ShoeGeometry

Nike Vaporfly 4 vs Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

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 lengthSaucony Endorphin Elite 3: heel 40 mm, forefoot 32 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 31 % of length, radius 33 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 26 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Saucony Endorphin Elite 3: toe rocker 31 % of length
  • Nike Vaporfly 436/30 mm · toe rocker 35 % · heel bevel 11 %
  • Saucony Endorphin Elite 340/32 mm · toe rocker 31 % · 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-offNike Vaporfly 435.2 vs 31 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelSaucony Endorphin Elite 336 vs 39.5 mm heel stack
More under the forefootAbout the same30 vs 31.5 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropNike Vaporfly 46 vs 8 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootAbout the same53 vs 54 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelNike Vaporfly 455 vs 0 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootSaucony Endorphin Elite 3110.6 vs 116.2 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
Saucony Endorphin Elite 3
Racing · Road
Heel-to-toe drop6 mmStated8 mmStated
Heel stack36 mmStated39.5 mmStated
Forefoot stack30 mmStated31.5 mmStated
Weight190 gStated207 gStated
Toe rocker35 %est.31 %est.
Rocker radius47 %est.33 %est.
Rocker rise angle26 degest.35 degest.
Rocker angle at toe55 degest.63 degest.
Toe tip over ground38 mm*est.44 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset76.2 %est.78 %est.
Toe spring (relative)17.4 %est.21.8 %est.
Heel bevel length11.1 %est.12.1 %*est.
Heel bevel height17 mm*est.26 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)110.6 mmMeasured116.2 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)77 mmMeasured94.2 mmMeasured
Toe box shape71 %*est.80 %*est.
Interior forefoot width91.7 mmMeasured93.8 mmMeasured
Toebox width73.2 mmMeasured71.8 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness53Derived54Derived
Midsole firmness55Derived0Derived
PlateCarbon plateCarbon plate
Primary foamZoomXIncrediRUN
List price$270$290

Key differences

  • Nike Vaporfly 4's heel-to-toe drop is 6 mm, 2 mm lower than Saucony Endorphin Elite 3's 8 mm.
  • Nike Vaporfly 4's heel stack is 36 mm, 3.5 mm thinner than Saucony Endorphin Elite 3's 39.5 mm.
  • Nike Vaporfly 4's forefoot stack is 30 mm, 1.5 mm thinner than Saucony Endorphin Elite 3's 31.5 mm.
  • Nike Vaporfly 4's weight is 190 g, 17 g lighter than Saucony Endorphin Elite 3's 207 g.
  • Nike Vaporfly 4's toe rocker is 35 % of length, 4 % of length longer than Saucony Endorphin Elite 3's 31 % 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

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

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Nike Vaporfly 4 details · Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 details · Add more shoes