Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 After 100 Miles: Still One of the Best Value Super Shoes

Introduction

After 100 miles, or 160 km, of training and racing, the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 has held up remarkably well. Very few super shoes keep their character this far into their life; many start losing the snap and excitement that make them fun out of the box. This one does not. It remains one of the most comfortable and most usable racers tested this year, and it earns a place among the best shoes of 2024.

This is a top-line racer from Puma that also doubles as a training shoe, and at around £195 in the UK it undercuts most of the competition. Here is how it has performed over the long run.

Who This Shoe Is For

This is a shoe for runners with normal to narrow feet who want a fast, soft, forgiving racer for road racing. It suits the 10K and half marathon especially well, though it handled the common race distances comfortably. Heel width is on the narrow side, so marathoners who need more room back there may want to look elsewhere.

Neutral runners should be fine. If you pronate at all, be aware that the soft midsole foam makes this shoe not the most stable in the heel. And if you have a wider foot, this one is hard to recommend: the fit is simply too constrictive around the foot.

Main Strengths

The upper is a genuine highlight. The thin UltraWeave material is very conforming to the foot, and Puma’s power tape adds just enough structure without stiffness. The coarse-feeling outer fabric never registers inside the shoe, and the interior stays soft with plenty of tongue padding. Grip around the ankles is on point despite the lack of rigidity in the heel. Fit off the bat is comfortable, though swapping the stock laces for a pair from the Liberate Nitro 2 noticeably improved lockdown.

The midsole is where this shoe earns its value. The Nitro Elite foam is on the softer side compared with the previous two versions, a bit more compressive, yet it has shown very little degradation over 100 miles. The compression underfoot adds a satisfying push against the plate, and the airy foam plus minimal materials make this one of the lightest shoes in the category. Heel collar staining appeared as a slight green tinge, but it is cosmetic and easy to overlook; the upper itself cleans up easily.

Durability deserves its own mention. The Puma grip outsole is excellent on almost any surface: tarmac, concrete, muddy patches, even wet grass. There are no real signs of wear on the heel strips despite some rough weather use, and only minor discoloration of the foam. The tread is not even particularly deep, which makes the performance all the more impressive. It is not the absolute best in consistently wet conditions, but for road racing in reasonably dry weather it is superb.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Availability has been the biggest obstacle. Puma has not re-released this shoe often, which makes it hard to recommend confidently when it is difficult to find. The good news is that a new drop appears to be arriving, with new colorways showing up at UK retailers, so sourcing one may be easier than it has been.

The narrow fit is the other key consideration. Normal to narrow feet will likely be comfortable, especially once you experiment with lacing. Wider feet will find the lateral side of the shoe too restrictive, and the soft heel is a mild stability concern for anyone who overpronates.

Buying Advice

At £195, this is one of the cheaper super shoes available, roughly £25 less than the Metaspeed Sky Paris and £45 less than the Vaporfly 3. Combine that price with the durability on offer, no upper tearing, resilient foam, and rubber that grips through poor weather, and the value case is hard to argue with. It earns top marks on value, and it is one of Puma’s best shoes to date.

If you want a fast racer that will not feel dead at mile 100, and you can find one in your size, pick it up. It works as a race-day shoe and is capable enough for regular training sessions too.

Conclusion

The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 is a true standout: comfortable, light, grippy, durable, and priced well below most rivals. Its narrow fit and past availability issues are the only real friction points, and the latter seems to be improving. For neutral runners with normal to narrow feet, this comes highly recommended.