Puma Deviate Nitro 3 Review

The Deviate Nitro 3 is a daily trainer with a carbon plate designed to handle faster paces. It's an interesting update to a high-scoring shoe, but we don't think it improves.

Performance Comparison

Landing Comfort

The NITROFOAM formulation in the Deviate Nitro 3 is soft and bouncy, especially in the heel. We measured 41 mm of it there and 29 mm at the forefoot. It's a highly resilient foam that also compresses easily. We think heel strikers will love the shoe's feel, as transitions are smooth and the rocker geometry is well-designed. On the other hand, we found the forefoot to be firm and very stiff, notably when landing farther forward. Still, it has a decent bounce regardless of pace. This shoe's landings are well-insulated, and the midsole foam is excellent. Runners who want a plated shoe for their long runs might want to consider this option.

Responsiveness

The Deviate Nitro 3 has above-average responsiveness but has lost some of the top-end speed that we loved about the previous version. The foam has good resilience, but in general, the shoe didn't feel snappy at fast paces in the way we expected it to. It's much more comfortable at easier clips.

The rocker geometry is good, although it starts early enough that it may feel unnatural for some mid- or forefoot strikers. We don't think this shoe has the true versatility of other plated daily trainers like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, which feels much better at high speeds. This shoe feels optimized for long runs with uptempo sections and easier mileage.

Upper Comfort

We were disappointed with the Deviate Nitro 3's upper fit. It's a performance fit, so we expect a bit of narrowness. However, not only was it narrow, but the toe box tapered too early, and the overall volume was too low. Putting the shoe on felt like we were trying to shove our feet into a shoe that was too small. Other users (and our women's testers) have reported the same feeling. The lockdown was excellent, and the materials were comfortable. However, we experienced rubbing on our small toes as a result of the narrow, tapered toe box. The shoe runs a little short, and we'd recommend sizing up a half size.

Stability

Thanks to the relatively high stack of compressible foam, the carbon plate, and the narrow footprint, the Deviate is not a particularly stable shoe. It feels a little unsteady going around turns, and it's very stiff, which can exert significant leverage on your ankles. This is not a shoe we'd recommend to runners with any stability needs or who tend to roll their ankles.

Weight

The Deviate is a little chunky for a performance daily trainer, weighing in at 10.43 ounces per shoe (size 10.5). That's heavier than we would like to see in a shoe designed to handle workouts and could account for some of the lack of responsiveness we experienced.

Traction

Rubber outsoles continue to be some of the best in the business. Traction on the Deviate is excellent, regardless of conditions. We had no issues on wet pavement, snow, and even ice. This shoe might be a good option for runners who regularly run workouts in the winter. As with many shoes that have a cutout in the middle of the shoe, gravel and dirt roads can be a pain in the Deviate Nitro 3. Rocks have a tendency to get wedged between the midsole foam and under the plate.

Should You Buy the Puma Deviate Nitro 3?

This is an excellent shoe for runners who are comfortable with a narrow and low-volume fit, and who want a plated daily trainer. If you're looking for a workout shoe, we think better options are available. Similarly, it wouldn't be our first choice for a long-run shoe or for our daily mileage. However, some runners may love the high stiffness and fit, which may work well for them.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?