ShoeGeometry

Inov-8 Trailfly V2 vs Salomon Pulsar

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

heel boneInov-8 Trailfly V2: heel 28 mm, forefoot 22 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 33 % of length, radius 53 % of length; heel bevel 5 % of length (height not measured), ending behind the heel bone (only the back edge is rounded).Inov-8 Trailfly V2: toe rocker 33 % of lengthSalomon Pulsar: heel 29 mm, forefoot 23 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 32 % of length, radius 44 % of length; heel bevel 14 % of length, 20 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Salomon Pulsar: toe rocker 32 % of length
  • Inov-8 Trailfly V228/22 mm · toe rocker 33 % · heel bevel 5 %
  • Salomon Pulsar29/23 mm · toe rocker 32 % · heel bevel 14 %
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-offSalomon Pulsar33.1 vs 32.4 % toe rocker; 28.4 vs 34.2 mm toe tip
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same28 vs 29 mm heel stack
More under the forefootAbout the same22 vs 23 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropAbout the same6 vs 6 mm drop

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.

MetricInov-8 Trailfly V2
Trail · Trail
Salomon Pulsar
Trail · Trail
Heel-to-toe drop6 mmStated6 mmDerived
Heel stack28 mmStated29 mmStated
Forefoot stack22 mmStated23 mmStated
Weight303 gStated290 gStated
Toe rocker33 %est.32 %est.
Rocker radius53 %est.44 %est.
Rocker rise angle24 degest.26 degest.
Rocker angle at toe—50 degest.
Toe tip over ground28 mmest.34 mmest.
Visible rocker lift onset80 %est.77.4 %est.
Toe spring (relative)—15.8 %est.
Heel bevel length5.1 %est.13.8 %est.
Heel bevel height—20 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)111 mmMeasured—
Midsole width (heel)83.3 mmMeasured—
Interior forefoot width98.8 mmMeasured—
Toebox width80 mmMeasured—
Longitudinal stiffness22Derived—
Midsole firmness75Derived—
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamPOWERFLOW ProoptiFOAM2 (supercritical eTPU, 'Energy Foam Evo')
List price$160$140

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 6 mm for Inov-8 Trailfly V2, 6 mm for Salomon Pulsar.
  • Inov-8 Trailfly V2's heel stack is 28 mm, 1 mm thinner than Salomon Pulsar's 29 mm.
  • Inov-8 Trailfly V2's forefoot stack is 22 mm, 1 mm thinner than Salomon Pulsar's 23 mm.
  • Inov-8 Trailfly V2's weight is 303 g, 13 g heavier than Salomon Pulsar's 290 g.
  • Toe rocker is about the same: 33 % of length for Inov-8 Trailfly V2, 32 % of length for Salomon Pulsar.

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:

Inov-8 Trailfly V2

Salomon Pulsar

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

Inov-8 Trailfly V2 details · Salomon Pulsar details · Add more shoes