Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2

The quick answer is - no, at least not if you are looking for a shoe that does the job for you.

While being the most affordable super shoe on the market at the moment, there are certain elements which prevent it from being among the top tier of racing shoes but this does not necessarily make them a bad shoe at all. The upper of the v2 has significantly improved compared to the v1 version of 2021 and now feels less cheap and more breathable.

Also, the heel collar has become more rigid and may provide the stability that some runners were missing in the v1. However, I particularly enjoyed the soft heel counter of the v1 as there was almost no added pressure on the Achilles tendon and as someone who has had issues with Achilles tendonitis and heel irritations in the past, this shoe offered a pleasant alternative to the likes of the Nike Vaporfly with a very enforced heel. 

Undoubtedly, the Deviate Nitro Elite 2 have the best outsole and grip on the entire market. I usually find myself picking the Deviate Nitro Elite 2s for threshold or tempo sessions when it is wet outside or I expect slick conditions on my run/race and have even taken them for a urban trail run with a few unpaved sections with dirt or grit. In either of those scenarios, I never had the feeling that I was slipping and sliding and could even take the sharpest turns without fearing that I might fall. 

But here is where you will have to differentiate between the Pumas and, say, the Nike Vaporfly. You just don't feel the same sense of propulsion in the Deviate Nitro 2s and they resemble more the underfoot feeling of a traditional racing flat with extra cushioning or the first edition of the Saucony Endorphin Speed. Contrary to Molly Seidel's motto, you don't get this "full send" sensation, unless you really put in the effort. The the shoes really move along and the stride, at least in my experience as a neutral runner, feels really smooth and enjoyable. 

At the end of the day, does this make them a bad super shoes? Not at all and if you are a light, neutral runner who does not want the shoe to interfere with your natural stride and gait cycle, they are certainly an option to consider and given the price tag, a true steal. You will definitely stand out at the start line, especially if you are toeing in one of those new two color options Puma now offers (there is a black and white and a blue and red version - those of you who ran in the Nike Victories will definitely remember why this just slabs). Moreover, the added versatility of the use cases and knowing that the shoes are neither cheating you nor hindering your performance may appeal to old school runners who have previously evaded super shoes because of those reasons. 

This big cat is certainly not a one you wanna mess with! 

The fireglow puma shoe looks great. There is enough cushioning and its nice and stabile.

This is my first "supershoe" which I bought two weeks before my halfmarathon race. This is also my first Puma shoe. Untill now I was running mostly in Adidas shoes.  After first use of this shoe I was overwhelmed: light, comfortable, fast. The speed session was faster and I felt less fatique. The easier runs were faster by 20s per mile with the same effort. After 3 testings I decided to run my halfmarathon. I was running easily 7:15 a mile (15sec faster than planned) and during my race I was able to PR my 10k and even 5k for this year.

I’ve always run in lightweight shoes so I wasn’t hesitant about trying the Pumas. They provide the right amount of cushioning for my needs.