ShoeGeometry

La Sportiva Prodigio 2 vs Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4

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

heel boneLa Sportiva Prodigio 2: heel 34 mm, forefoot 28 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 32 % of length, radius 44 % of length; heel bevel 18 % of length (height not measured), reaching in front of the heel bone (the sole still curves up under it: a heel rocker).La Sportiva Prodigio 2: toe rocker 32 % of lengthSalomon S/Lab Pulsar 4: heel 34 mm, forefoot 28 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 39 % of length, radius 56 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 21 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4: toe rocker 39 % of length
  • La Sportiva Prodigio 234/28 mm · toe rocker 32 % · heel bevel 18 %
  • Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 434/28 mm · toe rocker 39 % · 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-offSalomon S/Lab Pulsar 431.9 vs 38.7 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same34 vs 34 mm heel stack
More under the forefootAbout the same28 vs 28 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.

MetricLa Sportiva Prodigio 2
Trail · Trail
Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4
Trail · Trail
Heel-to-toe drop6 mmStated6 mmDerived
Heel stack34 mmStated34 mmStated
Forefoot stack28 mmStated28 mmStated
Weight265 gStated252 gStated
Toe rocker32 %est.39 %est.
Rocker radius44 %est.56 %est.
Rocker rise angle27 degest.25 degest.
Rocker angle at toe59 degest.58 degest.
Toe tip over ground31 mmest.38 mmest.
Visible rocker lift onset79.7 %est.—
Toe spring (relative)16.3 %est.18.5 %est.
Heel bevel length17.6 %est.11.6 %est.
Heel bevel height—21 mmest.
Midsole width (forefoot)—106 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)—84.1 mmMeasured
Interior forefoot width—94.9 mmMeasured
Toebox width—74 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness—25Derived
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamXFlow (nitrogen-infused supercritical EVA)optiFOAM+ (PEBA/EVA) over optiFOAM EVA
List price$170$220

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 6 mm for La Sportiva Prodigio 2, 6 mm for Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4.
  • Heel stack is about the same: 34 mm for La Sportiva Prodigio 2, 34 mm for Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4.
  • Forefoot stack is about the same: 28 mm for La Sportiva Prodigio 2, 28 mm for Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4.
  • La Sportiva Prodigio 2's weight is 265 g, 13 g heavier than Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4's 252 g.
  • La Sportiva Prodigio 2's toe rocker is 32 % of length, 7 % of length shorter than Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4's 39 % 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:

La Sportiva Prodigio 2

Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

La Sportiva Prodigio 2 details · Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4 details · Add more shoes