Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 Introduction

Edna Kiplagat secured bronze at the Boston Marathon in April 2024. This is PUMA’s first podium spot at a World Marathon Major in decades. She was wearing the Deviate Nitro Elite 3 during that race.

PUMA says that the Deviate Nitro Elite is their lightest and their fastest shoe and that it’s designed for runners with a high cadence or a high turnover. Their other racer, the Fast-R is designed for runners who have a longer, more powerful, bounding stride.

I tested the Deviate Nitro Elite 2 two years ago and I didn’t think it was a top-tier racer. It had a midsole which was thinner than most super shoes (36mm/30mm) and it didn’t have a very prominent forefoot rocker. In my opinion, it didn’t provide as much speed assistance as top-tier racers.

While most brands are changing to PEBA midsoles in their racers and some of the trainers, PUMA is doing the opposite. Both the PUMA Deviate Nitro 2 and Deviate Nitro Elite 2 had nitrogen-infused PEBA midsoles but they have changed to aliphatic (open chain structure) TPU midsoles in their latest versions.

The Deviate Nitro Elite 3 weighs 6.8 oz (194 g). This is 0.6 oz (17 g) lighter than the Deviate NItro Elite 2. It also has 4 mm more stack height in the heel and 2 mm more in the forefoot. It costs $230, $30 more than v2.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 First Impressions

My first run in the Deviate Nitro Elite 3 was a hill sprints workout. I noticed the deeper cushioning right off the bat. It felt like a beefed up version of the Deviate Nitro Elite 2.

It felt faster than its predecessor but I still didn’t feel much of a forefoot rocker. It reminded me a bit of the Nike Vaporfly 3. I didn’t notice a big difference between the new midsole foam and the previous one. The new foam felt slightly firmer but more substantial.

I was most impressed with the new upper. It was so comfortable that it felt like it was designed specifically for my feet.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 Upper

When it comes to uppers, the Deviate Elite 3 is one of the more comfortable on the market but it has a snug, racing fit that’s not very accommodating. It’s made from mono-mesh which is hard and feels like plastic, similar to the Deviate Elite 2. Breathability is average for a racing shoe and it doesn’t absorb much liquid.

The flat tongue is gusseted so there’s no movement during running. The collar and heel tab are lightly padded, and heel lockdown is very good. Unfortunately, there is no reflectivity on the upper like on version 2.

The fit is very narrow, especially in the midfoot so it’s not suitable for wide feet. I recommend going true to size although it’s slightly longer than most running shoes. If you prefer less space in the front of your toes, you can probably go down a half size but only if you have very narrow feet.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 Sole Unit

By changing from supercritical PEBA to aliphatic TPU, PUMA has managed to increase the stack height while also reducing the weight; that’s a win-win. With 40 mm in the heel, the Deviate Elite 3 feels more like a marathon super shoe than its predecessor and I could easily run a marathon in it.

Using a thicker midsole, the carbon plate can also be steeper and more curved. The plate feels more prominent, and more noticeable than in version 2 which is a change that I like. It still doesn’t have a high toe-spring so there isn’t much of a rocker.

PUMA says that the new midsole foam has 93% energy return compared to the previous version which was 83% but when compared to the top super foams from other brands, PUMA’s Nitro Elite foam doesn’t compress and rebound as much. It feels denser which results in a less bouncy, flatter ride.

They also state that this new foam compound retains its cushioning over the entirety of a marathon while most foams start to break down from kilometre 32. I did a 35 km long run in the Deviate Elite 3 and by the end of the run, the foam still felt fresh and well-cushioned. This is my favourite feature of the Elite 3.

One of the cons is that it has a very narrow base and during some runs, I can feel the edges of the midsole where parts of my feet hang over the edge. It doesn’t cause me any blisters but it’s slightly annoying. I have very narrow feet so this narrowness could be a big problem for some runners with wide feet. It’s also not particularly stable.

The Deviate Elite 3 works best as a marathon racer or long tempo run trainer: it’s lightweight and it feels like an extension of your feet, it just disappears. It also feels decent on easy or steady paces so it’s relatively versatile. It doesn’t have enough ‘pop’ for the shorter, faster stuff like intervals or V02 max workouts due to its midsole foam and lack of a rocker.

The one thing I’ve been really disappointed with is build quality. The upper is already starting to separate from the midsole in the forefoot and there’s a gap forming on the medial side. I experienced this same issue with the PUMA Fast-R 2. When I reached out to PUMA, they said that this problem had been fixed in production but it clearly hasn’t because the Deviate Elite 3 also has this issue.

The traction of the Deviate Elite 3 is superb. I used it during a heavy downpour and had no slipping issues. The rubber and exposed midsole is also very durable so it can be used for a lot of training runs.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 Conclusions

Sometimes it’s good to take the path less travelled but when it comes to midsole foam choice, I don’t think that PUMA should have changed from PEBA to TPU. The Deviate Elite 3 doesn’t feel as bouncy or as lively as some of the other top-tier racers.

We’ve seen New Balance change to PEBA in their SC Elite v4 earlier this year, improving it by leaps and bounds.

Adidas also created the Adios Pro Evo 1 using PEBA which is the new force that’s wreaking havoc on marathon podiums.

I enjoy running in the Deviate Elite 3. It’s a good racer but it isn’t amazing. A lot of runners will be happy with it as a marathon racer (especially considering its ability to retain cushioning over long distances) but I didn’t fall in love with it. Midsole foam aside, I think if it had a more aggressive rocker, I would enjoy it a lot more. The rocker is what makes it feel less like a racing flat and more like a super shoe.

There are a lot of PUMA elite runners currently performing well in the Deviate Elite 3 on the world stage. The previous version of the Deviate Elite felt more like a racing flat because of its thin midsole but with the added stack height in the new version, it feels a lot more competitive. It gives you the proper super shoe experience.

Version 3 is an improvement over version 2 in almost every way: it’s lighter, more cushioned, more comfortable and it has a more aggressive plate setup so it feels faster. It costs a lot more though so it doesn’t represent good value like its predecessor, especially considering its low build quality. It still however costs $20 less than the average super shoe.

I prefer the Deviate Elite 3 to the Fast R-2. It transitions from heel to forefoot faster due to the continuous midsole. It suits heel strikers like me better and it feels smoother. It feels nimbler and more agile than the Fast R-2 because of its lighter weight. It’s also $30 cheaper than the Fast R-2.