Puma MagMax 2 First Run Review: Max Cushion With a Bit More Bounce

Introduction

The Puma MagMax 2 arrives with a clear brief: take a popular, chunky max-cushion shoe and make it lighter, faster and more responsive. On a first run of around 10k, plus a 5-mile progression attempt, the shoe came across as a capable, highly cushioned option for easy and long miles, with one honest caveat about how soft it ultimately feels.

Specs at a Glance

The MagMax 2 costs £170 or $180, weighs 270g (9.5 oz) for men in a size 8, and has an 8mm drop. The headline change is a tweak to the thick stack of nitrogen-infused Nitro foam, which is intended to add bounce and cushioning while shaving weight. Compared with its predecessor, this version is roughly 23 grams lighter, a meaningful reduction for such a chunky platform.

Underfoot, there is a PumaGrip outsole, the brand’s durable and high-traction rubber. It is a thick layer that sticks out noticeably from the midsole, which bodes well for longevity.

Fit and Upper

The upper is an engineered mesh designed for airflow and a locked-down fit. In practice, the forefoot is roomy, particularly across the top of the toes, with decent wiggle room and plenty of flex. The mesh hugs the toe knuckles without feeling restrictive, and the toe box length works well.

The midfoot lockdown is secure, and the padded heel collar is ample and plush, adding to an overall impression of a comfortable, well put-together shoe. Testers with average-width feet found a bit of extra space on both sides of the midfoot, which fits the relaxed, padded character of the upper.

On sizing, both testers would stay true to size. One wore a UK 9 (US 9.5), his usual Puma size, and felt the fit was spot on, with a thumbs-width of space ahead of the big toe. The other, a UK 8, found it pretty much spot on as well.

Ride Impressions: Comfort First

The MagMax 2 is unapologetically a plush cushion shoe. The midsole is very soft, with oodles of road protection and a kind of sinking-in softness that takes a moment to come back. There is a lot of softness in the heel, and while the wide platform keeps things planted, some runners may notice a little wobble from all that squish.

That said, the ride is not purely soft. The Nitro foam delivers a dense compression and kick-back rather than an outright soggy feel, so you do get a level of energy return that some max-stack shoes lack. It rolls you forward nicely and feels natural on the foot, particularly around a steady 4:30/km pace for longer marathon-training sessions. At an easy 5:00/km, it felt comfortable, if slightly eager to move faster.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Two honest caveats came out of these early miles. First, on a progression run, the shoe felt heavy and sluggish when trying to pick up the pace, and the tester could not get out of first gear. If you like a snappier, firmer ride that comes back quicker, this is probably too cushioned for you.

Second, there is a mild stability concern. Because the shoe is tall and fairly rigid, stepping off a kerb produced a noticeable ankle wobble, felt most around the midfoot. The wide base helps, but this is a lot of shoe to tip over if you land off-axis.

Who Should Buy the Puma MagMax 2

This is best suited to longer sessions at a consistent pace rather than intervals or fast reps. It has clear appeal as a marathon-training workhorse, a comfortable shoe in a rotation for easy and long runs, and an option for general runners who want a big-stack shoe with a slightly more responsive midsole than the softest rivals.

For sheer recovery comfort, it is hard to fault: you cannot feel the road, and slow miles clip along easily. The open question, flagged repeatedly, is versatility, since more shoes in this bracket now combine plush cushioning with genuine energy return.

Verdict

The MagMax 2 does super-cushion exceptionally well in a comparatively light package, with a nice upper and very good PumaGrip durability. At £170 it is not cheap, but given the level of quality on offer, it reads as a solid price for what you get. A really good high-stack trainer for easy and long miles; just do not expect it to shine at speed.