Here at Running Warehouse, we want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase for any reason, items can be returned with free return shipping within 90 days from the original invoice date.

We will match or beat any posted overall price advertised in-store or online on in stock items.

There's no holding back on race day, and the PUMA Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 unleashes your full potential. This carbon-plated running shoe is crafted for pure speed, tuned for max efficiency, and engineered for your fastest performances ever.

Best Use

Super Shoes

Surface

Roads & Pavement

Stability

Neutral

Stable

Cushioning

Barefoot

Minimal

Low

Medium

High

Maximal

All Women's Road Shoes

Daily Trainers

The baseline definition of a running shoe. Daily Trainers lean on time-proven designs, technologies and features for dependable cushioning, support and comfort. They're a staple in every runner's closet, and if you are new to running shoes, then you should start your journey here.
Performance Trainers

Performance Trainers provide a springy feel and make longer runs easier and faster runs faster. While quicker than Daily Trainers, Performance Trainers are not nearly as fast as Super Shoes. Due to a focus on keeping things light weight, Performance Trainers are less durable than Daily Trainers. These can also be a good option for one's first race shoe.
Super Shoes

Super Shoes are the fastest running shoes you can buy. They are designed to race your absolute best and represent the pinnacle of running shoe technology and innovation. They have the highest energy return foams and plates for new levels of performance. Low durability, but maximum speed is the name of the game here.

Men's Running Shoes by Surface

Roads & Pavement

Road running shoes feature smooth outsoles that are designed for running on paved surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, and bike paths.
Smooth Trails & Fireroads

Designed to handle most trail runs, these shoes prioritize comfort and a smooth ride. These shoes are great for anything from smooth singletrack, park trails, and fireroads making them ideal for those who run from their doorstep on streets before hitting the trail.
Rocky & Technical Trails

These shoes are best used for hard, rugged trails such as shale, granite or sandstone where grip on smooth surfaces and underfoot protection are important.
Soft & Muddy Trails

Designed for use in muddy, soggy conditions, these shoes feature very aggressive outsoles that dig deep into soft ground for exceptional traction.
Snowy & Icy Trails

These shoes feature technical outsoles designed to grip snowy and icy trails making them ideal for winter trail running.

Cushioning Level

Cushioning level, or stack height, refers to how much shoe is between your foot and the ground. For this category, we reference the amount of cushioning below the forefoot as the heel height will be equal to or greater than the forefoot height.
Learn more about stack heights and how we measure them.
Barefoot

0-13mm. The Shoe generally does not have a midsole and feels like there is no cushioning. This shoe is all about feeling the ground underfoot.
Minimal

14-18mm. The shoe has a thin midsole that allows for a natural running experience. Racing shoes and minimalist shoes are common here. These shoes offer a feeling of being connected to the road or trail.
Low

19-23mm. The shoe has a slightly cushioned feel and may feature added cushioning technologies. Performance training shoes and some trail shoes are common here. These offer protection during footstrike but prioritize a lightweight, grounded experience.
Medium

24-28mm. These shoes have a stack height that fall near the middle of the spectrum.The shoes in this category are verstaile and great for all types of runs and distances.
High

29-34mm. The shoe has a thick midsole and ample cushioning. These shoes are highly protective and absorb more impact than the body.
Maximal

35mm plus. The shoe has an extremely thick midsole and extra cushioning. The focus is on protection and soft foam underfoot with hardly any ground feel.

Stability Level

Neutral

Neutral shoes support the foot through a normal range of arch collapse and generally do not have a built-in technology to correct movement.
Stable

Stability shoes are a great option for those who overpronate or need added support. These shoes help to limit the inward rolling motion of the ankle while running or walking and assist in guiding the foot straight through the gait cycle.

Product Details:

The PUMA Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 is built for one thing: speed without compromise. Using advanced computational design, PUMA stripped away everything you don't need, refined every detail, and achieved a stunning weight reduction from the previous version. What's left is pure race-day performance, for full marathons all the way down to 5Ks.

The re-tuned NITROFOAM Elite midsole features a lighter and softer feel with greater energy return for the ultimate responsive ride. Paired with the full-length carbon PWRPLATE, you get powerful propulsion where you need it most, helping you roll forward effortlessly and finish strong with less wasted motion.

The upper is lighter and cooler, too. A reworked ULTRAWEAVE mesh, combined with reduced overlays, delivers better breathability and a cleaner fit. You get true sock-like security without distractions, hot spots, or added bulk.

Underneath it all, the thinner PUMAGRIP outsole keeps things locked in with race-ready traction that's as light as it is grippy. Whether you're chasing a new PR or outpacing the pack, go wild in the PUMA Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 and make every second count!

What You'll Love:

Ultimate racing shoe for marathons to short distances
Stunningly lighter—PUMA's lightest race-day shoe ever
More responsive and explosive from the first step through the finish line

Model Number: 312060-02

Specs & Fit

Shoe Specs

Weight:	6.0 oz 170 g
Heel Stack:	39 mm
Forefoot Stack:	31 mm
Heel-Toe Offset:	8 mm

How It Fits

Heel Width:	Average
Midfoot Fit:	Narrow
Toe Box Fit:	Wide

How We Measure Our Shoe Specs

We measure every shoe in-house to provide accurate and consistent details.
Weight

The weight is based on a Men's size 9 for Men's and Unisex shoes or Women's size 8 for Women's shoes. The weight listed is for a single shoe, including the laces.
Heel Stack

The heel stack refers to how high your heel sits above the ground when wearing shoes. Based on Men's size 9 as the standard.
Forefoot Stack

Forefoot stack refers to how high the ball of the foot sits above the ground when wearing shoes. Based on Men's size 9 as the standard.
Heel-toe Offset

Heel-toe offset (drop) is the difference in height between the heel stack and the forefoot stack. We use the number given to us by the brand.

How We Measure Shoe Fit

All measurements are based on Medium width.
Fit (width) options are Narrow - Snug - Average - Roomy - Wide.
Sizing (length) options are Short - True - Long. Note: fit is relative to the "average" running shoe.
We partner with SmartLast, a program by Heeluxe, to use advanced shoe-measuring technology, to provide objective measurements for toe box, midfoot, and heel widths as well as overall length.

Cushioning Level

Barefoot

0-13mm. The Shoe generally does not have a midsole and feels like there is no cushioning. This shoe is all about feeling the ground underfoot.
Minimal

14-18mm. The shoe has a thin midsole that allows for a natural running experience. Racing shoes and minimalist shoes are common here. These shoes offer a feeling of being connected to the road or trail.
Low

19-23mm. The shoe has a slightly cushioned feel and may feature added cushioning technologies. Performance training shoes and some trail shoes are common here. These offer protection during footstrike but prioritize a lightweight, grounded experience.
Medium

24-28mm. These shoes have a stack height that fall near the middle of the spectrum.The shoes in this category are verstaile and great for all types of runs and distances.
High

29-34mm. The shoe has a thick midsole and ample cushioning. These shoes are highly protective and absorb more impact than the body.
Maximal

35mm plus. The shoe has an extremely thick midsole and extra cushioning. The focus is on protection and soft foam underfoot with hardly any ground feel.

Technologies

MIDSOLE

NITROFOAM Elite is aliphatic TPU superfoam that's highly responsive and extremely lightweight, now tuned slightly softer than before.
PWRPLATE is a full-length carbon fiber plate designed for maximum energy return and optimized running efficiency. Its extended design beyond your toes increases propulsion and stride length.

OUTSOLE

PUMAGRIP rubber offers class-leading multi-surface traction and durability.

UPPER

ULTRAWEAVE engineered mesh provides a lightweight and breathable race fit.
PWRTAPE overlays have been reduced to provide just the right amount of strategic support.

Videos

Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5

6 Customer Reviews

5 Star

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

5 out of 5 Stars

The best running shoes in the world right nowIt's mid August 2025 and you will NOT find better race shoes than these. They are awkward when you first try them on, but once you start running, magic happens. Watch some Youtube videos where pro and amateur runners bring their race day shoes and comparing with Fast-R Elite 3. Their heart rate is lower so as mine. I've been getting PRs with these lately and they will be my only race shoes for a while. I'm an average guy wearing men's 8.5 with average shape of the feet, so don't listen to reviews from outliers. They fit just fine and true to size. I own Metaspeed Sky, Alphafly 3, Vaporfly 3, Adios Pro 3 & 4, Hoka Rocket X, Mizuno Rebellion Pro 1 & 2 and hands down these Pumas are the best.

Anonymous - TX, United StatesAugust 19, 2025

5 out of 5 Stars

Fast (unless your biomechanics really suck)Lighter than the Nike Alphafly 3 and the Adidas Adios Pro 4, and the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris, the Puma Fast-R 3 seem to provide a better energy return than any of the supershoes I have tried. I can't compare them to the Adidas Pro Evo1/2, but they are definitely faster than the Adios Pro 4 (and the Alphafly), unless you have a really poor stride/running technique and you overstride a lot. However, if you overstride so much that the Fast-R 3 are painful to use, you have no business wearing supershoes and your time and money would be better spent trying to improve your biomechanics (and probably losing some weight). After all the Adios Pro is no longer the flagship racing shoe for Adidas (the Pro Evo 1 and 2 has replaced them). Anyway, I'd highly recommend them for racing anything from the 5K to the marathon and beyond. With that said, it is possible and even likely that the Adidas Pro Evo 1/2 would be even faster if you can find them/afford them.

World Championships Runner - GA, United StatesAugust 08, 2025

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.]

2 out of 5 Stars

Over-optimizedThere's a lot of hype about Puma using simulation and optimization to design this shoe, but in my experience they may have made the shoe too specialized. I've used a lot of plated shoes - I currently race in Adios 4's, raced the A3s and Zoomflys in the past and I've run in Metaspeeds, and plated trainers from Saucony and New Balance. I use Mizuno and Asics as basic trainers. Each shoe has some strengths and weaknesses with a different ride but I can settle in relatively easily and get something out of it. The Pumas instantly felt completely wrong and different from any other shoe in a bad way. It's not a shoe you an rotate in and out of - it seems to require a full 100% commitment to aligning your form with their unique requirements. I used them several times, but each trial came with a lot of worry that I was going to injure myself. With no real heel support it's hard to trust them. I've heard others mention severe plantar fasciitis and that tracks exactly with my experience. This shoe may work work for specific runners at very high speeds, but I was shocked at how terrible it felt. It might be the only shoe I've been 100% sure would never work for me in any circumstance.

Anonymous - CO, United StatesJuly 15, 2025

5 out of 5 Stars

Best Carbon racer on the marketI recently got a pair of the Puma Fast R3. I own the Fast R2 and several other top tier carbon racing shoes. In my opinion, even after just one workout in these shoes, they are amazing and want to go fast. I personally think is the fastest shoe on the market, unless you’re willing to spend $500 for Adidas Evo 2s. That’s crazy price. Puma nailed it with this shoe between weight drop, aggressive rocker, and comfort. My only concern is how this shoe would be in the last 10k of a marathon once your form suffers. Certainly for 10k-1/2 marathon this shoe is the best of the best. Can’t wait to Race in this shoe. Go Puma.

David - UT, United StatesMay 14, 2025

4 out of 5 Stars

NarrowThis R-3 is an absolute game changer to the distance running market. It has maximum cushion with maximum response. Only issue that I have had is the shoe is very narrow. I would recommend sizing up a half size if you have a wide foot to compensate for space. Other than that, Puma knocked it out of the ball park.

Ben - UT, United StatesApril 30, 2025

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.]

5 out of 5 Stars

The new standardI received my pair a few days ago and tried running at a range of paces from 4:30/mile to 8:30. It's amazing. It has the speed of the Metaspeed Sky Paris, the effortless efficiency and bounce of the original Alphafly, and the lightness of the Vaporfly 4. It really does feel like the most efficient and potentially performance-enhancing shoe I've ever worn. I now mostly believe the marketing hype and lab data that indicate this shoe improves running economy better than others. Will your race times come down by 3% or more? That depends on too many factors to predict. If you like a mechanically springy, rolling feeling, want to race fast, and appreciate the qualities I mentioned, this is a perfect shoe for you. I can't wait to race my 10-miler in it this Sunday.

Nate - PA, United StatesApril 29, 2025

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.]