Now firmly re-established as a running shoe brand to be reckoned with, Puma has a new range of shoes offering options for any speed
This review is independent, unbiased, and based on running real miles in these shoes. This piece contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission when you purchase using these links.
MagMax NITRO
– £170.00
With a super-deep stack of cushioning measuring 46mm in the heel, there’s certainly no shortage of cushioning here and the nitrogen-infused foam certainly takes things to the max, just like its name suggests.
With all that NITRO foam under the foot, you’re assured of a soft and plush ride that’s not without a responsive feel. The shoe feels smooth from heel strike to toe-off and gives an almost effortless sensation of forward propulsion.
The foot sits a little deeper into the midsole cushioning of the shoe, so although being a neutral model, it is relatively stable and the broader footprint of the MagMax also contributes to this stability.
A soft and very comfortable mesh upper holds the foot securely in place and there’s plush padding around the ankle collar and Achilles area that feels welcoming from the moment you slide your foot inside. A stretch-knitted tongue also enhances this neat and luxurious feeling of the upper.
PUMAGRIP rubber adds a durable and high-traction finish to the shoe, making the MagMax NITRO a great everyday training model for those daily miles at any pace.
Puma Mag Max
Deviate NITRO Elite 3 – £195.00
When it’s time to pick up the pace a little, the Nitro Elite 3 is one of Puma’s premier race day options. Offering a super-smooth ride alongside a highly propulsive toe-off, the Nitro Elite 3 combines NITROFOAM with a carbon plate for a fast, energised feel.
A maxed-out stack height of (race legal) 40mm provides ample cushioning even for the marathon distance and when the pace really picks up, the benefit of the full-length carbon fibre plate is highly evident.
Despite the race day credentials of the shoe, the Nitro Elite 3 still manages to be one of the more versatile carbon-plated options on the market. This is perhaps thanks to the NITROFOAM and the amount of it. It can provide a great degree of shock absorption as well as propulsion when called upon.
The shoe’s upper is a mono-layer mesh that keeps the weight down yet provides a good, dialled-in fit. A PUMAGRIP outsole ensures adequate traction in wet and dry to get the most out of these fast-moving racers!
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3
Get the Deviate NITRO Elite 3 here
FAST-R NITRO Elite 2 – £230.00
This is PUMA’s ultimate race-day footwear with enhanced NITROFOAM ELITE and PWRPLATE technologies, with the model perfect for fast efforts.
Having tried both the brand’s racing models, the FAST-R feels to be the more aggressive of the shoes and one more suitable for shorter distances. I’d favour running in this shoe in a 5km or 10km, with the Nitro Elite 3 taking over when doing distances beyond that.
NITROFOAM makes up the whole of the midsole cushioning in this, the second version of the Fast R and a new, extended PWRPLATE (carbon-fibre) extends beyond the toe to increase propulsion at toe-off. The whole package creates an explosive level of energy return that’s maximised at your top speed.
For shorter distances or for those very efficient mid to forefoot-striking athletes, the Fast R provides a ride unlike anything else!
Puma Fast R
Get the FAST-R NITRO Elite 2 here
FAST-RB NITRO Elite – £300.00
For the rule breakers out there or those that fancy something a little different for training, the FAST RB (rule-breaker) might be the answer.
With a stack height of 58mm in the heel, a little higher than the World Athletics 40mm limit and three plates (one carbon, two nylon), the FAST RB is an experiment in pushing beyond the limits and confines laid down.
Focusing on the foot strike and toe-off into the forefoot, plus the triple plate technology, the result is a shoe unlike anything before. The NITROFOAM pods in the forefoot combine with the plates to create a springboard effect that feels responsive to say the very least!
It’s a crazy fast ride and one that needs to be optimised by a forefoot strike running at speed. This isn’t meant for easy days.
Whilst we won’t see this shoe lining up at the start of major marathons, it does at least showcase the thought and technology that Puma is considering and shows they are thinking ‘outside the box’.
It’s a fun shoe and certainly feels more propulsive than anything else, even if it is ‘banned’ by World Athletics.
Puma Fast RB
Get the FAST-RB NITRO Elite here
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