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Puma

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.

How they stack up

Medians across the 14 current Puma models we track, measured against every currently-available shoe in the catalog.

Median drop

8 mm

1 mm above the catalog median

Median stack

39 mm

3 mm above the catalog median

Median weight

261.5 g

13.5 g below the catalog median

Median price

$160

Level with the catalog median

Plated models

6 of 14

Carbon, nylon or rock plate

Wide toe-box

0 of 14

Wide or very-wide forefoot

Trail models

2

Off-road platforms

Price range

$110–$275

Current line

The technology

NITRO / NITRO Elite
Nitrogen-injected foam; the Elite version is a light PEBA-based race compound. Bouncy, light and unusually well priced.
PWRPLATE
A full-length carbon plate in the Deviate NITRO and Fast-R that adds stiffness without the harshness of early plated shoes.
PUMAGRIP
Widely considered one of the best road outsoles made — excellent wet grip and very slow to wear.

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.

Best Puma for each run

Picked from the current line by the same spec-based scoring the matcher uses — no sponsorships, no commissions.

Race day

Deviate Nitro Elite 3

Maximum return, minimum weight — for the day it counts.

One of the lightest marathon racers made — light enough to feel unfair.

Weight
180 g
Drop
8 mm
Stack
39 mm
Plate
Carbon
Toe-box
Standard
Sizing
True to size
Response
5 / 5
Price
$250

Tempo

Deviate Nitro 4(2025)

Fast enough to sharpen, forgiving enough to repeat.

Carbon-plated daily-to-tempo trainer with Nitro Elite foam.

Weight
250 g
Drop
8 mm
Stack
40 mm
Plate
Carbon
Toe-box
Standard
Sizing
True to size
Response
5 / 5
Price
$170

Long run

Deviate Nitro 4(2025)

Protection that holds up when the legs stop cooperating.

Carbon-plated daily-to-tempo trainer with Nitro Elite foam.

Weight
250 g
Drop
8 mm
Stack
40 mm
Plate
Carbon
Toe-box
Standard
Sizing
True to size
Response
5 / 5
Price
$170

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.

Weight
295 g
Drop
10 mm
Stack
42 mm
Plate
Toe-box
Standard
Sizing
True to size
Response
3 / 5
Price
$160

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.

Weight
269 g
Drop
8 mm
Stack
46 mm
Plate
Toe-box
Standard
Sizing
True to size
Response
2 / 5
Price
$190

Trail

Voyage Nitro 3

Grip and protection once the road runs out.

Door-to-trail nitro cushioning with PumaGrip ATR traction.

Weight
290 g
Drop
10 mm
Stack
36 mm
Plate
Rock
Toe-box
Standard
Sizing
True to size
Response
3 / 5
Price
$140

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