ShoeGeometry

Merrell Nova 4 vs Salomon Pulsar

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

heel boneMerrell 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 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
  • Merrell Nova 429/21 mm · toe rocker 36 % · heel bevel 13 %
  • 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-offMerrell Nova 436.4 vs 32.4 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same29 vs 29 mm heel stack
More under the forefootSalomon Pulsar21 vs 23 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropSalomon Pulsar8 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.

MetricMerrell Nova 4
Trail · Trail
Salomon Pulsar
Trail · Trail
Heel-to-toe drop8 mmStated6 mmDerived
Heel stack29 mmStated29 mmStated
Forefoot stack21 mmStated23 mmStated
Weight—290 gStated
Toe rocker36 %est.32 %est.
Rocker radius55 %est.44 %est.
Rocker rise angle26 degest.26 degest.
Rocker angle at toe65 degest.50 degest.
Toe tip over ground32 mmest.34 mmest.
Visible rocker lift onset75.7 %est.77.4 %est.
Toe spring (relative)17.8 %est.15.8 %est.
Heel bevel length12.8 %est.13.8 %est.
Heel bevel height21 mmest.20 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)118 mmMeasured—
Midsole width (heel)89.8 mmMeasured—
Interior forefoot width96.9 mmMeasured—
Toebox width74.5 mmMeasured—
Longitudinal stiffness18Derived—
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamFloatProoptiFOAM2 (supercritical eTPU, 'Energy Foam Evo')
List price$140$140

Key differences

  • Merrell Nova 4's heel-to-toe drop is 8 mm, 2 mm higher than Salomon Pulsar's 6 mm.
  • Heel stack is about the same: 29 mm for Merrell Nova 4, 29 mm for Salomon Pulsar.
  • Merrell Nova 4's forefoot stack is 21 mm, 2 mm thinner than Salomon Pulsar's 23 mm.
  • Merrell Nova 4's toe rocker is 36 % of length, 4 % of length longer than Salomon Pulsar'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:

Merrell Nova 4

Salomon Pulsar

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

Merrell Nova 4 details · Salomon Pulsar details · Add more shoes