Puma and Asics Running Shoes Ranked: Nine Models Worth a Look

Introduction

Over the past year, two of the most consistently interesting running brands in our test rotation have been Asics and Puma. Both have shipped trainers, tempo shoes, and full-on racers that cover a wide range of needs, and both have kept refining their formulas rather than reinventing everything every season. This roundup gathers nine of the models we have spent real miles in and ranks them from solid daily options to standout super shoes.

Asics GEL-Nimbus 24

The GEL-Nimbus 24 is a conventional stack with a lot of cushioning. The FF Blast Plus foam in the midsole works alongside Asics’ classic GEL units, including a little under the midfoot that you can genuinely feel underfoot. It is a smooth operator, ideal for longer, slower runs and easy daily mileage, and it keeps some of the Nimbus heritage along with a hint of stability from the medial side of the shoe.

The trade-off is weight. The GEL does add a little, and the shoe feels touch on the weighty side, though that is also what separates it from most recent releases. Sizing runs true to size, unlike some Asics models that have felt long recently. It could work as a training option, and perhaps even a half or full marathon option, if you value that cushioned, stable ride.

Asics Novablast 3

The Novablast 3 uses nominally the same midsole material as the Nimbus 24, but the application feels very different. It is more versatile than the last two iterations, keeps a plush heel feel, and weighs slightly less, so the shoe gets better with each version. It feels a touch firmer and more responsive than the original, which was a little too compressive and bouncy for true daily use.

It suits easy or pace efforts well. It has never been especially good for longer runs for us, partly due to the amount of foam cut out of the heel, but this version has settled down nicely. Two small annoyances: the tongue takes time to sit flush on top of the foot, and the elasticated flat laces are not for everyone. The bigger issue is a slippery outsole in wet conditions, so keep it to dry days if you can.

Asics Cumulus 24

The Cumulus 24 feels like a distant relative of the Novablast, but with stabilizing GEL elements in the shoe. Asics calls it a neutral model, yet there is a little guiding support here if you need it. It sits somewhere in the middle between the Nimbus 24 and the Novablast 3, with a slightly squashier FF Blast material that is not quite as responsive as the Plus variant, and a feel closer to the Nimbus underfoot.

There is no big heel cutout like the Novablast, and the plush feel around the Achilles continues the current Asics house style. Think of it as a training partner to the Nimbus 24. The outsole, as with most Asics shoes with good rubber coverage, hits the spot. Nothing stands out positively or negatively here, which is the point of a steady daily trainer. There have been significant discounts around Black Friday on a range of colorways.

Asics Metaspeed Sky Plus

The Metaspeed Sky Plus is one of the favorites of the whole year, and it has a slight edge over the original. The extra midfoot width, additional foam, added heel stack, and honed upper all genuinely work, and the FF Turbo foam really is its own thing: super light, very responsive, and full of energy return, like carrying a pack of batteries under your foot.

This is a shoe that wants you to run a blistering pace pretty much the whole time. Unlike some super shoes that will happily jog through recovery sections, the Sky Plus rewards commitment, which makes it best reserved for higher-pace workouts and racing rather than everyday use. The aggressive traction is fantastic in pretty much any weather condition. The only improvement worth asking for is extending the rubber a little further into the heel for durability.

Asics Metaspeed Sky

The original Metaspeed Sky is still a very good option, particularly if you can pick it up on a discount. It shares the lively FF Turbo midsole and the same aggressive, pace-hungry character as the Plus, and it remains a strong pick for tempo runs and race day if you do not need the extra midfoot width and heel stack of the newer version.

The Plus simply has the edge thanks to those refinements, but the original is not far behind. If your budget points you toward the first Metaspeed Sky, it is a buy you are unlikely to regret.

Puma Velocity Nitro 2

The Velocity Nitro 2 is a very strong daily option from Puma, and a clear improvement over the first version. The setup is triangular in the toe box, which is why we would stick true to size rather than go down a half size as some people suggest; sizing down risks crunching your toes. Traction is strong, the upper is a breathable mesh, and the midsole layers two Puma foams: softer Nitro on top and a denser EVA blend underneath that adds durability and a bit of impact protection.

People ask whether the dual-density midsole is like a Pegasus Turbo. It is similar in principle, but the foams themselves are quite different. There is very little to dislike here, discounts are available on the model right now, and as a daily shoe it is hard to know what Puma could add to make it much better.

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite

The Fast-R Nitro Elite is an absolute banger of a race shoe. The super flexible upper feels far from artificial despite its plasticky mesh, lockdown is easy to achieve, and the coarse laces stay put once tied. It is superb at slightly shorter distances, from 5K and 10K up through the half marathon, though the aggressive, almost triangular toe box fit makes it a harder call for the full marathon.

This is an aggressive shoe that rewards aggression: the more you put in, the better it gets, in a similar spirit to Nike’s Tempo Next%. The design and colorway feel genuinely futuristic, like Puma pushing boundaries rather than copying. The one real flaw is the outsole: it is a master of grip but an absolute vacuum in the heel, collecting grit and debris in the cutouts and exposed midsole that are very difficult to get out.

Puma Magnify Nitro

The Magnify Nitro is a max-cushioned model with a whole bunch of foam to facilitate longer runs and slower recovery days. It has a plusher upper than pretty much all of its Puma siblings and a very thick tongue that relieves pressure from the laces. The midsole follows the same combo method as the Velocity Nitro 2, with EVA underneath and much softer Nitro on top, only with quite a bit more of it.

It very much feels like Puma refining their models slightly with each iteration rather than throwing the kitchen sink at things. We wish we had logged more miles in this pair, but the running so far has been essentially issue free. Some weight could come out of the heel or tongue, but then it would not be the plush beast that it is.

Puma Velocity Nitro 2 First Mile

The First Mile version is a special variation of the Velocity Nitro 2 made with more recycled materials, making it a more sustainable option. It runs a touch lighter and feels slightly less present on foot than the standard shoe, with all the same hallmarks, just a little less weight and slightly less thickness in the upper.

Nothing here presents a major difference either way. If sustainability matters to you, this is an easy way to keep the same trustworthy daily trainer with a slightly lighter feel on the run.

Overall Buying Advice

If you want one shoe that covers most training, the Velocity Nitro 2 and the Novablast 3 are the safest all-round picks, with the Velocity Nitro 2 First Mile as the sustainable near-equivalent. For maximum cushioning on long, slow days, the Nimbus 24 and Magnify Nitro both deliver plush, stable rides, with the Cumulus 24 as a steadier middle ground between the two Asics trainers. On race day, the Metaspeed Sky Plus is the standout of the group, with the original Sky still excellent on discount, and the Fast-R Nitro Elite the pick for shorter, more aggressive racing provided you can live with its debris-collecting outsole.

Conclusion

Both brands came away from a year of testing looking sharp. Asics offers the most exciting race shoe here in the Metaspeed Sky Plus, while Puma’s daily lineup, led by the Velocity Nitro 2, offers outstanding value and steady refinement. Match the shoe to the kind of running you actually do, and there is something in this group for nearly every type of runner.