Puma PUMA ForeverRun Nitro 2 Introduction

These days, stability trainers have the stigma of not being “sexy”. That’s why stability trainers such as the Nike Structure, Saucony Hurricane and the Adidas Supernova Solution are not marketed as stability trainers. Instead, they use descriptors like “guidance”, “support” and “comfort” to convey their benefits. The ForeverRun is another one of these light stability trainers in disguise.

Stability trainers are often firmer, heavier and stiffer than neutral trainers. Some of them also have an arch-poking sensation, which not many runners enjoy. I am an over pronator but I normally stay away from stability trainers.

I find that modern, neutral trainers have enough stability for my running gait and I’ve been fortunate enough to not get any injuries from only using neutral trainers.

The last “stability” trainer that I reviewed was the Nike Structure 25. I wasn’t a fan of the prominent arch-poking feeling that I got whenever I ran in the shoe. I have flat arches and the prominent arch support of the Structure 25 was a bit too overbearing. I prefer stability to be provided by a wide base or lateral sidewalls.

The ForeverRun 2 is the only “stability” trainer in Puma’s performance range. It has the same price as the Magnify 2, which is their neutral, max-cushioned trainer. It has stack heights of 36 mm/26 mm and weighs 292 g (10.3 oz) for a men’s UK 8. It weighs 20 grams (0.7 oz) more than the original ForeverRun but has the same $150 price.

Puma PUMA ForeverRun Nitro 2 First Impressions

My first run was a 40 kilometre long run. For the first couple of kilometres, the medial side of my right ankle felt slightly uncomfortable- as if it was forcing my ankle to not roll inward. It wasn’t painful but it’s not a feeling that I was used to. This feeling came and went throughout the long run.

I was surprised how responsive the midsole felt. I could easily pick up the pace for short bursts. The Nitrofoam midsole provided a firm platform to push off from.

From 25 kilometres onwards, my feet started to hurt. It felt like there wasn’t enough cushioning in the forefoot and I had to concentrate on landing further back to relieve the pressure on my toes. The remaining 15 kilometres wasn’t comfortable.

The fit was good but I had to stop a couple times to loosen the laces. I felt some lace bite on the top of my feet. The interior felt a lot roomier than other Pumas I’ve tried.

Puma PUMA ForeverRun Nitro 2 Upper

The ForeverRun 2’s upper has some flaws that prevent it from being truly comfortable. Its biggest flaw is its thin tongue which has no padding. When I tie the laces normally, I can feel the lace pressure on the top of my feet which is really painful. To remedy this, I have to loosen the laces, which makes the heel feel too loose. The tongue also doesn’t have any lace loops on it so it slides downwards during runs.

The other flaw is that due to its knitted collar which has a wide opening (rolled collar), I find that small stones and debris fall into the shoe during the run and this makes it feel uncomfortable. I often have to stop to take the shoe off and empty out the debris.

It’s made from a new, thick, circular knit upper which has some stretch so it conforms to your feet. The downside is that this new knit material isn’t very breathable so it’s best suited to cool climates.

It fits true to size and is more accommodating than most Puma trainers/racers. It should be suitable for runners with wide feet but runners with high volume feet might find the lace pressure painful.

Puma PUMA ForeverRun Nitro 2 Sole Unit

The ForeverRun 2 midsole is made up entirely of Nitrofoam and it’s a dual-density setup. The core is a softer, plusher foam and the outer rim is a firmer foam to provide support. The energy return is decent but nothing to get exciting about. Overall, it has a firm ride without much compression. This results in a stable base without any lean bias.

I find the ride a bit too firm for long distances beyond 25 kilometres. Even though it has high stack heights of 36 mm in the heel, 26 mm in the forefoot, it doesn’t possess much long-distance comfort so it’s more suited to short and middle distance runs.

Due to the firmness of its ride, it has the ability to pick up the pace. Steady runs feel comfortable, and even short, fast intervals are doable although it has a substantial 292 g weight so I wouldn’t do any racing in it.

The foot guidance is noticeable, particularly in the rearfoot where the thick TPU heel clip is. Whenever I run in it, the medial side of my heel that usually overpronates feels like it’s bruised. This is because it’s used to doing whatever it feels like in a neutral shoe. In this shoe, it’s forced to not roll inward. It might take some more time for my feet to get used to this guidance during landings.

There are no raised midsole sidewalls to provide guidance but the stout TPU heel clip in the rear of the shoe guides your heel as it strikes the ground. The midsole of the ForeverRun 2 is wider than its predecessor. This change increases the level of support but also increases the weight.

The outsole is my favourite component of the ForeverRun 2. It has plenty of thick Pumagrip rubber and the forefoot is segmented so it allows for more natural transitions. The thick rubber is durable and feels tacky in both dry and wet conditions.

Puma PUMA ForeverRun Nitro 2 Conclusions

The ForeverRun 2 provides a bit too much support and guidance for my running gait. This is evident by the inner heel discomfort that I experience whenever I run in it. I prefer to give my feet a little more freedom to land more naturally without the guidance.

I also prefer a softer, plusher ride with more long-distance comfort that I can use for my long-distance training runs. The lack of forefoot cushioning hurt my feet during my 40K long run.

The new upper feels a bit unpolished: the thin tongue doesn’t provide enough protection from lace bite and the rolled knit collar allows debris to fall into the shoe, making it uncomfortable.

I did enjoy the absence of a poking arch sensation since I have flat arches. I really like the outsole which provides excellent traction and durability and the fit is also more spacious than most of the Pumas I’ve tried which is a nice change.