derived
Midsole firmness49Derived—
PlateRock plateNo plate
Primary foamLightstrikeFloatPro
List price$145$140

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 8 mm for Adidas Terrex Agravic 4, 8 mm for Merrell Nova 4.
  • Adidas Terrex Agravic 4's heel stack is 34 mm, 5 mm thicker than Merrell Nova 4's 29 mm.
  • Adidas Terrex Agravic 4's forefoot stack is 26 mm, 5 mm thicker than Merrell Nova 4's 21 mm.
  • Toe rocker is about the same: 38 % of length for Adidas Terrex Agravic 4, 36 % of length for Merrell Nova 4.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Adidas Terrex Agravic 4

Merrell Nova 4

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

Adidas Terrex Agravic 4 details · Merrell Nova 4 details · Add more shoes