Puma’s Deviate running shoe lineup consistently stands out when it comes to delivering speed, energy return, and propulsion. Between the Deviate Nitro and Deviate Nitro Elite, this lineup has helped countless athletes reach their running goals.
Now, Puma is expanding this Deviate line with the Deviate Pure Nitro.
Like previous models in the lineup, the Deviate Pure Nitro emphasizes speed and performance. However, as a non-plated super trainer, the Deviate Pure delivers a more versatile and accessible running experience without sacrificing bounce and energy return.
After several Puma Deviate Nitro models, our review team was excited to see what Puma had to add to this premium, high-performance family. Throughout this review, we’ll take a deeper dive into this new Puma shoe to help you know what to expect with this new model and whether or not it might be the perfect addition to your running shoe rotation.
Our Review Process
Our team at Marathon Sports is dedicated to helping you find the perfect shoe for all your needs. Whether you’re looking for something for walking, daily running miles, racing, or everything in between, we’re here to help.
And in order to provide you with the best possible information and recommendations, we take a close look at every new running shoe that comes through our doors. We research the shoe, compare all the features to previous iterations and similar models, and conduct comprehensive road testing until we know every new model inside and out.
So when the new Puma Deviate Pure Nitro arrived, our review team laced them up and took to the roads, track, and treadmill. Throughout this review, we’ll cover all the features, highlight our findings, and offer some alternative options for runners and walkers looking for their next shoe.
Deviate Pure Nitro: Specs and Fast Facts
With a brand new model like the Deviate Pure Nitro, we’re always eager to slide them on and take them for a spin. But before we get into all our findings, here’s a quick look at the specs and technical details you can expect to find in this new Puma shoe.
- New addition to the high-performance Puma Deviate family. Advertised as a flexible and plateless super trainer
- Stack height: 38 mm of foam in the heel, 30 mm of foam in the forefoot
- 8 mm heel-to-toe offset
- Weight: 7.76 oz (M), 6.35 oz (W)
- Midsole made from nitrogen-infused NITROFOAM for a responsive and protective ride
- Engineered mesh upper keeps the shoe lightweight and breathable
- Extra padding around heel collar and tongue enhance step-in comfort
- PUMAGRIP outsole with full forefoot coverage improves grip and traction while expanding the shoe’s lifespan
- Price: $150
The Nitty Gritty Details: A Closer Look at the Deviate Pure Nitro
Now, let’s take a closer look at all the features the Deviate Pure Nitro has to offer.
Nitrogen-Infused Midsole Foam
The flagship detail of Puma’s Deviate Nitro running shoe line is the NITROFOAM cushioning, and this foam continues to be a standout in the Deviate Pure Nitro.
NITROFOAM is Puma’s advanced, high-performance foam. It’s infused with nitrogen to give it a super lightweight and springy feel ideal for speed workouts, uptempo runs, daily miles, and beyond.
The Deviate Pure Nitro is a non-plated super trainer, meaning all the spring and propulsion it offers comes from the responsive foam itself as opposed to a plate embedded in the midsole. This gives the shoe a more flexible and softer feel than some of its plated alternatives. However, the foam maintains its responsive ride that makes it easy to pick up the pace when needed.
Lightweight Mesh Upper & Fit
The Deviate Pure Nitro is impressively light for its size and stack height, weighing in at around 7.76 oz for men’s shoes and 6.35 oz for women’s. This is over an ounce lighter than its plated counterpart, the Deviate Nitro 4.
While the foam and overall design help keep this shoe light, the incredibly light engineered mesh upper plays a key role in reducing any excess weight. The upper material is sleek and streamlined, with a touch of extra padding around the heel collar and tongue to keep feet comfortable and locked in place.
Keep in mind that Puma shoes, including the new Deviate Pure Nitro, can run relatively narrow. The midfoot and toe box are pretty snug and tapered, so anyone who prefers a more spacious fit may want to look elsewhere. The good news is that the upper material is flexible and forgiving. Despite the more snug, narrow fit, the shoe is overall comfortable and accommodating around the feet.
Shoe Geometry & Overall Construction
When you head out for a run, a shoe’s design and geometry are crucial in determining how it feels and performs.
The Deviate Pure Nitro uses a speed-focused geometry to keep you feeling comfortable and light on your feet, no matter what type of run you’re on.
The smooth and subtle forefoot rocker comes into play both on fast and easy runs. The curved midsole guides you through every stride without feeling too aggressive or noticeable.
There’s also a moderate 8 mm drop, meaning there’s 8 mm more of the NITROFOAM cushioning in the heel than in the forefoot. This moderate offset ensures there’s plenty of cushion and impact absorption for both heel and midfoot strikers and offers a traditional running shoe feel that can work for a huge variety of runners and walkers.
Value and Long-Term Durability
Super trainers can often come with a hefty price tag due to the large amount of cushioning and focus on performance. But Puma managed to keep the Deviate Pure Nitro’s price low at $150. This is on the low end for super trainers and is even comparable to many of the standard moderate cushion running shoes on the market today.
There’s enough cushioning to help you tackle long runs or daily miles, but the foam is responsive enough for faster runs as well, making this one of the more versatile running shoes you can find.
The PUMAGRIP rubber outsole adds even more versatility, as you can wear the shoes out in any weather conditions and on a variety of surfaces. This grippy rubber also holds up well mile after mile, making this a great durable option for all your training runs and everyday miles.
Road Test Results
The most exciting part of any review – especially with a brand new running shoe model – is when our review team gets to take a hands-on approach and try out the shoes for ourselves. Across speed workouts, intervals, daily miles, and more, we took a close look at every feature the new Deviate Pure Nitro has to offer and what runners might benefit from this super trainer.
Opening up the box and taking out the Deviate Pure Nitro, the immediate standout was just how light they were. With a 38/30 mm stack height, the shoe is by no means a low cushion shoe, and we were impressed with how lightweight and minimal Puma managed to keep this super trainer.
As we set out to start racking up miles, this lightweight design continued to be a huge plus. Even with the stack of comfortable cushioning underfoot, the shoe felt light and agile, particularly during speed workouts and faster intervals.
And speaking of this cushioning, our review team members were big fans of the springy NITROFOAM platform underfoot. This foam has been used in several of Puma’s other elite high-performance shoes, so we already had some familiarity with this lightweight and responsive foam.
However, unlike other shoes in the Deviate lineup, the Deviate Pure Nitro doesn’t have a carbon plate and instead relies on a full slab of this nitrogen-infused foam to deliver its smooth, propulsive ride. While this results in slightly less pop and energy return compared to the plated members of the Deviate family, it gives the Deviate Pure Nitro a softer and more flexible ride that feels great underfoot on any type of run.
This versatility is where the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite really excelled. During faster workouts, the lightweight design and bouncy foam made it feel easy to kick it into high gear. But through longer runs and daily miles, there was enough cushioning and all-around comfort to keep legs and feet feeling fresh until the last step of our runs.
The mesh upper also helped with this all-around comfort throughout longer runs. There was enough extra padding to keep us comfortable and secure without feeling too warm, heavy, or bulky.
The toe box did feel a bit snug and narrow over time for our review team members with wider feet, so anyone who requires a more spacious fit may want to consider another option. But overall, the flexible upper provided just the right amount of cushioning and comfort for a wide range of runners.
Overall, we were incredibly impressed with all the comfort and versatility this new model has to offer, especially at such an affordable price point. Many super trainers can cost upwards of $200, so at $150, the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro offers exceptional value for your money. If you’re looking for a do-it-all daily trainer without breaking the bank, you can’t go wrong with the Deviate Pure Nitro.
Pros and Cons
Our review team members found a lot to love about the Deviate Pure Nitro, from the versatility to the comfort features and beyond.
But there isn’t a single shoe that works for every runner, and despite its adaptability, the Deviate Pure Nitro isn’t an exception. Here are all the pros we found, as well as some cons to consider if you’re thinking of trying the Deviate Pure Nitro as your next running shoe.
Pros:
- Incredibly versatile – can easily handle both uptempo paces and slower, longer runs
- Nitrogen-infused NITROFOAM cushioning provides a springy and responsive ride while keeping the shoe lightweight and comfortable
- Mesh upper is light and breathable, with some extra padding around the heel collar and tongue to maximize comfort
- PUMAGRIP outsole provides effective traction while improving the shoe’s longevity
- Great value and durability, especially for the $150 price tag
Cons:
- Not the most exciting shoe on the market – lacks the same pop and excitement found in Puma’s plated Deviate models
- Fits a bit narrow in the toe box, so anyone with wider feet may need to size up or try a wider running shoe option
Comparable Running Shoes
The super trainer running shoe category is becoming increasingly crowded. And while this makes finding the perfect choice feel more overwhelming, it also means there are plenty of options to try out to ensure you’re finding the best choice for you.
You’d be hard pressed to find a shoe as versatile and adaptable as the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro, but the adidas Adizero Evo SL certainly gives it a run for its money. Like the Deviate Pure Nitro, the Evo SL is a $150 super trainer with an energetic foam and lightweight design ideal for nearly any type of run.
Our reviewers found the Evo SL to be a bit stiffer underfoot, so anyone looking for a firmer shoe for daily miles or speed workouts may appreciate that over the softer, more flexible Deviate Pure Nitro. But as a whole, the two shoes are very similar and worth comparing if you’re looking for a versatile speed trainer.
Unsurprisingly, the Deviate Pure Nitro also shares many similarities with the Puma Deviate Nitro 4. Besides the similar name, these two also share a similar stack height, midsole unit, and responsive ride.
The biggest difference is that the Deviate Nitro 4 has a carbon plate embedded in the midsole, giving it an extra pop that runners will likely appreciate for faster workouts. The trade-off here is a slightly stiffer feel and heavier weight compared to the Deviate Pure Nitro, so your choice will ultimately come down to your priorities and running goals.
The Bottom Line: Is the Deviate Pure Nitro Right for You?
What our review team loved most about the Deviate Pure Nitro is just how many runners and walkers can enjoy all the shoe has to offer. From beginner runners to experienced athletes looking for a versatile all-rounder to gym goers who want a lightweight treadmill shoe, the Deviate Pure is a flexible, adaptable, and comfortable daily training shoe option.
However, that’s not to say it’s the perfect shoe for everyone. It has a relatively traditional running shoe feel, and without a plate, it doesn’t offer quite the same dynamic and energetic ride that many other super trainers on the market have today. But if you want a dependable lightweight shoe that can do it all, the Deviate Pure Nitro is hard to beat.
If this sounds like a shoe that might work in your rotation, we suggest swinging by your nearest Marathon Sports to try it out for yourself. Our footwear team will use the Right Fit process to curate running shoe options for you and help you find the perfect choice for all your fitness needs.
“Forever. Faster”. Puma’s mantra is all about getting you moving and using innovative technology to maximize speed. While we know speed isn’t everyone’s goal when it comes to running and walking, the Deviate Pure Nitro definitely lives up to this mantra by helping you move more efficiently with fantastic comfort and responsiveness.
And whether or not you end up in this new Puma shoe, we’re excited to help you find the right fit and get you moving with more comfort mile after mile.
