Step 02 — The lineup
6 shoes scored across eleven metrics · Any purpose
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On Cloudboom Echo 3 — Carbon marathon racer with a rockered, aggressive toe-off.
Sizing note
Vaporfly 4, FuelCell SuperComp Pacer v3, Sinister, Adizero Takumi Sen 10, S/Lab Phantasm 2 run snug — go up half a size, especially for long runs.
Durability
Plated models here average ~220 mi; non-plated land closer to ~300 mi.
Step 03 — Every metric
| Metric | Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% Flyknit(2018) | Nike Vaporfly 4(2025) | New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Pacer v3 | Saucony Sinister | Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 10(2024) | Brooks Hyperion 2(2024) | Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 196 g / 6.9 oz | 187 g / 6.6 oz | 190 g / 6.7 oz | 190 g / 6.7 oz | 162 g / 5.7 oz | 204 g / 7.2 oz | 200 g / 7.1 oz |
| Drop | 10 mm | 8 mm | 6 mm | 6 mm | 6 mm | 8 mm | 6 mm |
| Stack (heel) | 31 mm | 40 mm | 32 mm | 33 mm | 33 mm | 30 mm | 36 mm |
| Cushioning | |||||||
| Flexibility | |||||||
| Stability | |||||||
| Rocker geometry | |||||||
| Energy return | |||||||
| Responsiveness | |||||||
| Toe-box | Narrow | Narrow | Narrow | Narrow | Narrow | Narrow | Narrow |
| Plate | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | — | Carbon |
| Intended pace | 5:00–7:00 /mi | 5:00–7:30 /mi | 5:15–7:15 /mi | 5:15–7:15 /mi | 5:00–6:45 /mi | 6:15–8:15 /mi | 5:15–7:15 /mi |
| Purpose | Race day | Race day | Race day, Tempo | Race day, Tempo | Race day | Tempo, Race day | Race day |
| Sizing | Size up ½ | Size up ½ | Size up ½ | Size up ½ | Size up ½ | True to size | Size up ½ |
| Durability | ~150 mi | ~200 mi | ~250 mi | ~250 mi | ~200 mi | ~300 mi | ~200 mi |
| Price | $250 | $260 | $180 | $180 | $180 | $140 | $230 |
Your reference shoe is shown first for context. Cushioning, flexibility and stability are rated 1–5.