PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4 Review

The PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4 is for you if...

You're looking for a top-end racing shoe to set a half or full marathon PR

You are anyone, from recreational to elite, and you want to experience the best racing tech available

You prefer racing shoes without overly softened foam

What is the PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4 made for?

Picture this: you’re a big, wild cat. You’re stalking through the grass hunting for your prey. It takes off, trying to run away! You chase after it; you’re gaining. You pounce! It’s all yours! The prey just happens to be a delicious PR, you happen to be a runner, and the exciting tool that helped you win the chase is the PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4.

The big cat is here, it’s fast, and it’s ready to bound after your next PR. In the past, the Deviate Elite has been known for its outstanding value, quality, and durability. Using high-quality and high-performing materials, the Deviate Elite 3 was laced up by top American athletes to place 1^st and 3^rd in the 2024 Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials. PUMA stood out for their incredible performance and innovation with ATPU foams, and they charged $20+ less than most of the competition.

Now, let’s address the other elite PUMA shoe in the room. The PUMA Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 has been celebrated as one of our favorite super shoes of the last year. It’s aggressive, insanely fast, and is not to be trifled with. That being said, the Fast-R is a pinnacle product that might not agree with everyone, especially heel strikers. That’s where the Deviate Elite 4 comes in.

With the same NITROFOAM Elite foam, the same 6-ounce weight, and its own carbon-fiber PWRPLATE, the Deviate Elite still has all the good stuff as the Fast-R 3, just in a new package. For $250, this is one of the best value super shoes available, and we believe it has the performance capabilities to send athletes to the next level. Safe to say, the Deviate Elite is one of our favorite super shoes with an ultra-light, well-fitting upper, surprisingly comfortable ride, and darn-good performance.

Comfort

While we don’t often expect the most plush, comfortable experience out of racing products, the Deviate Elite 4 has treated us very well. Running hard is painful enough, and an uncomfortable shoe can be the final nail in the coffin for race day struggles. When it comes to PUMA’s new entry, we’re impressed with their balance of comfort and performance.

PUMA has dialed in their NITROFOAM Elite to find a Goldilocks durometer that is soft without ever feeling squishy. It’s soft enough for long-run comfort, but still firm enough to feel stable. We found the heel bevel and toe rocker to be pronounced enough to be slightly noticeable, but not in a dramatic way that made us feel like we fell into our strides.

The upper is incredibly thin and lightweight, can stretch to accommodate multiple foot shapes comfortably.  The tongue is thin, but we didn’t experience any unwanted lace bite. While they ARE aggressive racing shoes, we expect that they’ll be accommodating for many paces and different foot strikes. 

Performance

In one word--fast. This shoe performs incredibly well and has us excited for our next race. The shoe handles pace changes and aggressive corners with ease, an impressive feat for a 40mm shoe. They are mind-blowingly lightweight, and the geometry feels more stable and traditional than other super shoes.

This shoe really comes to life at higher speeds--everything clicks and there's no slowing down. Entry-level runners may be a bit sore the day after using an aggressive shoe like this one, or they may not reap the full benefits of the shoe's technology. They're still a fun, capable option at more recreational paces, but something special happens when these shoes hit their tipping point.

While there is no PUMAGRIP on the medial heel, the Deviate Elite still has outsole coverage where it counts. PUMAGRIP grips incredibly well and can hang in there no matter the pace. Thinner rubber and less coverage may decrease the shoe’s overall lifespan, but Michael says it best: “These shoes aren’t here for a long time. They’re here for a fast time. And they deliver.”

From 400-meter road repeats to 18+ mile long runs, these shoes just work for us. For a 6-ounce shoe, we’re very impressed with the $250 price point. Nowadays, that weight and performance can easily be charged closer to $300+. We believe PUMA has released one of the best value shoes on the market that excels at flat-out hard running.

Fit

Across the board, the fit of this shoe receives our major praise. They fit true to size with great lockdown. None of us experienced hot spots, pinching, or any insecurity. The fit does feel a bit more spacious than the Deviate Elite 3, making this an accommodating option for more runners than ever. One of our testers noticed slight upper bunching when the shoe was fully locked down, but nothing that caused discomfort or hindered performance. The tongue offers a tiny bit of padding to prevent lace bite and help keep lockdown secure.

The biggest highlight for fit is in the heel. The endless struggle for a secure, blister-free lockdown has ended, and we're excited. The slight bit of padding around the heel feels great and hits the spot.