HOKA Mach 6 vs PUMA Velocity NITRO 4

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

HOKA Mach 6
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 
early access

Tested using Methodology v0.9

Updated Oct 29, 2025 03:35 PM

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Hoka.com

Tested using Methodology v0.9

Updated Nov 21, 2025 04:15 PM

This review is in Early access

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PUMA

Our Verdict

HOKA Mach 6

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4

Full comparison details regarding individual product score sets can be found in the section below
0 

Variants

  • Mach 6 (Black - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Black/Electric Tangerine - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Black/Fuchsia - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (Black/White - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Black/White - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (Cielo Blue - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (Cloudless/Waterpark - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (Dusk Shadow - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Electric Cobalt/Varsity Navy - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Frost/Gold - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Lava - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (Oat Milk/Barley - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Pale Dusk/Gull - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (White - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (White/Lettuce - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (White/Nimbus Cloud - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (White/Nimbus Cloud - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (White/Solar Flare - (Men - US 9))
  • Velocity NITRO 4 (Black - (Men - US 9))
  • Velocity NITRO 4 (Black/Dark Amethyst - (Men - US 9))
  • Velocity NITRO 4 (Black/Dark Amethyst - (Women - US 7))
  • Velocity NITRO 4 (Mint Melt/Speed Blue - (Women - US 7))
  • Velocity NITRO 4 (Sea Glass/Gold Moon - (Women - US 7))
  • Velocity NITRO 4 (Sea Glass/Speed Blue - (Men - US 9))
  • Velocity NITRO 4 (Speed Blue/Gold Moon - (Men - US 9))
  • Velocity NITRO 4 (White/Black - (Men - US 9))
  • Velocity NITRO 4 (White/Black - (Women - US 7))

Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 

7.0
0.0
No major differences between these running shoes for marathon racing. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

7.0
N/A

Right Shoe Weight Photo  

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Right Shoe Weight Photo Sample

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Left Shoe Weight Photo  

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Left Shoe Weight Photo Sample

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Weight 
 

233.6 g (8.24 oz)
Lock g (Lock oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo  

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Stack Height Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Heel Stack Height 
 

37.1 mm
Lock mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

31.2 mm
Lock mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

5.9 mm
Lock mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

5.0 mm
Lock mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 3D Model Full Shoe Sample

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Outsole Heel Width 
 

88 mm (3.5")
Lock mm (Lock")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

61 mm (2.4")
Lock mm (Lock")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

108 mm (4.2")
Lock mm (Lock")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.37
Lock

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.46
Lock

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 3D Model Internal Sample

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Internal Length 
 

271 mm (10.7")
Lock mm (Lock")

Internal Heel Width 
 

59 mm (2.3")
Lock mm (Lock")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

92 mm (3.6")
Lock mm (Lock")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Locked

Other Features  

Other Features Photo  

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Other Features Photo Sample

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Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Semi-gusseted
Locked

Plate 
 

None
Locked
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

6.3
N/A

Heel Compression Video  

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Heel Compression Video Sample

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Heel Energy Return  

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PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Heel Energy Return Sample

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Heel Energy Return 
 

74.1%
Lock%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

7.0
N/A

Forefoot Compression Video  

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Forefoot Compression Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Forefoot Energy Return  

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PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Forefoot Energy Return Sample

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Forefoot Energy Return 
 

76.0%
Lock%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

6.8
N/A

Heel Cushioning Picture  

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Heel Cushioning Picture Sample

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Heel Cushioning  

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PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Heel Cushioning Sample

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Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

2.86 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

8.53 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

15.28 J
Lock J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

7.8
N/A

Forefoot Cushioning Picture  

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Forefoot Cushioning Picture Sample

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Forefoot Cushioning  

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PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Forefoot Cushioning Sample

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Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

4.51 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

8.38 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

12.61 J
Lock J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

5.9
N/A

Heel Firmness  

See details
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Heel Firmness Sample

SAMPLE

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Firmness At 550N 
 

60.0 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

111.1 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

235.8 N/mm
Lock N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

7.6
N/A

Forefoot Firmness  

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PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Forefoot Firmness Sample

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Firmness At 800N 
 

100.0 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

186.2 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

385.5 N/mm
Lock N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

6.6
N/A

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

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PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning Sample

SAMPLE

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Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

7.32 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

7.07 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

6.92 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

6.81 J
Lock J

HOKA Mach 6

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4

Comments

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HOKA Mach 6 vs PUMA Velocity NITRO 4: Main Discussion

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