ShoeGeometry

Merrell Nova 4

TrailTrailNo plate2025Men'sCurrent

At a glance

Heel-to-toe drop
8 mmStated
Stack, heel / forefoot
29 / 21 mmStated
Weight
not measured yet
Plate
No plate
Toe rocker
37 % of lengthest.photos 36–37 %
Heel bevel
12.8 % of lengthest.photos 13–13 %
Stiffness / firmness
18 / — of 100Derived
Primary foam
FloatPro

How it compares

  • Merrell Nova 4's heel-to-toe drop is 8 mm, higher than the catalogue median of 6 mm (59% of the 179 other current shoes are lower).
  • Merrell Nova 4's heel stack is 29 mm, thinner than the catalogue median of 38 mm (6% of the 176 other current shoes are thinner).
  • Merrell Nova 4's forefoot stack is 21 mm, thinner than the catalogue median of 31.5 mm (1% of the 171 other current shoes are thinner).
  • 4 shoes with similar geometry from other lines.

Differences smaller than the precision of the sources (about 1 mm of stack, 8 g, or the spread between photos for photo estimates) are reported as about the same.

Specifications

Heel-to-toe drop
Manufacturer stated
8mm
HighSpec listingsource
Heel stack
Manufacturer stated
29mm
HighSpec listingsource
Forefoot stack
Manufacturer stated
21mm
HighSpec listingsource
Weight
No approved value yet.
Plate
No plate
Primary foam
FloatPro
List price
$140

Plate, foam and price from Men's Nova 4 Trail Running Shoes | Merrell.

Geometry

Catalogue average: heel 38 mm, forefoot 32 mm, toe rocker 35 %Merrell Nova 4: heel 29 mm, forefoot 21 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 37 % of length, radius 55 % of length; heel bevel 13 % of length, 21 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.29 mm21 mmUnder the centre of the heel bone: 12 % of length from the heel, where heel stack is measuredheel boneHeel contact: the sole is within 4.5 mm of the ground from 13 % of length (foam compresses more under load), ending about under the heel boneheel bevel 13 %Toe rocker: the front 37 % of the length curves up (the curve leaves the ground 63 % of length from the heel)toe rocker 37 %toeheel
Front: toe rocker shorter longerRear: heel stack lower higher not measured
Dashed: average of the catalogue
Illustrative profile, not a photograph or scan: drawn to scale for a 300 mm shoe from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoe (under body weight the foam compresses and the curves flatten). The grey upper is a generic outline, not this shoe’s. Merrell Nova 4: heel 29 mm, forefoot 21 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 37 % of length, radius 55 % of length; heel bevel 13 % of length, 21 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone. Heel bone: 12 % of length from the heel, where heel stack is measured. Heel bevel and toe rocker are marked where each curve meets the ground; for the heel that is where the sole comes within 4.5 mm of the ground, which foam compression closes under body weight.

Percent values are relative to shoe length so they compare across images and sizes; widths in millimetres are lab measurements from the cited source, while toe tip and heel heights in millimetres are photo estimates converted for a men’s US 9 (assumed 300 mm long), so approximate. See how rocker geometry is defined.

Toe rocker
AI estimated
37%

2 photos range 36–37 %; shown is one of the two that agree most closely.

LowSide photosource
Rocker radius
AI estimated
55%

2 photos range 50–55 %; shown is one of the two that agree most closely.

LowSide photosource
Rocker rise angle
AI estimated
26deg

2 photos range 26–27 deg; shown is one of the two that agree most closely.

LowSide photosource
Toe tip over ground
AI estimated
32mm

2 photos range 32–33 mm; shown is the average of the two that agree most closely.

LowSide photosource
Rocker angle at toe
AI estimated
65deg

2 photos range 65–65 deg; shown is one of the two that agree most closely.

LowSide photosource
Visible rocker lift onset
AI estimated
75.7%

2 photos range 75.7–76 %; shown is one of the two that agree most closely.

LowSide photosource
Toe spring (relative)
AI estimated
17.6%

2 photos range 17.6–17.9 %; shown is one of the two that agree most closely.

LowSide photosource
Heel bevel length
AI estimated
12.8%

2 photos range 12.6–13 %; shown is the average of the two that agree most closely.

LowSide photosource
Heel bevel height
AI estimated
21mm

2 photos range 21–22 mm; shown is the average of the two that agree most closely.

LowSide photosource
Midsole width (forefoot)
Externally measured
118mm
MediumLab testsource
Midsole width (heel)
Externally measured
89.8mm
MediumLab testsource
Interior forefoot width
Externally measured
96.9mm
MediumLab testsource
Toebox width
Externally measured
74.5mm
MediumLab testsource

Stiffness

Longitudinal stiffness
Derived
18/ 100

Lab reading: 11.4 N, force to bend the shoe 30° (lab bending test); the score is our 0–100 rescaling of it.

MediumLab flex testsource

How it compares

Appears in:Longer toe rocker

Wrong value? Missing data? Tell me
Stored only to improve the site; see privacy.

Sources

  • Men's Nova 4 Trail Running Shoes | MerrellmanufacturerMerrellaccessed 2026-10-04open ↗
  • merrell-nova-4 lateral product photoimageZapposaccessed 2026-10-04open ↗
  • merrell-nova-4 lateral product photoimageZapposaccessed 2026-10-04open ↗
  • Cut in half: Merrell Nova 4 Review (2025) | RunRepeatlabRunRepeataccessed 2026-10-04open ↗
Technical detail: every recorded value, method and version (26)

All approved observations

Every recorded value, including superseded ones. The displayed value per metric is chosen by precedence (measured › stated › derived › AI estimated), then confidence, then recency. 18 further observations awaiting review.

MetricValueClassConfidenceMethodSourceRecorded
Heel-to-toe drop8 mmStatedHighSpec listingMerrell2026-10-04
Heel stack29 mmStatedHighSpec listingMerrell2026-10-04
Forefoot stack21 mmStatedHighSpec listingMerrell2026-10-04
Rocker apex64.2 %est.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Rocker apex63.1 %est.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Rocker radius50 %est.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Rocker radius55 %est.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Rocker rise angle27 degest.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Rocker rise angle26 degest.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Toe tip over ground33 mmest.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Toe tip over ground32 mmest.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Rocker angle at toe65 degest.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Rocker angle at toe65 degest.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Visible rocker lift onset75.7 %est.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Visible rocker lift onset76 %est.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Toe spring (relative)17.9 %est.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Toe spring (relative)17.6 %est.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Heel bevel length12.6 %est.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Heel bevel length13 %est.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Heel bevel height21 mmest.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Heel bevel height22 mmest.LowSide photoZappos2026-10-04
Midsole width (forefoot)118 mmMeasuredMediumLab testRunRepeat2026-10-04
Midsole width (heel)89.8 mmMeasuredMediumLab testRunRepeat2026-10-04
Interior forefoot width96.9 mmMeasuredMediumLab testRunRepeat2026-10-04
Toebox width74.5 mmMeasuredMediumLab testRunRepeat2026-10-04
Longitudinal stiffness18 DerivedMediumLab flex testRunRepeat2026-10-04

Classes: Manufacturer stated · Externally measured · AI estimated · Derived · User reported. Hover a method for its identifier and algorithm version.

Source notes

  • Zappos: sha256=1f31c4c78389064e0a40403f0696b273eadd43a827474bbb9873c1b0374caa5d; 0.3
  • Zappos: sha256=b6ef5f70c719194fd7f6a6b04a8714c067a43dc45d1bb7607cecebb8b0f46326; 0.3

Shoes with similar geometry

Compare these →

Closest current models from other lines by stack, drop, rocker, toe height, stiffness, firmness, weight and width, whichever both shoes have.

Side profile illustration of the Inov-8 Trailfly V2
Inov-8
Trailfly V2
Trail · No plate
Drop
6 mm
Heel
28 mm
Toe rocker
34%

vs this shoe: 7 mm narrower base · 2 mm less drop

Side profile illustration of the Merrell Agility Peak 6
Merrell
Agility Peak 6
Trail · Rock plate
Drop
6 mm
Heel
32 mm
Toe rocker
40%

vs this shoe: 2 mm less drop · 3 mm higher heel · stiffer

Side profile illustration of the Adidas Terrex Agravic 4
Adidas
Terrex Agravic 4
Trail · Rock plate
Drop
8 mm
Heel
34 mm
Toe rocker
38%

vs this shoe: 5 mm higher heel · stiffer

Side profile illustration of the Salomon Pulsar
Salomon
Pulsar
Trail · No plate
Drop
6 mm
Heel
29 mm
Toe rocker
32%

vs this shoe: 2 mm less drop