Supershoe Showdown: Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 vs Vaporfly 3, Endorphin Pro 4 and Adizero Metaspeed Sky Paris

Introduction

The newly released Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 arrives as a direct challenger to three established super shoes: the Nike Vaporfly 3, the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 and the Adidas Adizero Metaspeed Sky Paris. After spending serious miles in all four, one thing is clear: there is not an awful lot between them. The differences are subtle, and they might make one shoe work better for one runner rather than another.

All four sit at the premium end of the price range. The Puma is the cheapest of the group at £195 in the UK, with the Vaporfly 3 and Endorphin Pro 4 coming in at around £230. The Adidas is the lightest in comparison, with the Endorphin Pro 4 roughly 41 grams heavier in a comparable size, which is noticeable in hand and on foot thanks partly to Saucony’s more luxurious upper materials.

Fit and Upper Comparison

Two distinct philosophies emerge across the four uppers. Adidas strips the Metaspeed Sky Paris down to the absolute minimum of material, while Saucony goes for a more conventional running shoe style, even including suede sections, which is rare in a racer these days.

On lockdown, the Metaspeed Sky Paris and its perforated laces really do the trick and work well every time. The offset lacing on the Vaporfly 3 proved a little hit and miss, and its very baggy, volumous toe box was a genuine problem. On the Endorphin Pro 4, swapping in a slightly firmer lace helped a lot, and the suede plus stretchy knit tongue material is comfortable and plush. The Puma represents the best middle-of-the-road approach: decent tongue length, slightly flexible laces, and a supremely breathable, light upper that has been weight-relieved where possible without feeling overtly minimalistic.

In terms of width, the Endorphin Pro 4 is easily the widest of the four, with roughly 1.3 cm more midfoot width than the Adidas shoe and an extra centimeter back in the heel. That makes it a genuine marathon option if your foot is on the wider side. The Adizero Metaspeed Sky Paris is the narrowest, which likely contributes to its low weight. If you prefer a narrower race shoe, the Adidas or the Puma will suit best; if you want a plush marathon racer you could even train in, the Saucony is where it is at. None of these midsoles are great for wider-foot runners, though, so if you have a more volumous foot you will probably need to look elsewhere.

Midsole Feel and Ride

All shoes except the Metaspeed Sky Paris use an 8 mm drop; the Adidas has a 5 mm drop, which may be key to its success across two 10K personal bests and a half marathon best on a tough course. It also carries the most forefoot stack at 37 mm in a UK size 11, while all four share a heel stack of around 42 mm.

On feel, the Puma is the softest of the four, with an incredibly compressive and bouncy character. The Vaporfly 3 seems a little more rubbery, and the PWRRUN PB-based midsole in the Endorphin Pro 4 is a touch firmer and more resilient. The Puma’s Nitro Elite midsole is the standout here: mega cushioned, a genuine cheat code that keeps pushing you forward even on tired legs, and comfortable at almost any effort level. It laps up everything from 10 mile efforts and marathon-pace work to 100 meter reps and half marathon running without ever feeling like the wrong shoe for the session. The Puma is also lighter than the Vaporfly 3 and cheaper.

The Metaspeed Sky Paris, with its Lightstrike Pro turbo foam, delivers exceptional race-day performance between 10K and half marathon, but the foam is not as durable as the rest of the bunch and is best stashed away for racing. The Vaporfly 3 is still very light and usable and handled longer faster sessions well, though it did not quite have the same pop after around 100 miles. The Endorphin Pro 4 is tuned like a marathon shoe: extra surface area, supportive elements, and foam that stands up to training miles without splitting or tearing, making it a strong rotation shoe.

Outsole and Durability

Puma’s grip is where it is at. The outsole never tears away or wears down, improving over time, with excellent traction on cornering and toe-off. Saucony has improved the outsole rubber on the Endorphin Pro series no end this time: it is more aggressive and much better than before, which makes the Endorphin Pro 4 a good pick if you run in varied conditions or rain.

The Vaporfly 3 outsole was genuinely impressive too, with only minimal lug wear at the front and no wear at all in the heel. The Adizero Metaspeed Sky Paris, however, shows a lot of wear and abrasion. The rubber has largely lost its pattern, with considerable wear in the heel and some sections of exposed midsole on the medial side. It still feels very comfortable, but with such soft foam taking the brunt of the road, long-term durability is a real consideration.

Manage expectations across the board: none of these shoes will stay at their best for 300 to 400 miles. Around a good couple of hundred miles is realistic before parts start to wear and the midsole dulls. Rain and cold conditions also remain the kryptonite of super shoes generally.

Which Shoe Should You Buy?

If you can only buy one shoe, the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 is the easiest recommendation. At £195 it is the cheapest here, yet it offers superb midsole comfort, a very durable Nitro Elite foam, and enough versatility to serve both training and racing.

If marathon racing is your main goal, the Endorphin Pro 4 is a great shout despite costing about £35 more, thanks to its durability and rotation-friendly nature. The Adizero Metaspeed Sky Paris is the pick for out-and-out race-day performance between 10K and half marathon, but plan to baby it given the outsole wear. The Vaporfly 3 remains a top-notch, light and durable option, though it will not suit everyone: runners with a low arch or flatter feet may find it painful, and it is one of the more expensive shoes here.

Conclusion

There is no runaway winner among these four super shoes, only differences that map onto how you run. The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 wins on value and all-round usability, the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 is the marathon and training-rotation pick, the Adidas Adizero Metaspeed Sky Paris delivers the sharpest race-day performance with a durability trade-off, and the Nike Vaporfly 3 remains a proven, durable classic with a fit that will not suit every foot. Match the shoe to your distance, foot shape and budget, and any of them will reward you at the start line.