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Puma Deviate Nitro 2 Review

A soft and responsive ride paired with a plush upper for all-day comfort
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Puma Deviate Nitro 2 Review (The upper fit is excellent, and very comfortable.)
The upper fit is excellent, and very comfortable.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Price:  $160 List
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Manufacturer:   Puma
By Nathaniel Bailey ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jun 5, 2024
68
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#8 of 25
  • Cushioning and Landing Comfort - 25% 7.0
  • Responsiveness - 25% 7.5
  • Stability - 20% 6.0
  • Upper Comfort - 15% 7.0
  • Weight - 15% 6.2

Our Verdict

Very few shoes can do everything well, but the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 comes close. This shoe was one of the biggest surprises of our test and outperformed our expectations. Great cushioning thanks to layers of Nitro Elite and Nitro foam marries with a carbon-infused PWRPLATE to soften landings and give a snappy ride. The upper is breathable and comfortable with smooth and simple lacing. If you're looking for a comfortable and lively daily trainer that can handle almost any type of run, we think you'll appreciate this shoe. Check out our full review of the best men's running shoes to see how it stacks up.
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable landings
Plush upper
Responsive toe-off
REASONS TO AVOID
Slightly heavier than competition

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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A great combination of responsiveness and plush comfortA daily trainer that can handle most runs, the Novablast 4 is fun and extremely comfortableAn all-around standout that can handle easy days as comfortably as hard workoutsBouncy, responsive and well-cushioned, this shoe is performance-oriented but still versatileA daily trainer that blends comfort and versatility at a reasonable price
Rating Categories Puma Deviate Nitro 2 Asics Novablast 4 Saucony Endorphin S... New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Cushioning and Landing Comfort (25%)
7.0
8.3
8.0
8.5
8.0
Responsiveness (25%)
7.5
7.0
8.0
7.5
7.0
Stability (20%)
6.0
7.0
5.7
4.0
6.0
Upper Comfort (15%)
7.0
8.0
7.5
6.0
7.0
Weight (15%)
6.2
5.9
7.1
8.8
5.3
Specs Puma Deviate Nitro 2 Asics Novablast 4 Saucony Endorphin S... New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Sizes Available 7 - 15 US, regular 6 - 15 US, regular 7-15 US, regular 7-16 US, regular & wide 7 - 14 US, regular
Style Plated Daily Daily/cushioning Plated daily Daily Daily
Measured Heel Stack Height 36 mm 43 mm 38 mm 36 mm 39 mm
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop 8 mm 7 mm 6 mm 5 mm 10 mm
Plate Type Carbon None Nylon None None
Rocker Angle 19.5 deg 22.5 deg 25.0 deg 19.5 deg 18.0 deg
Rocker Apex Location 69.17% 66.53% 67.74% 62.18% 66.67%
Measured Weight 9.58 oz 9.76 oz 9.73 oz 7.98 oz 10.07 oz
Upper Engineered mesh Engineered woven/knit Engineered mesh/knit Engineered mesh Engineered knit
Midsole NITRO/NITRO Elite FF Blast + Eco PWRRUN PB FuelCell Profoam
Outsole PumaGrip ATR AHAR Lo Rubber Rubber PumaGrip
Heel Tab Type None Finger loop None None None

Our Analysis and Test Results

Although it was beat out by some newer models, the Deviate Nitro 2 is still one of the better all-around shoes we've tested. It's biased slightly towards faster running, as the carbon plate suggests, but it also does a great job on long, easy runs. What really stood out for us with this shoe is its balance of comfort and responsiveness.

Performance Comparison


puma deviate nitro 2 - one of the best all-around shoes we've tested, it also happens to...
One of the best all-around shoes we've tested, it also happens to look pretty good for a running shoe.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Cushioning and Landing Comfort


While there are other shoes that score higher in this metric, the landing comfort in the Deviate Nitro is still good for a daily trainer. It is soft and smooth without feeling pillowy, and lands in the middle of the pack for comfort. The Nitro foams (both Elite and non-elite) do a great job of absorbing forces, feeling softer than the 36mm measured heel stack height suggests. We think that is largely due to the softer and more energetic Nitro Elite foam distribution. There is more in the heel and right under the forefoot, the two highest impact areas for most runners. We love how much forefoot cushioning this shoe has.


The Deviate Nitro strikes a balance between springiness and softness that makes it a decent choice for a daily trainer. If it had much more cushioning, it would feel too soft on harder runs, and with any less, we wouldn't care for it quite as much on easy days. As it is, this is a shoe that is cushioned just right for most of our runs.

The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 is a great blend of cushioning and responsiveness.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

The carbon plate obviously helps with responsiveness, but it also seems to help prevent the cushioning from bottoming out or suffering from rock strikes. We found that it performed well on rocky roads, even though that isn't its intended surface. We did not note any harshness in the ride from the plate. Puma also knows how to make a shoe with great traction. The Puma Grip outsole performed flawlessly in all conditions, allowing us to land confidently on loose surfaces, wet surfaces, and dry pavement.

puma deviate nitro 2 - pumagrip is one of the best outsoles on the market. these lugs look...
PumaGrip is one of the best outsoles on the market. These lugs look aggressive for a road shoe that likes to go fast. We don't notice them until we needed them though.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Responsiveness


The Deviate Nitro is all about balance, and its level of responsiveness is no exception. We found that this shoe gave us a snappy toe-off when we wanted it, but was also fine when running at a relaxed pace.


While the Deviate Nitro scores well for responsiveness, it wouldn't be our first pick if we wanted a shoe for hard efforts only. Some shoes are snappier, but they aren't as comfortable on easy runs. The ability to handle anything from a recovery jog to a hard race-paced effort is what we love about this shoe.

The combination of foam and plate works well to provide strong responsiveness without compromising comfort.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

A large part of why we don't use the Nitro for all our runs is the carbon plate. It gives the shoe a good amount of responsiveness, but we try to spend time in non-plated shoes regularly to keep muscles and impact forces balanced.

puma deviate nitro 2 - the deviate nitro 2 offers an almost perfect balance of all the...
The Deviate Nitro 2 offers an almost perfect balance of all the things we want and need.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Stability


This is a neutral trainer and isn't one we'd recommend for someone looking for lots of support. But as far as neutral trainers go, we think this is a very stable shoe, scoring above average in this metric. The plate works well to keep the foot stable on the bed of foam, and the upper provides excellent lockdown to help minimize excess motion.


On uneven surfaces, the Deviate Nitro feels very stable, handling washboard roads and uneven dirt with ease. It also managed to perform well on hill sprints, something plated shoes tend to struggle with. Again, it's a good option for a daily trainer, where we're looking for the ability to cover a wide variety of workouts in different conditions.

puma deviate nitro 2 - a great daily trainer can handle everything from easy runs to hard...
A great daily trainer can handle everything from easy runs to hard workouts and the recovery jogs in between.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Upper Comfort


The upper of this shoe is breathable and plush. It's really hard to find anything wrong with it here. We had no issues achieving good lockdown in the forefoot, and the lacing is smooth and simple. We will note that the shoe initially felt a touch snug in the forefoot but this feeling relaxed with extended wear.


Puma added a strip of PWRTAPE along the inside of the midfoot, which helps keep the foot locked in place at faster paces. The tongue is thin and lightly padded, with gusseting at the base. We had no issues with rubbing or hotspots. Towards the back of the shoe, a gentle heel cup works in conjunction with a padded collar to hold the back of your foot in place perfectly. We experienced no rubbing or slippage. There really isn't anything remarkable about the upper, but it works well and is comfortable.

Easy to lace for great lockdown.
Easy to lace for great lockdown.
The upper fit is excellent, and very comfortable.
The upper fit is excellent, and very comfortable.
This is a well-designed upper in all respects.

Weight


The Deviate Nitro 2 isn't a light shoe. We weighed it at 9.58 ounces per shoe for a size 10.5US. This also doesn't make it a heavy shoe, but it is about 1 ounce heavier than some of its most direct competitors, like the Mach 6 and Endorphin Speed 4.


Most of the weight of this shoe is due to the comfortable upper and the great outsole. On most days, we are happy to carry the extra ounce for the added comfort and the measure of security it provides on different surfaces. As with all things, it's about honing in on the aspects that are most important to you.

puma deviate nitro 2 - not super light, but we feel the comfort that's gained as a result...
Not super light, but we feel the comfort that's gained as a result is worth it.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

Should You Buy the Puma Deviate Nitro 2?


The perfect shoe doesn't exist, but the Nitro 2 is nothing to sniff at, either. It's great for long runs where cushioning and a bit of responsiveness are essential. It's great for threshold sessions, where responsiveness is key and cushioning is appreciated. It's great for easy runs where you're just getting in the miles. It can handle 5K paces and could even be used for racing. There really isn't anything to dislike about this shoe; we love it and think you will, too.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?


If you love the sound of the Deviate Nitro 2 but need a slightly wider toebox, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 is a similar shoe geared slightly more towards faster paces without sacrificing cushion. If you want a shoe that's comfortable and can handle a range of paces while supplying additional support, you could consider the Asics Gel-Kayano 30. Looking for a killer option for race day? Check out the Nike Vaporfly 3.

Nathaniel Bailey