PUMA's Deviate NITRO 3 is the latest version of the German brand's super trainer. Softer and more forgiving than the Elite, how does it compare to its rivals?
PUMA Deviate NITRO 3 Introduction:
Missing the Mark?
Josh: The Puma Deviate NITRO 3 is the latest addition to Puma’s NITRO line. Advertised as a super-trainer, the Deviate 3 acts as the training sidekick to their race-day oriented Puma Deviate NITRO Elite 3. A shoe which I have been a big fan of in the last few weeks.
Being a super-trainer this would usually mean that it has a slightly more relaxed geometry with more cushioning. Furthermore, they can sometimes feature some of the brand’s latest running technology. All curated to give you a taste of what their supershoes may have to offer. Previously, the Deviate NITRO series was a true uptempo training shoe which felt comfortable at quicker pace runs. Some people even chose them for longer races. Personally, I believe that the latest version, the Deviate NITRO 3 struggles to hold its own even as an uptempo training shoe.Therefore, I have found myself using it more as a daily trainer when logging easy, recovery miles.
Specs:
Stack height: 38mm heel to 29mm toe
Drop: 9mm
Weight: 264g | 9.3oz
MSRP: $160 | €170
PUMA Deviate NITRO 3 Upper:
Sweatbox!
Josh: A soft engineered mesh upper with a snug, sock-like fit makes up the majority of the upper for the Puma Deviate NITRO 3. This soft, rather elastic material provides a secure fit. However, it is rather narrow so I wouldn’t recommend them to people with wider feet. In my usual UK size 8.5, I have found them to fit true-to-size.
The semi-gusseted tongue features small areas of padding to protect the upper portion of the foot from lace pressure. In addition to the padding on the tongue, there is rather generous padding around the heel and ankle area of the shoe. This improves the shoes comfort, lockdown and heel security. I’ve found this well-positioned and rather generous padding to make the shoes comfortable, but the thick padding has detracted from the shoes’ breathability. Unfortunately, I’ve found my feet to get quite warm in them, especially on a summer day.
The lacing system on the Deviate 3’s provides a secure fit. However, the elastic laces which arrive with the shoes mean that you have to lace them up tighter than I usually would to get an effective lockdown with the shoe.
Soft Socklike Enjoyability
Ivan: This new sock-like upper is a significant improvement over the previous iteration. I much prefer the tighter fit of the Puma Deviate NITRO 3 that hugs my foot, providing a more comfortable and secure feel. In the second version, I found the upper to be too loose, with the heel collar sitting too high, causing some irritation around my heel bone. Thankfully, that issue has been resolved in this version, though there is still room for improvement.
The almost knit-like mesh material, while offering a snug fit, is on the thicker side and can run warm at times, as Josh also noted. I’m also not a fan of the stretchy laces; although they effectively prevent pressure on the top of the foot, I find myself tightening them more than necessary. Given that the tongue is adequately padded, this shouldn’t be needed.
Despite these minor issues, I really enjoy the new upper and overall fit. It’s probably one of my favourites among stretchy, sock-like designs.
The Deviate Nitro 3 Has a Comfortable Heel
Maisie: Overall, I really enjoyed the fit and comfort of the PUMA Deviate NITRO 3. Although I can’t make the same comparisons as Ivan, having not run in its predecessor, for me this new iteration ticked nearly all the boxes. PUMA’s engineered mesh upper is reinforced with PWRTAPE, placed to reinforce stability whilst not restricting movement. For me, the mesh upper was snug yet supportive.
Overall, the fit was true to size and roomy in the toe box, which aligns with my preferences. The heel is well cushioned, featuring a rolled collar that is reinforced with foam. I enjoyed the fit and comfort of the heel and didn’t experience any slippage. On the whole, I generally prefer a more cushioned and dare I say ‘bulkier’ heel. The PUMA Deviate NITRO 3 delivered on this for me. The shoe has an external plastic heel clip, I didn’t notice any negative impact of this, but it does make the heel counter less pliable. Although my experiences were positive, the heel clip and the well-cushioned heel may not suit those who prefer a lighter and more pliable feel.
I do agree with both Josh and Ivan’s comments regarding breathability. Considering that I am a UK based runner, a surprisingly high percentage of the 100km I have clocked in the shoes have been in warm weather. On these warmer days I found my feet overheating just slightly. This will rarely be an issue for me but may detract more if you live in warmer climates.
Midsole:
Soft and Well Cushioned
Josh: The midsole of the Puma Deviate NITRO 3 is made up of two foam units. Both of which implement Puma’s latest ultra-light cushioning technology. One of these technologies, which is hard to miss when first looking at this shoe, is the forked carbon plate. This is visible thanks to a cutout in the centre of the shoe. This forked plate is designed to give similar benefits and feel of race-day super shoes while still maintaining a relatively flexible base. Consequently giving the shoe a slightly more mellow and forgiving ride.
The carbon plate is sandwiched between two separate foam compounds. The bottom element of the midsole consists of Puma’s NITROFOAM. This is a nitrogen injected TPEE foam which is used in their other shoes such as the Velocity 3. The upper element is the same nitrogen injected TPU NITROFOAM ELITE which is found in the Puma Deviate NITRO Elite 3. A shoe which we are big fans of here at Meta Endurance.
The combination of these two foams lends to a very soft and well cushioned shoe. Furthermore, it offers a surprising amount of road feel for such a high-stack shoe. However, despite the shoe being carbon plated, I find the ride to be quite dull due to the minimal pop that I’ve experienced during my runs. I’ve found this to be the case to such a degree that I’ve found myself doubting that the plate is in fact carbon.
The Hyperion Max 2 Is Heavier and Lacking Rocker
Ivan: I can’t help but compare this update to its predecessor, which I found overly soft and squishy, making it difficult to use as a tempo shoe as intended. The previous version lacked the snappiness and responsiveness I expected, felt heavy on the foot, and was quite unstable. I also wished for a more pronounced rocker geometry. In this regard, I definitely prefer the ride of the Deviate NITRO 3.
While not all my concerns have been addressed, the midsole in this update feels firmer and noticeably more responsive. Although I still don’t consider it an ideal tempo shoe, I find the ride much more enjoyable this time around. Unfortunately, it feels even heavier, and I still miss the presence of a rocker. However, the stability has improved thanks to the firmer compound. For me, this is especially beneficial during longer runs. While the ride isn’t exactly exhilarating, it’s a well-balanced all-rounder with plenty of cushioning and a bit of energy return, without feeling too unstable.
Lovable Versatility
Maisie: PUMA claim that you will “feel fast with less effort” due to the carbon-infused PWRPLATE. I can’t argue with that! I have worn these across varied sessions and have definitely benefited from the extra propulsion for ‘speedier’ sections of my runs. The shoes transition really well across speeds and, for me, they worked well during my tempo runs. They also performed very well over longer runs with a mix of comfortable miles and marathon pace speed blocks. Although I love the ride of the Deviate NITRO 3, I do agree with Josh, they do seem to lack that final ‘pop’ that some may expect from a carbon plated shoe. Overall, I found this led to a less aggressive ride and a more versatile shoe, which I really loved.
To summarise, the midsole suited my preferences and I found the combination of the foams to deliver a stable and well cushioned ride. The shoes also handled well across speeds and even easy/comfortable paces, which can sometimes be lacking in a super-trainer. For someone with a less expansive shoe collection I see this as a huge benefit.
PUMA Deviate NITRO 3 Outsole:
Supreme Grip
Josh: As expected with a Puma shoe that features a generous covering of PUMAGRIP, the outsole of the Puma Deviate NITRO 3 has supreme grip on all running surfaces. Having used the shoes on a wide range of surfaces from dry tarmac to gravel paths, it hasn’t shown any signs of weakness with regards to traction. However, one downside I have found with them is the tendency for small rocks and pebbles to get caught in the central cavity and scratch the exposed carbon plate.
Superb Stickiness
Ivan: For an uptempo trainer, the Puma Deviate NITRO Elite 3 offers a fair amount of rubber coverage. This is also quite thick, which suggests good durability at first glance. I have noticed some early signs of wear, so only time will tell if it holds up. The PUMAGRIP outsole retains its sticky qualities, providing excellent grip across various conditions.
While I did pick up small pebbles during runs on gravel, this was more of a cosmetic issue and wasn’t really noticeable during the runs.
Maisie: My experience and views are near identical to Josh and Ivan. I have found the grip across different surfaces and weather conditions to be excellent.
The design pattern of the PUMAGRIP on the forefoot has small gaps and cavities. Here, I also experienced small stones becoming passengers on my runs. This didn’t seem to have any impact on performance and, as Ivan notes, more so cosmetic.
I was a little surprised to see some wear appearing on the inner PUMAGRIP heel pad after just 100km. At this stage it is hard to tell what impact, if any, this will have on the traction or ride of the shoe. But as these heel pads are relatively thin in this area, I think there is a small chance of this rubbing through to the NITROFOAM over extended wear.
PUMA Deviate NITRO 3 Conclusion:
Cursed by Versatility
Josh: I’ve struggled to identify what the Puma Deviate NITRO 3 is best suited for as a running shoe in my rotation. Because of this, I haven’t found myself naturally reaching for it for any particular type of run or session. This is something which, to me, screams that this shoe doesn’t really have a dedicated purpose. At least, for my running needs of being a fairly competitive track and road runner who trains frequently.
Many aspects of the Deviate 3 suggest that it would be a great shoe: the upper, the midsole, the outsole. When looking at these elements individually, the Deviate 3 seems great. However, because of this Jack of all trades nature, I don’t find myself reaching for them or getting excited to run in them. While the shoe is designed and marketed as a fast-pace trainer, I couldn’t see anyone using this shoe for that purpose and being satisfied. This is thanks to that lack of energy return and excitement, especially for the price point.
I believe that there are many other, far better, options out there. One example is the New Balance Rebel v4 (£10 cheaper) which is a great all round training shoe. Even looking out for a pair of adidas Takumi Sen 9 (which you can pick up for around £110). These are sure to give that pop and super-shoe-like feel which the Deviate 3 seems to lack.
A Solid Choice for Smaller Rotations
Ivan: I completely agree with Josh’s conclusion. The Puma Deviate NITRO 3 is a shoe that’s difficult to place within a larger rotation. That might be the issue for both of us – having a sizable collection of running shoes for different purposes. It’s a decent shoe for most types of runs, but there are better-suited options for every specific occasion.
However, for runners who prefer to keep their collection limited to just one or two pairs, this shoe covers most bases fairly well. The fit is comfortable, and the ride is well-balanced, though it lacks the excitement or explosiveness found in more specialised shoes. Given its versatility, I actually find the price reasonable. While it may not directly compete with other uptempo trainers, its all-around capability make it a solid choice.
The Perfect Fit
Maisie: Although my outlook differs from Josh and Ivan, in that I really like the PUMA Deviate NITRO 3. The reasoning for us all coming to our conclusion aligns.
As a runner with a less expansive shoe collection, I see the PUMA Deviate NITRO 3 as a very strong all-rounder. One that can cope with quicker paces when needed, whilst also being incredibly versatile, cushioned and supportive for easier running too. On the contrary to Josh I have reached for these shoes regularly over the past few months. Moreover, they even made the cut as the one running shoe I selected for a ‘cabin bag’ only trip! They have firmly slotted into my shoe rotation and I think it would take something quite special to bump them out.
Ivan
48 years old
180cm (5’9″) – 63kg (138lbs)
Midfoot striker – Cadence runner
Mild pronator
Maisie
33 years old
155cm (5”1) – 50kg (110lbs)
Midfoot striker
Mild pronator
@maisie.runs
