Running Shoe Yay or Nay: Four New Releases Worth Watching

Introduction

Four new or soon-to-be-released running shoes are on our list to test, and each one brings something different to the table. Some are iterative updates with meaningful changes underfoot, while others aim at new territory entirely. Here is what makes each shoe interesting and who it might suit.

Puma Deviate Nitro 2

The Deviate Nitro 2 has quietly landed in Europe, and it arrives with a significant midsole update. It uses a dual-foam construction: a top layer of the lighter, more compressive Nitro Elite formula sitting above the original Nitro compound, with the carbon power plate sandwiched in between. That places it a step above models like the Speed 3 or Zoom Fly 5 in terms of positioning.

The upper gets an update too. The original version felt a little dense and less flexible than we would have liked, and the new shoe appears to use a thinner mesh throughout. The outsole pattern is slightly different, but it still uses Puma’s GRIP compound, so traction should not be a concern. We would expect some small revisions at the heel, which was an issue for some early testers. A definite yay, and one we are keen to test as soon as it drops more widely.

Asics Super Blast

The Super Blast is a maximally cushioned monolith, pairing FF Turbo foam with a thin lower section of FF Blast Plus. The idea is a super-squashy, very light foam with plenty of volume, protected underneath by a thin, more durable layer to guard against early breakdown of the more fragile foam above. This mirrors the approach Asics used with the Nimbus 24, and the brand has refreshed foam formulas across its whole shoe line recently.

The shoe appears to confirm rumors that the Novablast may be discontinued after its third version, with the Super Blast taking over the maximally cushioned long-run role. It also looks like Asics’ answer to the Adidas Prime X and Hoka’s Bondi line. No word yet on price or the exact stack height, and given how tall that midsole looks, some of the foam has surely been cut away around the heel. It could still be months away from release, but it is a yay for us whenever it lands.

Hoka Bondi 8

The Bondi 8 is more max-cushioned madness, with a whole bundle of midsole designed for long-range efforts or easy recovery runs. Hoka leans into the recycled and sustainable materials trend here, using them in the tongue and upper. The midsole uses a new, softer EVA formula, claimed to be 30% softer than before, though we never really found Hoka midsoles lacking in softness.

You still get the standard Hoka rocker geometry in the mid-to-forefoot and a wider full-contact outsole with plenty of rubber and traction. The drop is just 4 millimeters, and the sample size weighs around 10.8 ounces, roughly 300 grams. That makes it a fair bit heftier than something like the Adidas Prime X, though for a training shoe, weight matters less than the overall ride. If you have not tried Hoka in a while, this could be a good reason to give the brand another look.

Under Armour Flow Velocity Elite

Under Armour finally enters the super shoe race with the Flow Velocity Elite. It has a 10 millimeter drop and weighs just 7.5 ounces, about 212 grams, in the standard sample size. There is a full-length carbon plate, as you would expect at this level, and a new Warp 2.0 upper material and design that looks highly breathable.

The midsole foam appears to be a supercritical formulation, closer in character to what you would expect from a PUMA-backed racing foam than to the material used in the Flow Velocity Wind. It is hard to tell whether it is a dual-layer setup or the whole midsole is supercritical, but the shoe is very light either way. This one is still some way from hitting retail, so consider it a preliminary yay: an exciting-looking shoe from a brand that seems to be pushing its boundaries.

Overall Buying Advice

These four shoes cover very different jobs, so the right pick depends on what you actually need. If you want a fast trainer or light racer with a carbon plate and dual-foam midsole, the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 is the most immediately available of the group. If your priority is maximum cushioning for long runs, the Asics Super Blast looks set to fill that role, though you may have to wait for its release.

For pure comfort on easy miles and recovery runs, the Hoka Bondi 8 is the straightforward choice, accepting a heavier build in exchange for generous cushioning. And if you are a competitive runner curious about a new super shoe, keep an eye on the Under Armour Flow Velocity Elite as it approaches retail.

Conclusion

From a quiet midsole overhaul from Puma to a brand-new super shoe from Under Armour, this group of releases shows how broad the running shoe market has become. Match the shoe to your training needs, watch for release dates and pricing on the models not yet on shelves, and you should be able to find one that earns its place in your rotation.