Puma Deviate Nitro 4 Review
By David Salas & Andrea Myers
Puma Deviate Nitro 4Price: $169.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 8.8 oz, 250 g (men's size 9), 7.2 oz, 205g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 38 mm heel / 30 mm forefoot
Drop: 8 mm
Shoe Purpose: Lightweight trainer, uptempo training runs
Pros: Very responsive, supportive upper that is still performance leaning, wider forefoot fit
Cons: Forefoot plate is very stiff and needs to line up with individual, heel bevel could be smoother, compliant midfoot plus stiff forefoot results in a feeling of fighting the shoe when running (Andrea)
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 is a versatile lightweight trainer that is intended for uptempo training runs. This shoe can serve as a training companion to the respective super racing shoe during your training efforts before the race. The Deviate Nitro 4 uses NITROFOAM, a nitrogen-infused midsole that is very responsive underfoot while maintaining good cushioning. There is a carbon fiber composite plate throughout the length of the shoe that is very stiff through the forefoot. The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 is a lightweight training shoe that can turn up the pace. Due to some of the stiffness of the forefoot and the placement of the rocker, the runner will have to try it out to see if it lines up with their mechanics.
SIMILAR SHOES: Nike Zoom Fly 6, Saucony Endorphin Speed 5
PAST MODEL: Puma Deviate Nitro 3
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
David: The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 fits true to size in my men's 9.5. The engineered mesh upper uses nice materials that feels surprisingly soft for how light and reinforced they are. The Deviate Nitro 4 has a performance fit with slightly lower volume throughout. This gives off a slightly snug fit throughout the shoe. The width in the the heel and midfoot are normal, with the forefoot being slightly wide. The tongue is moderately padded for a lightweight trainer. It did a great job of preventing biting from the laces. The heel collar is also moderately padded, and I had no issues with heel slippage or foot translation in this upper. The upper runs secure and comfortable. The only thing I could see altered in this shoe is either slightly increasing the volume through the midfoot or the altering the positioning of the Puma logo overlay. I didn't mind the slightly snug fit, but the overlay is pretty thick and I could definitely feel it resting on the outside of my foot standing and running. After a few miles I would forget about it, but the slight pressure of the overlay was present every time I donned the shoe.
David's Typical Size: Men's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit David well: Nike Vomero 17, Saucony Ride 16, Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Arahi 7
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon Aero Glide
Andrea: The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 fits true to size in my usual women's 9.5. I have a full thumb's width between the front of my big toe and the end of the shoe, and the forefoot is just wide enough that I did not experience any pressure on my 1st or 5th MTP. The toe box is not quite as roomy as the original Puma MagMax Nitro, but enough that I found it comfortable. The thin, gusseted tongue has slightly thicker areas of padding closest to the ankle. I did not experience any discomfort from the laces, but I suspect this could be a source of discomfort for those more sensitive in this area. The midfoot is on the narrower side and the rearfoot is normal width. The midfoot platform is narrower than the midfoot upper, and I was aware of my medial midfoot hanging over the side of the shoe, although it was not a source of actual discomfort. The rearfoot features a semi rigid heel counter with plastic overlays that wrap around the medial and lateral aspect of the heel, and there is a moderate amount of internal padding. I have no complaints about the fit of the Deviate Nitro 4, and I particularly like the wider and more squared off toe box.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: Brooks Hyperion Max 1 and 2, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, ASICS Novablast 4 and 5, PUMA MagMax Nitro
Shoes that have fit snug: Altra Escalante 4 (toe box width and volume), Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and 3 (length), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-4 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mild (midfoot)
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Average
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: No
Recommended for Sockless: Potentially
Durability Expectation: Good
PERFORMANCE
David: The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 is an interesting experience. The shoe certainly does its job of being a lightweight and responsive training shoe, though the runner's mechanics will have to line up with the platform. The carbon composite plate is incredibly stiff in the forefoot, and the forefoot rocker starts pretty early. If this rocker point lines up with your metatarsal heads, you will pivot over it just fine and everything will be nice. If not, it can feel like your fighting the plate of a track spike and it will be difficult to get up and over it. The heel has an average transition. There is a slight heel bevel that is not anything dramatic. It can feel a touch bumpy at easy paces with the transition getting smoother as the pace picks up. With that said, the shoe can certainly run at all paces, but it likes to go fast. I found the shoe to feel its best at tempo efforts/paces and faster.
The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 does use NITROFOAM, a nitrogen infused midsole. The NITROFOAM midsole does run on the softer side and has a good amount of bounce when it is loaded. The 38mm of stack in the heel does feel like it has plenty of cushioning for any effort that you want to throw at it. However, the forefoot can feel quite firm at 30mm of stack height when it is combined with the really stiff carbon plate. I can feel myself pivoting over the plate. The PUMAGRIP outsole is very grippy underfoot and seems durable. I have not been able to make a dent in the outsole yet. I anticipate good durability for the Puma Deviate Nitro 4.
The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 does its job very well, but it can be a problem if it does not line up with your mechanics. This is one of those shoes where you will just have to try it on and see. For me, the shoe works well enough, though I would like a touch more flexibility in the forefoot. I would also like to see a touch more rounding through the heel to make for smoother transitions at easier paces too.
Andrea: The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 is a lighter weight shoe that feels more like a daily trainer than a true performance trainer/potential racing shoe. I am very happy with the updated fit of version 4, as the toe box of version 3 was so narrow I couldn't run in it. The feature of version 4 that stands out most while running is the extremely stiff forefoot. I felt like I was fighting the forefoot design, even at easy paces, and it felt like I had to climb out of the midfoot of the shoe due to the unfortunate pairing of a more compliant midfoot and a stiff forefoot. This sensation worsened when running faster than easy pace.
My first test run was 6 miles with some short pickups in the middle of the run. My perceived exertion for marathon-half marathon pace was much higher in this shoe because it felt like I had to push harder with my calves to transition to push off. I was also aware of the shoe flexing at initial contact at the lateral midfoot. While the platform of the Deviate Nitro 4 is quite stiff, the lack of outsole rubber in the midfoot allows the midsole to compress more in this region. This made for an awkward transition to the very stiff forefoot into push off for me. I limited all of my subsequent runs in the shoe to short, easy runs due to its poor performance at faster paces for me. These were more tolerable, but I remained aware of the uncomfortable midfoot to forefoot transition.
The shoe feels like its stated 8mm drop, but I did not feel like the rearfoot got in the way of midfoot landings due to the small heel bevel. The NITROFOAM midsole provides sufficient compliance at initial contact to prevent midfoot landings from feeling harsh, and there is noticeable bounce at push off, even at easier paces. Unfortunately, the foam properties are not enough to overcome the stiff forefoot platform for me.
Like most Puma shoes, the POWERGRIP outsole rubber provides excellent traction on wet roads and when running through grass or dirt. There is no visible wear on the outsole rubber and a small amount of wear on the exposed midsole in the lateral midfoot. I would expect higher than average durability out of the Deviate Nitro 4.
VIDEO: Matt compares the Deviate Nitro 4 to the Nike Zoom Fly 6
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
David: Despite the really stiff plate, the Puma Deviate Nitro 4 is certainly a neutral shoe. The platform width is very normal underfoot. The NITROFOAM is on the softer side. There is some mild sole flaring throughout the platform with minimal sidewalls integrated. The security of the upper and the traction of the outsole do help with stability elements though. The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 does not run unstable, but it is neutral across the board.
Andrea: The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 is a neutral shoe with mild forward guidance features. While the rearfoot and midfoot are narrow, the forefoot platform is wider and has a moderate amount of sole flare that is wider laterally than medially. The forefoot rocker also provides mild guidance into push off, although its effects are somewhat negated by the transition from the more compliant midfoot into the much stiffer forefoot. However, the overall ride of the shoe is quite neutral and this shoe will not work for those with significant stability needs.
Thoughts as a DPT: Basic Considerations for Shoe Selection for the Consumer
By David Salas, PT, DPT, CSCS
Now more than ever, selecting the right shoe to purchase can feel overwhelming. It can feel like every shoe is the lightest, bounciest, most cushioned shoe ever created by the respective company. When selecting a shoe, try to look past a lot of the marketing and shift your eyes towards the design concepts and elements. This is where you will be able to tease out which shoe is right for you. Not necessarily because certain concepts are better than others, but because it may line up with what you naturally lean towards.
Most companies these days will have a basic layout of what is in their shoe, with multiple photos at different angles. You can read the specifications and the basics of what is in each shoe. Some shoes will have large rocker profiles, while others may not. Some may be plated, while others not plated. Even amongst the plated shoes, some may have more flexible plates than others. Finding the ideal balance for you is pinnacle. I would advise you look back on all of the shoes that have worked for you so far that you have liked. Take a moment to think about what it is about those shoes specifically that you liked. If you are deviating from that model, look for shoes that share similar elements.
This study was in response to the Nike Vaporfly 4%, but Healey & Hoogkamer (2022) found that decreasing longitudinal bending stiffness had minimal impacts on overall running economy. Rather, the combination of geometry, foam, plate design, etc. are most likely contributing to improved performance in these types of performance shoes. I bring this up because I can think of several shoes that are in the same category of the Puma Deviate Nitro 4, but with different experiences. I mentioned in the review earlier that you will have to see if the stiff forefoot plate in the Puma Deviate Nitro 4 works for you, as this is one of the stiffer plates that I have tried. If you like really stiff plates then there are no issues. But there other shoes like the Nike Zoom Fly 6 (carbon plated but more flexible) and the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 (pebax plated) that run more flexible in the forefoot that also act as training companion footwear. There is also the new Saucony Endorphin Speed Azura (non plated) that can fit its way into this category as well. This also bleeds into slight geometric differences between shoes, but there are many options out there accomplishing their job well. As a consumer, look at the small things that you like in your shoes. Take that information and apply it to help you with your next shoe choice.
RECOMMENDATIONS
David: I think the Puma Deviate Nitro 4 can fine tune some things. The fit through the midfoot isn't bad, but I can feel the Puma logo overlay on the side of my foot every time I lace the shoe up. This feeling is usually present walking around, and for the beginning of my runs. I would like to see that cleaned up. I would also like to see the forefoot be a touch more flexible. I understand having the stiff plate for responsiveness, but it is to the point where you really have to land and roll through the forefoot in a specific way for the shoe to line up for you.
Andrea: The updated fit of the Puma Deviate Nitro 4 is a good improvement over the narrow and low volume toe box of version 3. However, the more compliant midfoot platform combined with the very firm forefoot platform result in an awkward transition that increased my rate of perceived exertion in this shoe, particularly at faster paces. I would recommend making the forefoot more flexible, perhaps by incorporating flex grooves in the outsole rubber or by reworking the plate design.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
David: The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 is a lightweight training shoe with plenty of responsiveness for uptempo workouts and can serve as a training companion to a super racing shoe. It will be a shoe for those that like really stiff plates through the forefoot and have neutral mechanics. The Deviate Nitro 4 can run at slower paces too, but it certainly feels best when the pace picks up. The big thing with this shoe is the plate and the forefoot mechanics. If you pivot off the metatarsal heads well in this shoe, you will most likely love it. If you don't, this can feel like a plate that you are fighting to get up and over it. The rocker leans towards early stage in the forefoot for reference. This is one of those shoes where you will just have to try it on.
Andrea: The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 features an unusual combination of a compliant midfoot sandwiched between a stiff rearfoot and forefoot. For midfoot strikers like myself, the result is a feeling of working harder to transition from initial contact to push off. Rearfoot strikers may have a similar issue, although the compliance being located in mid stance as opposed to initial contact may make it a more comfortable shoe for those who land further back, or rearfoot strikers may similarly find it difficult to climb out of the softer midfoot. I agree with David that this is a shoe you will definitely need to take for a test run before buying. The wider toe box is a big improvement over version 3 and will result in version 4 fitting more people. At $170, I think this shoe is overpriced due to its lackluster performance. I would rather do 100 workouts in my $140 Brooks Hyperion 2 than 1 workout in the Deviate Nitro 4. It's 2026 and I hope it is quite clear to our readers at this point that the presence of a plate and "super foam" does not mean a shoe will perform well.
GRADES
David
Fit: A- (Good dimensions throughout. Good lockdown without sacrificing upper comfort. Midfoot overlay gently presses into the lateral side of my foot though. It goes away after some miles, but present every time.)
Performance: B+/A- (Very responsive, good cushioning, forefoot may be overly stiff for some, heel bevel could be smoother for easy paces)
Stability: B- (Not bad, not great. Gentle sole flaring. Great traction. Good upper lockdown. Softer foam. Normal width platform.)
Value: A- (If it works for you, you'll get plenty of miles out of this shoe.)
Personal: B (If the forefoot was a touch more flexible this shoe could push into the A range. I'd like a touch more heel rounding too.)
Overall Design: B+
Andrea
Fit: A (Wider toe box, sufficient length, and secure and comfortable midfoot and rearfoot)
Performance: C (I had a much higher rate of perceived exertion when running in this shoe, particularly at faster paces, due to the more compliant midfoot and stiff forefoot. Not a shoe I enjoyed running in.)
Stability: [neutral] B (A neutral shoe with minimal guidance features.)
Value: B- (Even if this shoe worked well for someone, it feels more like a trainer than a true cross over performance trainer/racer. I think it should be priced in the $140-150 range.)
Personal: C- (Midfoot and forefoot design do not work with my mechanics. It was more difficult for me to run in this shoe due to the extra work I had to do to transition from initial contact to push off.)
Overall Design: B-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORPuma Deviate Nitro 4Price: $169.95 at Running Warehouse
Shop Men | Shop Women
*Using the link to purchase helps support Doctors of Running. Thanks so much!
Check out Gear We Love
Naked Belt The best way to carry your phone and goods on the run. No bounce and various sizes for waist.
Saysky Running Gear: We were really taken aback by this Scandinavian company's ultra-thin, durable performance clothing
Skratch Recovery, Coffee Flavor: Mental and physical boost post run. Coffee flavor is excellent and goes great straight into a fresh brewed cup
goodr Sunglases: Run in style with goodr's super fun sunglasses.
Feetures Socks: Massively grippy socks that will make you feel more one with the shoe
Amphipod Hydraform Handheld Water Bottle: Perfect for long runs when you need hydration in the summer
Trigger Point Foam Roller: Help get those knots out post-run and feel better for tomorrow
Ciele Hat: Our team's favorite running hat of choice!
Fractel Hats: Our team's wider fitting running hat of choice!
FURTHER READING
Brook's premium stability trainer.
A mild stability trainer.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
Thanks for reading!
FOLLOW DOCTORS OF RUNNING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: Doctors of Running
Youtube Channel: Doctors of Running
Instagram: @doctorsofrunning
LinkedIn: Doctors of Running
Strava: Doctors of Running
Podcast: Virtual Roundtable
PODCAST
Check out the Doctors of Running Podcast to find more reviews, interviews, and running features from the team.
Visit our Podcast Page
Find us on Apple
Find us on Spotify
Contact us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com
NEXT: article
