ShoeGeometry

Nike Alphafly 4 vs Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3

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

heel boneNike Alphafly 4: heel 39 mm, forefoot 31 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 36 % of length, radius 43 % of length; heel bevel 13 % of length, 17 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Nike Alphafly 4: toe rocker 36 % of lengthPuma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3: heel 39 mm, forefoot 31 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 41 % of length, radius 54 % of length; heel bevel 13 % of length, 31 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3: toe rocker 41 % of length
  • Nike Alphafly 439/31 mm · toe rocker 36 % · heel bevel 13 %
  • Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 339/31 mm · toe rocker 41 % · heel bevel 13 %
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-offPuma Fast-R Nitro Elite 335.5 vs 41.5 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same39 vs 39 mm heel stack
More under the forefootAbout the same31 vs 31 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropAbout the same8 vs 8 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.

MetricNike Alphafly 4
Racing · Road
Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3
Racing · Road
Heel-to-toe drop8 mmStated8 mmStated
Heel stack39 mmStated39 mmStated
Forefoot stack31 mmStated31 mmStated
Weight188 gStated170 gStated
Toe rocker36 %est.41 %est.
Rocker radius43 %est.54 %est.
Rocker rise angle25 degest.25 degest.
Rocker angle at toe44 degest.50 degest.
Toe tip over ground41 mm*est.49 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset76.7 %est.72.4 %est.
Toe spring (relative)16.4 %est.19.8 %est.
Heel bevel length12.5 %*est.13.1 %est.
Heel bevel height17 mm*est.31 mmest.
Midsole width (forefoot)—111.6 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)—80 mmMeasured
Toe box shape—65 %est.
Interior forefoot width—92.9 mmMeasured
Toebox width—72.3 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness—80Derived
Midsole firmness—60Derived
PlateCarbon plateCarbon plate
Primary foamZoomX + Air Zoom unitsNITROFOAM Elite (A-TPU)
List price$280$300

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 8 mm for Nike Alphafly 4, 8 mm for Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3.
  • Heel stack is about the same: 39 mm for Nike Alphafly 4, 39 mm for Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3.
  • Forefoot stack is about the same: 31 mm for Nike Alphafly 4, 31 mm for Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3.
  • Nike Alphafly 4's weight is 188 g, 18 g heavier than Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3's 170 g.
  • Nike Alphafly 4's toe rocker is 36 % of length, 6 % of length shorter than Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3's 41 % 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:

Nike Alphafly 4

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Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3

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Nike Alphafly 4 details · Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 details · Add more shoes