ShoeGeometry

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 vs Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

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

heel bonePuma 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 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
  • Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 339/31 mm · toe rocker 41 % · heel bevel 13 %
  • 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-offPuma Fast-R Nitro Elite 341.5 vs 31 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same39 vs 39.5 mm heel stack
More under the forefootAbout the same31 vs 31.5 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropAbout the same8 vs 8 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootPuma Fast-R Nitro Elite 380 vs 54 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelPuma Fast-R Nitro Elite 360 vs 0 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootSaucony Endorphin Elite 3111.6 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.

MetricPuma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3
Racing · Road
Saucony Endorphin Elite 3
Racing · Road
Heel-to-toe drop8 mmStated8 mmStated
Heel stack39 mmStated39.5 mmStated
Forefoot stack31 mmStated31.5 mmStated
Weight170 gStated207 gStated
Toe rocker41 %est.31 %est.
Rocker radius54 %est.33 %est.
Rocker rise angle25 degest.35 degest.
Rocker angle at toe50 degest.63 degest.
Toe tip over ground49 mm*est.44 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset72.4 %est.78 %est.
Toe spring (relative)19.8 %est.21.8 %est.
Heel bevel length13.1 %est.12.1 %*est.
Heel bevel height31 mmest.26 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)111.6 mmMeasured116.2 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)80 mmMeasured94.2 mmMeasured
Toe box shape65 %est.80 %*est.
Interior forefoot width92.9 mmMeasured93.8 mmMeasured
Toebox width72.3 mmMeasured71.8 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness80Derived54Derived
Midsole firmness60Derived0Derived
PlateCarbon plateCarbon plate
Primary foamNITROFOAM Elite (A-TPU)IncrediRUN
List price$300$290

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 8 mm for Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, 8 mm for Saucony Endorphin Elite 3.
  • Heel stack is about the same: 39 mm for Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, 39.5 mm for Saucony Endorphin Elite 3.
  • Forefoot stack is about the same: 31 mm for Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, 31.5 mm for Saucony Endorphin Elite 3.
  • Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3's weight is 170 g, 37 g lighter than Saucony Endorphin Elite 3's 207 g.
  • Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3's toe rocker is 41 % of length, 10 % 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:

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 details · Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 details · Add more shoes