Best Plated Training Shoes: New Balance SC Trainer V3 vs Brooks Hyperion Max 2 vs Puma Deviate Nitro 3

Introduction

Plated trainers have become the go-to category for marathon training: enough cushioning to protect your legs through long miles, enough stiffness to keep the pace honest. The FuelCell SuperComp Trainer V3 arrived late in the season as one of the most anticipated releases of the year, and it lands into a market already shaped by two strong contenders: the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 and the Puma Deviate Nitro 3.

After time on foot and a first run in each, here is how these three stack up.

The Contenders

This is an unusually competitive category in 2024. The Hyperion Max 2 has just launched, the Deviate Nitro 3 has already built a following, and the SuperComp Trainer V3 is positioned from the start as a marathon training and long run shoe, with “fueled for the long run” printed right on the tongue. Each shoe takes a different approach to the same problem: how to put a plate, a tall stack of foam, and a comfortable fit into one trainer.

New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer V3

The V3 is a complete departure from the V1 and V2. The first version was bottom-heavy and bouncy but uncontrolled; the V2 went soft, streamlined, and rocker-heavy. The V3 brings back a high stack with strong forefoot protection, but pairs it with a firmer, denser foam and a stiff full-length carbon fiber plate (called the EnergyArc) that leans toward speed training rather than easy cruising.

On stepping in, it is comfortable but not super soft. The foam feels similar to the Rebel V4’s EVA-PEBA blend and does not compress all the way down like the V2 did, which should help it hold up better under heavier runners and longer time on feet. The outsole rubber coverage is generous, and this rubber has proven genuinely grippy in wet weather this year, approaching Continental-level wet performance.

On the first run of roughly eight miles, the shoe got better as pace picked up. It is a platform that rewards force: put more power down and it comes alive. At relaxed paces it feels like you are fighting the foam slightly, but for marathon pace work, long runs, and bigger runners who compress the midsole properly, this looks like a serious long run trainer. Expect it to soften up and improve noticeably around the 30 to 50 mile break-in mark.

Fit is true to size (going up half a size dilutes the ride because there is more foam than you need). The toe box is decently wide, the upper is solid, and it remained very comfortable for five straight hours on foot, making it a surprisingly good casual plate shoe too.

Brooks Hyperion Max 2

The Hyperion Max 2 is the firmest and fastest feeling of the three. Its rocker is super aggressive, the foam is naturally firmer, and it uses a plastic plate rather than carbon. Since the earlier Boston 12, it is one of the best options for marathon training that combines speedwork with longer miles.

It handled a double day well, but the trade-off is clear: it was great for fast miles and almost unusable for slow running. If you do not like soft, squishy shoes, or you are a bigger runner who wants a shoe that rewards power, the Hyperion Max 2 is a compelling pick. It is decently comfortable for what it is, but it is not the shoe for a lot of relaxed miles.

Puma Deviate Nitro 3

The Deviate Nitro 3 stacks two different foams over a full carbon plate: a firmer bottom layer for stability and a livelier top layer for race pop. Like the SuperComp Trainer V3, it went up in stack from the previous generation.

Out of the box it felt slightly more aggressive and bouncier than the SuperComp Trainer V3, with a faster overall feel. The V3, by contrast, feels taller and more protective, especially in the forefoot. Both shoes moved in a similar direction this generation, and the Deviate Nitro 3 reads as one of the more broadly likeable, mainstream-friendly plated trainers on the market.

Overall Buying Advice

Choose the SuperComp Trainer V3 if long runs and marathon speed training are your priority. It has more comfort than the Boston 12 or Hyperion Max 2, better stability than soft daily trainers, and it rewards pace or time on feet. Choose the Hyperion Max 2 if faster miles dominate your week and you want the most aggressive, responsive ride. Choose the Deviate Nitro 3 if you want a bouncy, versatile carbon-plated trainer that most runners will enjoy immediately.

Conclusion

The plated trainer market in 2024 is fierce, and each of these shoes earns its place. The SuperComp Trainer V3 is a firm, protective long run machine that improves with pace and break-in; the Hyperion Max 2 is the fast-day specialist; and the Deviate Nitro 3 is the well-rounded crowd pleaser. Match the shoe to the runs you actually do, and all three have a genuine case.