ShoeGeometry

Nike Vaporfly 4 vs Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4

Two popular shoes in the same category, compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneNike Vaporfly 4: heel 36 mm, forefoot 30 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 35 % of length, radius 47 % of length; heel bevel 11 % of length, 17 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Nike Vaporfly 4: toe rocker 35 % of lengthPuma Deviate Nitro Elite 4: heel 40 mm, forefoot 32 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 40 % of length, radius 45 % of length; heel bevel 11 % of length, 14 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4: toe rocker 40 % of length
  • Nike Vaporfly 436/30 mm · toe rocker 35 % · heel bevel 11 %
  • Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 440/32 mm · toe rocker 40 % · heel bevel 11 %
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 Deviate Nitro Elite 435.2 vs 40 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelPuma Deviate Nitro Elite 436 vs 40 mm heel stack
More under the forefootPuma Deviate Nitro Elite 430 vs 32 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropNike Vaporfly 46 vs 8 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootPuma Deviate Nitro Elite 453 vs 69 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelAbout the same55 vs 64 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootNike Vaporfly 4110.6 vs 105.9 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 Vaporfly 4
Racing · Road
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4
Racing · Road
Heel-to-toe drop6 mmStated8 mmStated
Heel stack36 mmStated40 mmStated
Forefoot stack30 mmStated32 mmStated
Weight190 gStated—
Toe rocker35 %est.40 %est.
Rocker radius47 %est.45 %est.
Rocker rise angle26 degest.29 degest.
Rocker angle at toe55 degest.58 degest.
Toe tip over ground38 mm*est.47 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset76.2 %est.71.4 %est.
Toe spring (relative)17.4 %est.20.9 %est.
Heel bevel length11.1 %est.11.1 %est.
Heel bevel height17 mm*est.14 mmest.
Midsole width (forefoot)110.6 mmMeasured105.9 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)77 mmMeasured78.8 mmMeasured
Toe box shape71 %*est.74 %*est.
Interior forefoot width91.7 mmMeasured93.6 mmMeasured
Toebox width73.2 mmMeasured74.8 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness53Derived69Derived
Midsole firmness55Derived64Derived
PlateCarbon plateCarbon plate
Primary foamZoomXNITROFOAM Elite (ATPU)
List price$270$250

Key differences

  • Nike Vaporfly 4's heel-to-toe drop is 6 mm, 2 mm lower than Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4's 8 mm.
  • Nike Vaporfly 4's heel stack is 36 mm, 4 mm thinner than Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4's 40 mm.
  • Nike Vaporfly 4's forefoot stack is 30 mm, 2 mm thinner than Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4's 32 mm.
  • Nike Vaporfly 4's toe rocker is 35 % of length, 5 % of length shorter than Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4's 40 % 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 Vaporfly 4

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4

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Nike Vaporfly 4 details · Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 details · Add more shoes