The most aggressive geometry in the field against the most versatile — two very different ways to spend roughly the same money.
The PUMA Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 is 14g lighter (170g against 184g), the Nike Vaporfly 4 is £5.00 cheaper at RRP (£255 against £260), and both hold their foam for roughly 240km of racing. Both are inside the World Athletics 40mm road limit.
Weight · men's US 9
Price · UK RRP
Competitive life · km before the foam fades
■ marks the better figure, where better is not a matter of taste
Fast-R Nitro Elite 339mm — road legal
Vaporfly 435mm — road legal
| Specification | Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 | Vaporfly 4 |
|---|---|---|
| RRP | £260 | £255 (advantage) |
| Weight | 170g (advantage) | 184g |
| Stack | 39 / 31mm | 35 / 29mm |
| Drop | 8mm | 6mm |
| Road legal | yes | yes |
| Plate | carbon fibre | carbon fibre |
| Foam | NITROFOAM Elite | ZoomX |
| Competitive life | ~240km | ~240km |
| Price per km of life | £1.08 | £1.06 (advantage) |
| Fit | standard | standard |
| Underfoot | demanding | balanced |
| Built for | 10K · Half · Marathon | 5K · 10K · Half · Marathon |
| Economy gain | 3.5–4.7% | 3.2–4.4% |
= 5:20/km
Modelled economy gain adjusted for pace and your current shoes; ranges reflect the spread published between individual runners. Full method.
| Race | For the time | For the money |
|---|---|---|
| 5Kat a reference 22:00 | Only the Vaporfly 4 is built for this distance. | |
| 10Kat a reference 45:00 | Fast-R Nitro Elite 3−43s to −1m 1s | Fast-R Nitro Elite 3cheaper per second saved |
| Half marathonat a reference 1:45:00 | Fast-R Nitro Elite 3−1m 33s to −2m 13s | Fast-R Nitro Elite 3cheaper per second saved |
| Marathonat a reference 3:45:00 | Fast-R Nitro Elite 3−3m 6s to −4m 26s | Fast-R Nitro Elite 3cheaper per second saved |
Reference times, trainer baseline, whole-life economics. Your own time changes the answer — use the reading above.
The most aggressive shoe on this list. The decoupled heel and exposed plate make it feel like it is actively throwing you forward.
■ Caution That aggression cuts both ways — it is demanding on the calves and unforgiving if your form breaks down. Best suited to genuine forefoot strikers.
The most versatile super shoe on sale. Light enough for a 5K, cushioned enough for a marathon, and the fourth generation fixed the upper problems that made the VF3 divisive.
■ Caution Less cushioning than the Alphafly for a full marathon if you are on your feet over three and a half hours. Outsole rubber is minimal — treat wet corners with respect.
Manufacturer-stated specs unless marked estimated on the shoe sheet · last reviewed 2026-08-13 · prices are UK RRP.