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The Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 is one of the best carbon plate running shoes available, if not the very best. It’s incredibly light and delivers a very efficient ride thanks to the rockered design and carbon plate, which extends past the front of the upper
It’s expensive though, and the unnatural ride might put off some runners. There are certainly excellent alternatives available for less, like the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris, but with two of the team logging and loving marathons in the Puma Fast-R 3, it’s certainly a racer we recommend highly.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: £260/$300
- Weight: 187g/6.6oz (men’s UK 9 / US 10)
- Drop: 8mm
- Stack height: 40mm heel, 32mm forefoot
- Upper: Lightweight Ultraweave mesh with minimal padding
- Midsole: Nitrogen-infused aliphatic TPU Nitro Elite foam with carbon plate
- Outsole: Thin layer of Pumagrip rubber at forefoot and heel
Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 review
How’s The Fit
Nick and Kieran tested out the Puma Fast-R 3 for our review and both found that it came up a little long. It might be worth going half a size down, and the shoe is also quite narrow, so those with wide feet might find it a tight squeeze around the mid foot.
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The Run Test: Likes
Puma made some big claims when it launched the Fast-R 3, with research suggesting it delivered a more efficient ride than some of the best racers available, including the Nike Alphafly 3 and Adidas Pro Evo 1.
In our experience the Fast-R 3 does seem to back up those claims, with the rockered ride and long carbon plate making holding faster paces feel easier in the shoe than others.
Both Nick and Kieran used it for the London Marathon 2025 and loved how it felt when running well in the first half of the race, but also how it helped us to keep turning over at a decent pace even when the wheels started to come off in the second half.
It’s also an exceptionally light shoe, which is always a welcome feature in a racer, and when you’re trying to keep picking your feet up late in races it’s easier to do so in a featherweight like the Fast-R 3.
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The Run Test: Dislikes
The highly-rockered ride of the Fast-R 3 is not very natural and some runners will find it quite intrusive. It’s not a shoe that you really switch off in; you’re aware of it when running.
It’s also not going to be an especially durable shoe. Puma suggests the lifespan will be 300km/200 miles, and we have an indentation on the outsole in the same place on both shoes after 80km of running. This is one to save for race day.
Verdict And Alternatives
The Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 is one of our favourite racing shoes and one that is sure to help you chase down PBs when you’re in shape to do so.
If you can find it available and don’t mind the high price, it’s a racer we recommend highly, as long as you’re not put off by the wild rockered ride.
The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 offers a more natural feel for a carbon shoe, and is also much cheaper and more durable for regular training. The same is true of the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB.
Our long-term favourite racer the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris is another compelling alternative, and Asics has just launched the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, which is a small but promising update that makes the shoe even lighter than the Fast-R 3.
Puma Fast-R 3 vs Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3
The Deviate Nitro Elite 3 is more affordable, stable and accommodating than the Fast-R 3 when you’re running a bit slower or on mixed terrain. The Fast-R 3 is flat-out faster, but less durable and one to save for your main races on flawless roads.
Puma Fast-R 3 vs Nike Alphafly 3
The Nike Alphafly 3 is softer and bouncier than the Puma, with the Fast-R 3 being noticeably more rockered and lighter. The Puma feels faster and more efficient, but the Nike could be better for many runners lining up a marathon thanks to its cushier ride.
Puma Fast-R 3 vs Adidas Adios Pro 4
The Puma feels faster than the Adios Pro 4 to us thanks to its efficient and propulsive rocker, but the Adidas has a bit more comfort at the heel in particular, and it’s also cheaper while still being a great, lightweight racer.