The best-value supercritical foam in the sport
Puma re-entered running late and skipped the awkward middle years — the entire performance line runs on NITRO foams, and the Deviate and Fast-R go head-to-head with far more expensive racers.
Medians across the 16 current Puma models we track, measured against every currently-available shoe in the catalog.
Median drop
8 mm
2 mm above the catalog median
Median stack
38 mm
2 mm above the catalog median
Median weight
259.5 g / 9.2 oz
15.5 g below the catalog median
Median price
$160
Level with the catalog median
Plated models
6 of 16
Carbon, nylon or rock plate
Wide toe-box
0 of 16
Wide or very-wide forefoot
Trail models
3
Off-road platforms
Price range
$110–$275
Current line
Fit & sizing
True to size with a medium forefoot and a secure heel; slightly narrow in the racing models.
Who it suits
Runners who want super-shoe performance without super-shoe pricing.
Worth knowing
Fewer width options and a shallower stability range than the established brands.
Picked from the current line by the same spec-based scoring the matcher uses — no sponsorships, no commissions.
Race day
Fast-R Nitro Elite 3(2025)
Maximum return, minimum weight — for the day it counts.
Split-midsole super shoe with an exaggerated forefoot launch.
Tempo
Deviate Nitro 4(2025)
Fast enough to sharpen, forgiving enough to repeat.
Carbon-plated daily-to-tempo trainer with Nitro Elite foam.
Long run
Deviate Pure Nitro
Protection that holds up when the legs stop cooperating.
Plateless PEBA super-trainer: light, lively and race-adjacent.
Daily
Magnify Nitro 2(2024)
The workhorse: comfortable, durable, unremarkable in the best way.
Puma's max-cushion trainer: tall, soft, and bouncier than most cruisers.
Recovery
MagMax Nitro 2
Soft and low-effort for the days after hard ones.
Puma MagMax Nitro 2: 46 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 269 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Trail
Velocity Nitro Trail
Grip and protection once the road runs out.
Road-trainer geometry with PUMAGRIP rubber for gravel and light trail.