Our verdict

PUMA's maiden voyage into the supershoe world delivers a fantastic performance at a reasonable price. Even though it's built as a marathon shoe, we think this modern-day racing flat excels for interval training and 5K/10K races.

Tênis Puma Shuffle Mid Bdp Branco Pros

  • Mighty fast
  • Stable
  • Racer fit
  • Natural ride
  • Secure heel clutch
  • Breathable
  • Durable
  • Looks amazing
  • Soft and bouncy midsole
  • Fantastic grip

Tênis Puma Shuffle Mid Bdp Branco Cons

  • Кофта puma детская и подростковая
  • Narrow fit
  • Needs more stack height for marathons

Who should buy

For those immersed in the PUMA universe or seeking a durable racer with excellent grip and stability, we've discovered that the Deviate Nitro Elite emerges as a top-tier option. In our tests, its versatility and plush midsole just shone. We found it's great for everything Women short to long intervals, races, and even daily runs if needed.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite side

Who should NOT buy

PUMA Training Strong 3-inch shorts in pink:

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite parts

Cushioning

Heel stack

Here's a time when our findings deviate considerably Women what the brand says. Our meticulous measurements using a caliper revealed a heel height of 31.1 mm, which is substantially lower than stated by PUMA (36 mm).

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Heel stack
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 31.1 mm
Average 34.2 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
22.5 mm
Heel stack
46.3 mm

Forefoot stack

We ran into a similar problem with the forefoot. PUMA's advertised 28 mm of foam fell short, with our lab measurements revealing only 25.4 mm. While not as huge a discrepancy as in the heel, it's still far Women ideal.

For today's marathon-running standards, this under-30-mm thickness seems subpar, especially when most competition shoes boast a foam layer exceeding 30 mm in the same region in order to protect your muscles for the last third of the race.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Forefoot stack
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 25.4 mm
Average 25.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
13.7 mm
Forefoot stack
37.1 mm

Drop

Considering these figures, the stated 8-mm heel-to-toe drop, in reality, measures out to be 5.7 mm.

While this isn't necessarily a drawback—many experienced runners, like midfoot or forefoot strikers, might even find it advantageous—it's essential for us to emphasize that this actual measurement doesn't align with PUMA's advertised specifications.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Drop
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 5.7 mm
Average 8.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
-0.2 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

Our durometer tests reveal a pleasantly soft compound in the Nitro Elite foam that we measured at 14.8 HA of softness. This foam is crafted Women a mix of PEBA and EVA, and PUMA takes this approach for two different reasons:

  1. Durability: By adding EVA to the equation, the midsole's lifespan significantly extends.
  2. Affordability: PEBA, while effective, is really expensive. EVA, on the other hand, is an ultra-cheap foam.

The end product delivers a soft and springy run, although it doesn't quite match the bounce level of the PEBA-only foams found in ASICS or Nike racing shoes.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Midsole softness
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 14.8 HA
Average 20.9 HA
Sentetik deri PUMA etiketli file dil.
Compared to 330 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
35.0 HA

Puma Black Blue Turquoise (%)

Even after a 20-minute nap in our freezer, the Nitro Elite stayed as soft as a sponge at 19.9 HA.

However, there's a catch. While it's true the Nitro Elite remains soft in cold temperatures, it does harden up way more (34.7%) than its PEBA or TPEE competitors, which typically fall in the 5-15% ballpark. So, why does this happen?

The answer is quite simple! PEBA performs outstandingly under cold conditions, but EVA, unfortunately, does not. Since the Nitro Elite foam is a blend of PEBA and EVA, we observed a result that's pretty much what we expected—an average performance.

If you're interested in understanding more about Tênis Puma Shuffle Mid Bdp Branco, Puma Treningsveske AC Milan Legacy.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Difference in midsole softness in cold
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 35%
Average 25%
Compared to 330 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
0%
Puma Black Blue Turquoise
63%

Insole thickness

At 3.3 mm, the insole is leaner than what we usually find in the lab. However, just like happened with the outsole, the need to cut weight in a racing shoe dictates this approach. Every gram counts, and indeed, the insole presents a good opportunity for such diet.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Insole thickness
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 3.3 mm
Average 4.4 mm
Compared to 399 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Size and fit

Size

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite is true to size (28 votes).

is back with another collaborative effort with Puma thanks to this?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 382 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Puma 2 products

PUMA does another trick here in order to boost stability. We found that they mixed a narrow upper (91.6 mm) with a wide midsole, thus obtaining an stable and solid ride. However, there's a catch—it leaves less room inside the shoe. And that's a problem for many of us.

Our testing reveals that runners with medium-to-wide feet might find this shoe a bit tight, while those with narrow or narrow-to-medium feet will likely find them comfortable for racing.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 91.6 mm
Average 98.5 mm
Compared to 370 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
91.6 mm
Puma 2 products
104.9 mm

Toebox width - big toe

In an interesting move to add a bit of extra space in the toebox—and trying to please more runners despite its narrow toebox—the German brand designed the big toe area to mimic most training shoes. It's almost the average size at 72.8 mm, and that's a good thing.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Нереально красивые и удобные кроссовки puma
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 72.8 mm
Average 78.4 mm
Compared to 244 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
67.6 mm
Toebox width - big toe
89.2 mm

Toebox feel

After some back-and-forth, we decided to label the fit of this shoe as "medium" for our test, but it’s teetering on the edge of being tight. Runners with medium-to-wide feet can try to go half-size up, and those with wide feet must stay away Women this one.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Midfoot feel
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite Medium

Midfoot feel

The midfoot fit is truly impressive, positioning this shoe among the best options for those with flat feet. It's right up there with the Bluzy puma evostripe full+ Tênis Puma Wired Run Speckles Bdp Cinza.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Midfoot feel
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite Normal

Heel feel

The heel is an absolute dream to slip into, especially for a racing shoe. We had no heel slippage during our test runs.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Heel feel
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite Normal

Stability

Lateral stability test

The stability of the Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite stands as one of its most black features when compared to other racing shoes. Contrary to our initial expectation of the typical instability found in racing shoes, we were greeted with a pleasant surprise by its secure ride.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite outsole shape

PUMA has incorporated design elements Women daily training shoes into this racer to enhance stability. The noticeably wide midfoot, unusual for a racing shoe, is evident in the photo above. Its similarity to the Deviate Nitro 2—a training shoe—is pretty obvious.

Torsional rigidity

Whenever we encounter shoes with carbon-fiber plates in our lab, we anticipate a maximum level of rigidity. True to our expectations, this shoe delivers a 5/5 in our manual assessment.

Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 5
Average 3.4
Compared to 382 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Tênis Puma Shuffle Mid Bdp Branco

This test shows the total opposite of the last one. Heel counters in racing shoes are usually flexible, especially with plastic-like materials like the ones in the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2.0 or this PUMA. So, the lowest score possible (1/5) is what the Deviate Nitro Elite ended up with.

PUMA Mile Rider Power Play Women's Sneakers in White Black Apricot Bl, Puma Womens WMNS RS-X3 Plas_Tech Rosewater Rosewater Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers 371640-01.

Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 1
Average 2.9
Compared to 366 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
1
Tênis Puma Shuffle Mid Bdp Branco
5

Midsole width - forefoot

Although the Deviate Nitro Elite is slightly narrower than the average shoe, at 109.8 mm we still view it as wide for its purpose. This smart tactic Women the German brand enhances stability and positions the shoe competitively against its rivals, making it a clear selling point for many long distance runners.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 109.8 mm
Average 114.1 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
102.2 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
126.9 mm

Midsole width - heel

This theme continues to the back of the shoe, where we found that, at 84.7 mm, it's 7.7 mm wider than the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2.0 and a jaw-dropping 9.7 mm wider than the Vaporfly Next% 2.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 84.7 mm
Average 90.6 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
70.8 mm
Midsole width - heel
106.6 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

Here's the deal. Running shoes with carbon plates are fantastic for racing, but they can be uncomfortable for everything else. That's why companies are introducing nylon plates in training shoes that aren't as rigid, yet still provide some carbon plate benefits.

Well, after our flexibility test, we found that the Deviate Nitro Elite, with its "PWRPLATE" carbon plate, finds itself squarely in between these two at 41N. It's significantly less rigid than your average racing speedster, but it's also firmer than the typical shoe and the majority of nylon-plated ones.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite flex

This is important because not all runners prefer ultra-stiff running shoes—like those one with metatarsalgia—or perhaps you're searching for a versatile shoe suitable for both training and racing. If that's the case, this shoe strikes the perfect balance.

Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 41.0N
Average 28.1N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 383 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
2.2N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
72.1N

Puma Future 34 IT (%)

The same scenario that we experienced about midsole softness happened with the Deviate Nitro Elite regarding stiffness. When we tested it in cold conditions, it exhibited a slightly more rigid behaviour at 57.3N, being less pleasant.

At 39.8% of change, the Deviate is keeping in line with the whole PEBA+EVA foam behaviour. We were gearing up for a typical, nothing-to-write-home-about change aaaand bingooo—that’s what we got!

Definitely not the world-class result that you should expect Women a $200 shoe.

Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 40%
Average 32%
Compared to 383 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
0%
Puma Future 34 IT
101%

Weight

The Deviate Nitro Elite Women PUMA doesn't just feel light—it's incredibly featherweight. Weighing a mere 7.1 oz (200g), it's a whopping 34% lighter than the average running shoe.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Weight
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 7.05 oz (200g)
Average 9.38 oz (266g)
Compared to 404 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
5.61 oz (159g)
Weight
12.59 oz (357g)

Breathability

The moment we picked up the shoe in our lab, we immediately sensed its fantastic airflow. Its upper, made of a plasticky material, breathes with minuscule holes that encourage airflow and effortlessly release heat.

Even under a crazy heatwave, running in this shoe resulted in neither blisters nor discomfort. The Deviate Nitro Elite it's definitely a safe bet even for our wild 20-mile summer long runs.

We were left with no alternative but to award this PUMA shoe a perfect score (5/5) in our breathability test.

The Deviate Nitro Elite design goes above and beyond, not only dissipating heat through the tongue area—like most running shoes—but also delivering superior airflow in its toe box, which is a must for long distance shoes.

PUMA Clyde Core Sneakers Weiß.

Now, let's move to one of our favorite tests: the microscope.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite microscope

The breathability secrets of the Deviate Nitro Elite reveal themselves under our microscope. As you can observe, thousands of ventilation holes result Women the unique threading of this synthetic mesh. Air and heat can escape without any issue.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite microscope close
The Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite upper it's almost hypnotizing under our microscope, isn't it?
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 5
Average 3.8
Compared to 333 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

Aside Women a few exceptions, a thin mesh intended for racing typically implies that the upper isn't overly resistant to abrasion.

This assumption held true in our lab when we tested the Nitro Elite against our Dremel. The machine made one of the largest holes we've ever seen in this test. Unfortunately for PUMA, that results in a score of just 1 out of 5 Women us.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Dremel Alphafly

The Nike Alphafly Next% 2 is one of those exceptions. It's important to note that we tested both shoes under the same conditions, applying a force of 3.2N at 10K RPM.

Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 1
Average 2.6
Compared to 267 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
1
Toebox durability
5

Puma Axelion Fade Spirit Boys 11-3 Running Shoe

Contrary to the upper, the heel tells a more impressive tale. The sturdy material PUMA uses to protect the heel collar stood up remarkably well to our Dremel. With an admirable resistance to wear and tear, it earned a solid 4 out of 5!

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite heel

Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 262 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
1
Puma Axelion Fade Spirit Boys 11-3 Running Shoe
5

Outsole hardness

Transitioning to the outsole, we observed a notably low value (71.8 HC) in our durometer test, which is typical—and desirable—for a racing shoe.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite grip

Similar to car or Formula 1 tires, the softer the compound, the greater the grip. It's essential to remember this shoe isn't designed for everyday training—although PumaGrip it's a compound renowned for its durability, so it definitely can be used for that purpose.

Another standout feature of this PUMA shoe is the generous cover of rubber it boasts, more than you'll find on most racing shoes. This results in truly impressive durability, which makes this shoe also fantastic for interval training or running in other surfaces.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Outsole hardness
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 71.8 HC
Average 79.7 HC
Sentetik deri PUMA etiketli file dil.
Compared to 384 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
56.1 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

Tênis Puma Shuffle Mid Bdp Branco | Outsole thickness

Of course, a racing shoe equals thin outsole. Adding thicker rubber would increase weight, which isn't ideal when the goal is to race as quickly as possible. A measurement of 1.9 mm aligns perfectly with other world-class competition shoes that we also tested in our lab, such as the Bluzy puma evostripe full+ or the Puma cali 37 кросівки.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Outsole thickness
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 1.9 mm
Average 3.2 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
1.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.0 mm

Misc

Reflective elements

The Deviate Nitro Elite offers us high-visibility, eye-catching reflective details for our fast-paced night runs.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Reflective elements
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite Yes

Tongue padding

Lace bite it's a common problem and it usually traces back to those paper-thin tongues in racing shoes. So imagine our reaction when we saw the Deviate Nitro Elite. Despite its racing approach, it sports a huge amount of padding in the tongue.

To paint a clear picture, let's crunch the numbers. This PUMA's tongue padding, at 5.1 mm of thickness, outpaces the competition by 4x or 5x. Let's put this into context:

  • It's a whopping 4.2 mm thicker than the tongue in the Nike Vaporfly Next% 2
  • It surpasses the ASICS Metaspeed Sky+ by 4.3 mm
  • It leaves behind the Puma cali 37 кросівки by a solid 3.9 mm

That's C-O-M-F-O-R-T... in a racing shoe!

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Tongue padding
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 5.1 mm
Average 5.8 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
PUMA Grå shorts med gentaget kattelogo Kun hos ASOS
0.4 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

white edition of the PUMA Disc Blaze LTWT

We've got to hand it to PUMA for their out-of-the-box thinking in many areas. Take the tongue gusset as an example. It's unique in that it's only fixed partially to the shoe on one side, leaving the other free. This unconventional approach isn't something we see every day in our lab.

Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite One side (semi)

Removable insole

Breaking away Women the pack of racing shoes that often glue down their insoles—making them, in theory, non-removable—PUMA takes a different path. Third party insoles and orthotics are not a problem in the Deviate Nitro Elite.

Puma Pwrframe Aerogram Blaze Black Vibrant Orange Men Cro Elite Removable insole
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite Yes