ShoeGeometry

Nike Downshifter 14 vs Puma Velocity Nitro 5

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

heel boneNike Downshifter 14: heel 34 mm, forefoot 23 mm (drop 11 mm); toe rocker not measured, typical shape drawn; heel bevel 13 % of length (height not measured), ending about under the heel bone.Puma Velocity Nitro 5: heel 33 mm, forefoot 25 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 32 % of length, radius 43 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 25 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Puma Velocity Nitro 5: toe rocker 32 % of length
  • Nike Downshifter 1434/23 mm · toe rocker not measured · heel bevel 13 %
  • Puma Velocity Nitro 533/25 mm · toe rocker 32 % · 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
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same33.9 vs 33 mm heel stack
A lower dropPuma Velocity Nitro 511 vs 8 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootNike Downshifter 1417 vs 7 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelAbout the same77 vs 77 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootAbout the same111.9 vs 111 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.

MetricNike Downshifter 14
Daily trainer · Road
Puma Velocity Nitro 5
Daily trainer · Road
Heel-to-toe drop11 mmMeasured8 mmStated
Heel stack33.9 mmMeasured33 mmMeasured
Forefoot stack—25 mmMeasured
Weight358 gStated—
Toe rocker—32 %est.
Rocker radius—43 %est.
Rocker rise angle—25 degest.
Rocker angle at toe—51 degest.
Toe tip over ground28 mm*est.32 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset—78.6 %est.
Toe spring (relative)—15.2 %est.
Heel bevel length12.8 %est.11.6 %est.
Heel bevel height—25 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)111.9 mmMeasured111 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)89.7 mmMeasured91.3 mmMeasured
Toe box shape—78 %*est.
Interior forefoot width91.2 mmMeasured92.6 mmMeasured
Toebox width71.3 mmMeasured72.1 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness17Derived7Derived
Midsole firmness77Derived77Derived
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamEVA foamNITROFOAM
List price$80$140

Key differences

  • Nike Downshifter 14's heel-to-toe drop is 11 mm, 3 mm higher than Puma Velocity Nitro 5's 8 mm.
  • Heel stack is about the same: 33.9 mm for Nike Downshifter 14, 33 mm for Puma Velocity Nitro 5.

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 Downshifter 14

Puma Velocity Nitro 5

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

Nike Downshifter 14 details · Puma Velocity Nitro 5 details · Add more shoes