ShoeGeometry

Brooks Launch 12 vs Puma Velocity Nitro 5

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

heel boneBrooks Launch 12: heel 35 mm, forefoot 27 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 35 % of length, radius 43 % of length; heel bevel 6 % of length, 15 mm high at the back, ending behind the heel bone (only the back edge is rounded).Brooks Launch 12: toe rocker 35 % of lengthPuma Velocity Nitro 5: heel 33 mm, forefoot 25 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 32 % of length, radius 43 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 25 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Puma Velocity Nitro 5: toe rocker 32 % of length
  • Brooks Launch 1235/27 mm · toe rocker 35 % · heel bevel 6 %
  • Puma Velocity Nitro 533/25 mm · toe rocker 32 % · heel bevel 12 %
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-offBrooks Launch 1235.1 vs 31.7 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelBrooks Launch 1235 vs 33 mm heel stack
More under the forefootBrooks Launch 1227 vs 25 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropAbout the same8 vs 8 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootBrooks Launch 1224 vs 7 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelPuma Velocity Nitro 565 vs 77 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootAbout the same111 vs 111 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.

MetricBrooks Launch 12
Daily trainer · Road
Puma Velocity Nitro 5
Daily trainer · Road
Heel-to-toe drop8 mmDerived8 mmStated
Heel stack35 mmStated33 mmMeasured
Forefoot stack27 mmStated25 mmMeasured
Weight247 gStated—
Toe rocker35 %est.32 %est.
Rocker radius43 %est.43 %est.
Rocker rise angle27 degest.25 degest.
Rocker angle at toe54 degest.51 degest.
Toe tip over ground41 mmest.32 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset74.9 %est.78.6 %est.
Toe spring (relative)18.1 %est.15.2 %est.
Heel bevel length5.8 %est.11.6 %est.
Heel bevel height15 mmest.25 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)111 mmMeasured111 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)87.4 mmMeasured91.3 mmMeasured
Toe box shape73 %est.78 %*est.
Interior forefoot width94 mmMeasured92.6 mmMeasured
Toebox width70.1 mmMeasured72.1 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness24Derived7Derived
Midsole firmness65Derived77Derived
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamDNA Flash (DNA Flash v2 forefoot)NITROFOAM
List price$120$140

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 8 mm for Brooks Launch 12, 8 mm for Puma Velocity Nitro 5.
  • Brooks Launch 12's heel stack is 35 mm, 2 mm thicker than Puma Velocity Nitro 5's 33 mm.
  • Brooks Launch 12's forefoot stack is 27 mm, 2 mm thicker than Puma Velocity Nitro 5's 25 mm.
  • Brooks Launch 12's toe rocker is 35 % of length, 3 % of length longer than Puma Velocity Nitro 5's 32 % of length.

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:

Brooks Launch 12

Puma Velocity Nitro 5

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

Brooks Launch 12 details · Puma Velocity Nitro 5 details · Add more shoes