Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail Review
By Matthew Klein
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite TrailPrice: $229.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 9.6 oz, 272g (men's size 9), 8.0 oz, 227g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 37 mm heel / 31 mm forefoot
Drop: 6 mm
Shoe Purpose: Super Trail Racing Shoe
Pros: Secure Fit, Snappy Fast Ride, Road/Trail Hybrid Versatility
Cons: Lacks grip on technical terrain
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail is a super shoe for a variety of surfaces. A full-length Nitro Elite ATPU foam combined with a carbon composite PWRPLATE makes for a snappy ride that runs far lighter than the listed weight. An Ultraweave upper provides a snug, low volume, racing fit for security. A Pumagrip outsole provides traction from the road to smooth trails. The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail is a fast, racing option for hybrid road/trail conditions and smoother trails.
SIMILAR SHOES: Saucony Endorphin Edge
PAST MODEL: New Model
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail fits me true to size in my normal men's US size 10. The overall fit is slightly snug and lower volume, fitting as most racing shoes do. The Ultraweave upper is thin but secure. This is secured by the PWRTAPE bands in the upper that lock the midfoot down well. The toe box is tapered but opens into a low volume and slightly snug forefoot. The midfoot is also slightly snug with a thin but gusseted tongue. I did not have to tie the laces that tight for a secure fit and they do a great job of pulling from the PWRTAPE bands to secure the foot. The instep is lower for those who are sensitive. The heel fits snug with only thin padding around the heel collar. The heel counter is stiff and noticeable. While it is rounded, those with sensitive heels or Haglund deformities may not do well, while those wanting a stiff counter will do great. While the upper is quite secure, the inner liner is fairly scratchy. This is not a shoe I would use sockless but it is great for fast running and varied terrain as it seems to grip socks well.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Not Flexible
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Somewhat
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail is a super trail that also has the hybrid capacity to handle road. The midsole is full-length Nitro Elite, which apparently is an ATPU foam. This creates a snappy and highly responsive ride that makes this shoe feel far lighter than its listed weight. Picking up the pace is amazing in this shoe and I used it for far more road workouts than I was expecting. The heel drop is moderate at 6mm although it feels closer to 7-8mm with the posterior heel flare. The rearfoot flare is offset by a decent slightly posterior heel bevel. Initially, the rearfoot is a bit clunky but as it breaks in, this smooths out. This transitions into a quick midfoot and a smooth but snappy forefoot.
At slower speeds the forefoot is a little stiff with the PWRPLATE. There is no real flexibility up front so those with toe mobility issues may do well. This is offset by a long but subtle forefoot rocker but the ride feels best when the pace picks up and snaps off the front of the shoe. The Deviate Nitro Elite Trail can do moderate efforts but it comes most alive when running faster. I have run tempo runs, long intervals on trail, road and track, short fartleks, a few easy runs and a long run in this shoe. It comes more alive the faster you go and really excels at uptempo efforts and faster. The outsole lugs are not aggressive, so using these on road has not been a problem. This makes this shoe a great door to trail option and hybrid road/trail option. Where it starts to struggle is on more technical terrain. The lugs are not deep enough to grip into mud or super soft dirt.
The outsole and ride do far better on well-groomed trails and fire roads that are not technical. I have been able to hammer some runs on smooth trails but have found myself wishing for a bit more stable and gripping ride for technical terrain. Soft sand, soft muddy dirt, steep climbs overly rocky terrain have been difficult given the smooth outsole and smaller lugs. The outsole has held up well though despite my extensive road use. I have 50 miles on my pair with only slight wear on the lugs. The PUMAGRIP ATR rubber is durable and grips well on smooth surfaces. The midsole, like most PUMA midsoles, has actually gotten better with more miles. At first it was a tiny bit firm but has slightly softened while almost becoming more responsive. As someone who doesn't do that much technical running and loves running fast over a variety of terrain, this has been a great shoe. I can also see this being a great XC racer for those wanting a super shoe but not being able to handle the super XC flats out there. It isn't the lightest shoe out there but can still move.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail is a neutral shoe. There are no traditional methods of stability. There are mild sidewalls in the rearfoot and the PWRPLATE does provide some stiffness that makes the shoe inherently stable. The last of the shoe is not the widest and the midfoot does taper slightly. The sole flare in the heel and the forefoot add a surprising amount of centeredness with flare both medially and laterally. This is more present in the forefoot than the heel, which combined with the plate stiffness and smooth forefoot transition makes things a bit more guided up front. The midsole foam is not mushy, which combined with the geometry keeps up bouncing forward. So while this is a neutral shoe, some mild guidance elements are present in the forefoot.
Thoughts as a DPT: Shoe "Speed" is Relative
By Matthew Klein
I have enjoyed the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail for something it was not intended for: faster workouts on the roads. Its design is so similar to road super shoes and super trainers that despite a trail type outsole, I have enjoyed it on the pavement. I have obviously also tested them on a variety of other surfaces, especially the smoother trails in rural Oregon. On smooth fire roads, they have been equally fast, feeling like super shoes with a bit more traction. As soon as I got to more technical terrain, they no longer felt fast. While light and responsive, a shoe is only as fast as its appropriateness for the terrain and your ability to use it. As someone with a little less experience on technical terrain, my footwork isn't quite as good as seasoned trail athletes. Therefore, I tend to slow down to adjust my footing and stay safe. With that terrain, I would opt for something heavier, less bouncy and with better lugs. Another person may have a different experience, but that speaks to my ability to both use the tool (shoe) and adapt to the terrain.
The same can be said of any shoe. Just because a shoe is labeled "fast' by marketing, you as an individual need to determine if that tool is really right for you. Something you have difficulty controlling, like many recreational runners experience with aggressive road super shoes, may actually NOT be as fast as a super trainer or something that matches your abilities and the task at hand. While weight, midsole, geometry, etc can all be factors that play into speed, each person will respond differently to them. Therefore, it is most important to learn what is fast for you and what you plan to use your shoes for, rather than what a shoe may be advertised for. The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail is certainly fast and I have enjoyed it, but where it is fast seems best on smooth trails and hybrid surfaces, which may be different for those with more trail experience.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: I have really enjoyed the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite trail. Surprisingly, I have enjoyed it more on road than on trail. It reminds me somewhat of the original Puma Deviate Nitro Elite, which I know a few people have prototype pairs of that shoe with a trail outsole. This is definitely one of the faster and snappier trail super shoes out there but I think it needs to decide if it is a trail shoe or hybrid shoe. The lugs work decently on smooth trail but don't provide enough traction for more technical terrain. My major suggestion is therefore to deepen the lugs for more technical trails UNLESS the goal is to keep this shoe more surface versatile. Of all the trail super shoes, this shoe has been the best at handling both road and trail. If the goal is to make this a high-performing trail shoe, then the lugs will need to be a bit deeper.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail is a super trail shoe for hybrid surfaces and smoother trail faster runs and races. The midsole will be best for those wanting a snappy and responsive ride that works better the faster you go, especially at uptempo/tempo paces and faster. The fit is best for those with normal to narrow feet wanting a lower volume shoe that is secure. The grip will be best for smoother surfaces, where you still want to go fast and don't have to deal with technical trails. This is definitely a racing shoe but has enough versatility and durability to also handle workouts. As referenced above, it may also be a great option for those used to super shoes on roads and want something similar for cross-country races without getting as aggressive as a super XC spike. Although expensive, the sub-$250 price tag is great for a trail super shoe that has both trail and road versatility. It's actual purpose on technical trails may be more person-specific and it may function better for those with more road experience running/racing on less technical terrain. Regardless, it is still a fast and fun shoe and represents a unique shoe in the trail market that blends more influence from the road than others out there.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: A- (Snug lower volume fit that is secure. Heel counter a bit harsh)
Performance: A- (A fast and snappy shoe that runs well over road and smooth trail. Less capacity on technical terrain but can still move if you have good trail experience)
Stability: B+ [Neutral] (Mild guidance from sole flare in the forefoot but mostly a neutral shoe)
Value: B+ ($230 is great for a trail super shoe that can also handle the road. As a pure trail shoe it does not have as much versatility on technical terrain as others)
Personal: B+ (A fun fast shoe for workouts on road/trail but would only be my choice for racing over shorter smooth fire road or smooth trail)
Overall Design: B+
SHOP | SUPPORT DORPuma Deviate Nitro Elite TrailPrice: $229.95 at Running Warehouse
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