Disclaimer: The Run Testers sometimes use affiliate links. This means that we may receive payment if you buy products on our website or YouTube. Our use of affiliates supports the channel and does not affect how we review shoes, tech or gear.
Puma’s newest non-plated daily trainer, the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro joins the Puma line-up as a speed-focused but highly versatile daily trainer. It has been an instant hit with The Run Tester team. It’s one of the best running shoes of 2026 so far, with one big 100% PEBA wedge of Puma’s nitrogen-injected Nitrofoam. That PEBA has been tweaked from a race-day formula to still provide energy, responsiveness and life but with a bit more daily durability.Â
What you get is an energetic daily trainer basically built to stare down the Adidas Adizero Evo SL, the Saucony Endorphin Azura and the Asics Novablast 6. So how does it do up against those other more-affordable daily trainers? We’ve done the test miles. Read on for our verdcit in the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro review.
Puma Deviate Pure Design & Key Stats
- Price: £130/$150
- Weight: 7.7 oz / 217g (men’s UK 8.5/US 9.5)
- Drop: 8mm
- Stack: 37mm heel, 29mm forefoot
- Upper: Mesh upper
- Midsole: Nitrogen-injected NITROFOAM
- Outsole: PumaGRIP rubber
Puma Deviate Pure Nitro Review
The Fit
Three of The Run Testers team tested out at the Puma Devaite Nitro Pure and the consensus from all three testers is that the Puma Deviate Nitro Pure fits true to size for most runners, but it retains Puma’s characteristic narrow shape. It still comes up narrower than many rivals, particularly around the little toe and those with wider feet might need to pay attention.
The shoe offers a secure, hugging midfoot fit that feels locked in without being restrictive for average-width feet. The upper offers good comfort, with a soft engineered mesh, padded tongue and well-cushioned heel collar.
We had mixed feeling about the sizing and the toe box. Kieran described it as the best-fitting Puma shoe he’s run in, though Tom noted that his feet were still brushing the sides despite having average-width feet. Though, if you’re between sizes, Nick recommends considering the smaller size, as Puma shoes can run slightly long and “torpedo-like” in shape.
Check out more of the best marathon running shoes
The Run Test: Likes
The biggest plaudit we can give the Puma Deviate Nitro Pure is how effortlessly versatile it feels. This is one of the few running shoes that genuinely seems comfortable across a wide range of paces. Whether that’s ticking off recovery miles, cruising through steady long runs or winding things up for a progression session. That Nitrofoam midsole adapts and delivers without ever feeling out of its depth.
The PEBA-based Nitrofoam strikes an appealing middle ground between cushioning and responsiveness. You get enough softness to take the sting out of longer runs, but there’s still a lively rebound that keeps the ride feeling engaging. Importantly, it never tips over into the overly aggressive territory that can make some modern trainers feel tiring when you’re not running fast.
We’re also big fans of how natural the ride feels. Rather than relying on plates or extreme geometry to dictate your stride, the Deviate Nitro Pure allows you to run naturally. It gives back what you put into it, making it feel smooth and intuitive underfoot. This is a shoe you run, it doesn’t run you. That’s maybe one area where it beats the Evo SL. Another is the stability. It’s more reliable underfoot, particularly when you’re landing slower and fiuther back in the shoe.
At just over 200g, it’s pleasantly nimble and agile, while the upper delivers an excellent blend of comfort and lockdown. The padded tongue and heel collar make it an easy shoe to slip on and forget about.
Then there’s PumaGrip. At this point, it’s become one of the most dependable outsoles in running. Tom found the grip is outstanding in wet conditions, helping make the Deviate Nitro Pure a bona-fide all-weather shoe.
The Run Test: Dislikes
There’s not much we disliked about the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro. The fit for some may well still prove a problem and Puma hasn’t quite nailed that for all runners.
We also found that the ride, while enjoyable, lacks the outright excitement of some rivals. The foam provides a pleasant level of bounce, but it doesn’t deliver the explosive energy return that many runners now expect from premium trainers. If you’re coming from a plated super trainer or one of the more energetic modern foams, the Deviate Nitro Pure can feel a little subdued by comparison.
That becomes more noticeable when the pace increases. Although the Deviate Pure Nitro is perfectly capable of handling tempo efforts and progression runs, we never felt it truly came alive in the way that some faster trainers do. At harder efforts, it feels more like a very good daily trainer than a genuine speed-focused option. The Evo SL has more chops here.
The narrower platform may also divide opinion. That brings agility but runners who prefer a broader platform may find it less confidence-inspiring than some of its competitors.
Check out more of the best Puma running shoes
Verdict and Alternatives
The Puma Deviate Pure Nitro is an excellent all-rounder and one of the most versatile and accessible daily trainers we’ve tested in 2026. It’s a great addition to the Puma line-up and, depending on how you like your ride, a genuine rival to the do-it-all, non-plated trainers like the Adidas Evo SL and the Saucony Endorphin Azura.
This lightweight, PEBA-based trainer feels equally at home on easy miles, steady runs and moderate workouts. It may not deliver the explosive bounce or propulsion of plated rivals, or the responsiveness of the Evo SL. But in some ways, that’s also part of its appeal. Fans of a more subtly energetic ride that’s consistent reliable will like this shoe. It’s a ride that feels intuitive and adaptable across a wide range of paces. Versatility and simplicity are the watchwords here.
If you want something a bit snappier and rocker-heavy, that’s a little better suited to the faster-pace efforts, the Evo SL is probably the more aggressive shoe. It offers a more exciting and responsive ride for faster running (though you lose some stability for it). The Asics Superblast 3 offers greater cushioning and energy return but at a significantly higher price. The Adidas Evo SL offers a more exciting and responsive ride for faster running, while the New Balance Rebel V5 offers a similarly lightweight, natural-feeling ride.