ShoeGeometry

La Sportiva Prodigio Pro 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 Pro: heel 34 mm, forefoot 28 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 39 % of length, radius 51 % of length; heel bevel 18 % of length, 6 mm high at the back, reaching in front of the heel bone (the sole still curves up under it: a heel rocker).La Sportiva Prodigio Pro: toe rocker 39 % 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 Pro34/28 mm · toe rocker 39 % · 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-offLa Sportiva Prodigio Pro39.2 vs 38.7 % toe rocker; 44.4 vs 37.9 mm toe tip
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
A stiffer, snappier forefootAbout the same33 vs 25 /100 stiffness
A wider base under the forefootLa Sportiva Prodigio Pro117.1 vs 106 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.

MetricLa Sportiva Prodigio Pro
Trail · Trail
Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4
Trail · Trail
Heel-to-toe drop6 mmStated6 mmDerived
Heel stack34 mmStated34 mmStated
Forefoot stack28 mmStated28 mmStated
Weight267 gStated252 gStated
Toe rocker39 %est.39 %est.
Rocker radius51 %est.56 %est.
Rocker rise angle28 degest.25 degest.
Rocker angle at toe59 degest.58 degest.
Toe tip over ground44 mmest.38 mmest.
Visible rocker lift onset74.6 %est.—
Toe spring (relative)20.9 %est.18.5 %est.
Heel bevel length18.1 %est.11.6 %est.
Heel bevel height6 mm*est.21 mmest.
Midsole width (forefoot)117.1 mmMeasured106 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)86.1 mmMeasured84.1 mmMeasured
Interior forefoot width92 mmMeasured94.9 mmMeasured
Toebox width72.4 mmMeasured74 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness33Derived25Derived
Midsole firmness56Derived—
PlateRock plateNo plate
Primary foamXFlow Speed (supercritical TPU core)optiFOAM+ (PEBA/EVA) over optiFOAM EVA
List price$225$220

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 6 mm for La Sportiva Prodigio Pro, 6 mm for Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4.
  • Heel stack is about the same: 34 mm for La Sportiva Prodigio Pro, 34 mm for Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4.
  • Forefoot stack is about the same: 28 mm for La Sportiva Prodigio Pro, 28 mm for Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4.
  • La Sportiva Prodigio Pro's weight is 267 g, 15 g heavier than Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4's 252 g.
  • Toe rocker is about the same: 39 % of length for La Sportiva Prodigio Pro, 39 % of length for Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 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:

La Sportiva Prodigio Pro

Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

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