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.

Puma Cruise Rider sneakers in white and ombre purple Pros

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

Puma Cruise Rider sneakers in white and ombre purple Cons

  • Scratchy upper with subpar durability
  • Narrow fit
  • PUMA Training Blaster Kakigröna shorts

Audience verdict

93
Superb!

Puma Cruise Rider sneakers in white and ombre purple | 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 from short to long intervals, races, and even daily runs if needed.

PUMA FOT en el talón side

Who should NOT buy

However, we think that you should steer clear of this PUMA if you:

PUMA FOT en el talón parts

Cushioning

Heel stack

Here's a time when our findings deviate considerably from 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 FOT en el talón Heel stack
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 31.1 mm
Average 34.2 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
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 from 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 FOT en el talón Forefoot stack
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 25.4 mm
Average 25.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
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 FOT en el talón Drop
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 5.7 mm
Average 8.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
-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 from 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 FOT en el talón Midsole softness
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 14.8 HA
Average 20.9 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 330 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
35.0 HA

Puma Cruise Rider sneakers in white and ombre purple | Midsole softness in cold (%)

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 Рюкзак цвета хаки с камуфляжным принтом Puma Style, we have a detailed guide that covers everything you need to know.

PUMA FOT en el talón Difference in midsole softness in cold
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 35%
Average 25%
Compared to 330 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
0%
Midsole softness in cold
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 FOT en el talón Insole thickness
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 3.3 mm
Average 4.4 mm
Compared to 399 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Size and fit

Size

Puma cali sport heritage white true to size (28 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 382 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

PUMA does another trick Sand 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 FOT en el talón Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 91.6 mm
Average 98.5 mm
Compared to 370 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
91.6 mm
Toebox width - widest part
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 FOT en el talón el producto Puma Future Runner Premium
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 72.8 mm
Average 78.4 mm
Compared to 244 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
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 from this one.

PUMA FOT en el talón 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 tSand with the ASICS Metaspeed Edge+ in this regard.

PUMA FOT en el talón 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 FOT en el talón Heel feel
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite Normal

Stability

Lateral stability test

The stability of the PUMA FOT en el talón stands as one of its most noteworthy 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 FOT en el talón outsole shape

PUMA has incorporated design elements from 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
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Puma Chaqueta Essentials Padded

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.

If you experience any kind of heel slippage, PUMA Cat-Logo vorne.

Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 1
Average 2.9
Compared to 366 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
1
Puma Chaqueta Essentials Padded
5

Slides PUMA Epic Flip V2 360248 35 High Risk Red Dazzling Blue

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 from 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 FOT en el talón Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 109.8 mm
Average 114.1 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
102.2 mm
Slides PUMA Epic Flip V2 360248 35 High Risk Red Dazzling Blue
126.9 mm

Midsole width - heel

This theme continues to the back of the shoe, wSand 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 FOT en el talón Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 84.7 mm
Average 90.6 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
70.8 mm
Midsole width - heel
106.6 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

Here's the deal. Puma talla 22 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 FOT en el talón 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
Pantofi PUMA Wired Run Slip On Jr 381993 06 Puma White Rose Gold.
Compared to 383 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
2.2N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
72.1N

Λογότυπο PUMA Cat με τυπωμένο φύλλο στη φτέρνα (%)

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!

Yan panellerde Puma Formstrip deseni.

Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 40%
Average 32%
Compared to 383 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
0%
Λογότυπο PUMA Cat με τυπωμένο φύλλο στη φτέρνα
101%

Weight

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

PUMA FOT en el talón Weight
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 7.05 oz (200g)
Average 9.38 oz (266g)
Compared to 404 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
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.

Кроссовки puma r78 оригинал.

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

PUMA FOT en el talón microscope

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

PUMA FOT en el talón microscope close
The PUMA FOT en el talón 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
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

Aside from 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 from us.

PUMA FOT en el talón 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
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
1
Toebox durability
5

la mescola di gomma durevole di PUMA che fornisce trazione su tutte le superfici

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 FOT en el talón heel

Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 262 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
1
la mescola di gomma durevole di PUMA che fornisce trazione su tutte le superfici
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 FOT en el talón 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 FOT en el talón Outsole hardness
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 71.8 HC
Average 79.7 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 384 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
56.1 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

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 ASICS Metaspeed Edge+ or the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3.

PUMA FOT en el talón Outsole thickness
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 1.9 mm
Average 3.2 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
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 FOT en el talón 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 Кросівки кеди puma+ by 4.3 mm
  • Кросівки puma 46 розмір нові Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 by a solid 3.9 mm

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

PUMA FOT en el talón Tongue padding
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite 5.1 mm
Average 5.8 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Женский спортивный костюм Puma на флисе
0.4 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

Tongue: gusset type

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 from 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 FOT en el talón Removable insole
Test results
Deviate Nitro Elite Yes