Puma Deviate Nitro 4 Review | The Best Value Super Trainer You’re Not Wearing

The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 is a lightweight, cushioned running shoe that is well designed to be a top daily trainer.

The Puma Deviate Nitro 3 was a shoe that found a place in the rotation of many RTTF running coaches. It was an unexpected selection to so who haven’t seen the massive turn around Puma has made in the distance running space the last few years.

Will the Puma Deviate Nitro 4 live up to its reputation as being a fan favorite super trainer?

It looks like a fast shoe. It feels like a fast shoe. It feels like a daily shoe. It didn’t disappoint!

I put in over 85 miles in these shoes with ease in a few weeks from easy miles to tempo runs and intervals. Once I hit the ground running, I really did not have to think about the shoes or my feet which is a huge win for any running shoe.

Puma Deviate Nitro 4 Overview

Upon unboxing the shoe, the first thing I do is test the flexibility of the shoe by folding it in half in my hands and I noticed that it is a little stiffer than I would have expected. 

This is likely due to the carbon composite PWRPLATE that runs along the sole of the shoe. An actual carbon plated shoe would be a little more rigid and the “composite” offers a more comfortable and responsive feel while keeping it at a lower price point.

Not only is the Puma Deviate Nitro 4 well cushioned, but it is 15g lighter than previous models.The NITROFOAM™ (nitrogen-infused foam technology) is lightweight and responsive. It felt cushioned, but without lacking the ability to pick up speed! A nice combo for a shoe that can serve a lot of purposes.

These shoes are considered a max cushioned shoe, yet they did not feel bulky or heavy underfoot. 

The cushion felt great over the hard surfaces (can you tell I spend a lot of time on trails), but also allowed just enough ground feel that I felt secure with every step.The forefoot is less cushioned than the heel and I think this helped in not feeling like I was going to catch an uneven edge on the sidewalk or on the bricks.

The wider platform of the shoe also keeps it feeling really stable, that’s a common feature you’ll see in most max cushioned shoes now. Though at 38mm this is technically moderately cushioned compared to what’s on the market, like the Puma MagMax Nitro 2!

I also tested out the Puma Deviate Nitro 4 in rainy conditions and the PUMAGRIP™ outer sole did not disappoint.  You can feel the tackiness while walking around the house and on wet surfaces they felt great.

I had no issues with slipping on the concrete or bricks, even on sharp turns. I am a heel to mid foot striker and the padded heel felt good on the run and not too flat or stiff, just rounded enough. The layered foam on the rear foot also gives it a speedier appearance.

The heel cup is perfectly cushioned and if you lift the heel tab there is a little surprise message underneath saying, “Made you look”.  Little details like these, I find amusing and fun.

The arrival of these shoes came at peak training so I really logged a lot of miles quickly in these shoes and did not really rotate other shoes into the mix.  They really felt great on my feet day after day and I actually looked forward to putting them on and getting out the door.

I tested out the Puma Deviate Nitro 4 in apple spritz/lux lime and really like the color combo.  A soft yellow mixed with a brighter classic yellow along with some black lines and logos.  Nothing too neon or bright but just enough to grab a little attention with each step.

Puma Deviate Nitro 4 Fit

This shoe is known for running on the narrow side, but my wider foot felt quite comfortable mile after mile. I did have to loosen the laces and chose thinner socks since the mid foot was a bit snug the first few times I put on the shoes though my toes felt they had plenty of room in the toebox.

The shoes passed the test in all areas.

No blisters, no hot spots, and the responsiveness and cushion felt really good on my feet. I had zero toe blisters or soreness after long runs over 20 miles.

The heel cup is nicely padded and I did not use a heel lock when lacing up the shoes. 

The mesh upper also makes the shoe breathable and a bonus is that it is made with 20% recycled materials.  It was soft enough to accommodate my wider foot but not overly soft that it would lose stability. 

The gusseted tongue of the shoe is a very thin material and is mostly detached.  I feared it would slide around while running, but it stayed in place and I experienced no lace bite on the top of my foot.

The materials in the sole made the shoe feel pretty stable and not overly squishy.  The outsole also runs up a little high on the sides of the shoes which also offers a little extra support.  I did not experience the heel slipping at all and it had a nice fit. 

The last eyelet was set pretty far back and when I did test out a heel lock, it made it feel too tight around the top of my foot so I switched it back.

Puma Deviate Nitro vs Velocity Nitro

I recently tested out the Velocity Nitro 4 which has a similar fit and also makes for a great daily trainer. The Velocity Nitro 4 also has the NITROFOAM™ but is lacking the carbon composite PWRPLATE™.  Both shoes have a similar feel and I would use both in the same manner as far as training goes.

• Velocity feels more narrow
• Nitro has a little more cushion
• Nitro is 8mm drop, Velocity is 10mm drop
• Nitro is going to be a little faster with the plate
• Nitro is going to feel a little bit firmer with with plate

Similar Shoes to the Puma Deviate Nitro 4

We’ve tested a few super trainers that feel similar, but different based on the brand fit. Since this shoe isn’t super bouncy, but rather a slightly firmer soft (does that make sense to everyone?!), here’s our comparables: 

We hope that this Deviate Nitro 4 review helps! Have more questions or have you tested it, we want to hear.

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