Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 Advent
Edna Kiplagat secured bronze on the Boston Marathon in April 2024. That is PUMA’s first podium spot at a International Marathon Main in a long time. She was once dressed in the Deviate Nitro Elite 3 all the way through that race.
PUMA says that the Deviate Nitro Elite is their lightest and their quickest shoe and that it’s designed for runners with a prime cadence or a prime turnover. Their different racer, the Rapid-R is designed for runners who’ve an extended, extra robust, bounding stride.
I examined the Deviate Nitro Elite 2 two years in the past and I didn’t assume it was once a top-tier racer. It had a midsole which was once thinner than maximum tremendous sneakers (36mm/30mm) and it didn’t have an overly distinguished forefoot rocker. In my view, it didn’t supply as a lot pace help as top-tier racers.
Whilst maximum manufacturers are converting to PEBA midsoles of their racers and one of the running shoes, PUMA is doing the other. Each the PUMA Deviate Nitro 2 and Deviate Nitro Elite 2 had nitrogen-infused PEBA midsoles however they have got modified to aliphatic (open chain construction) TPU midsoles of their newest variations.
The Deviate Nitro Elite 3 weighs 6.8 oz. (194 g). That is 0.6 oz. (17 g) lighter than the Deviate NItro Elite 2. It additionally has 4 mm extra stack top within the heel and a couple of mm extra within the forefoot. It prices $230, $30 greater than v2.
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 First Impressions
My first run within the Deviate Nitro Elite 3 was once a hill sprints exercise. I realized the deeper cushioning proper off the bat. It felt like a beefed up model of the Deviate Nitro Elite 2.
It felt sooner than its predecessor however I nonetheless didn’t really feel a lot of a forefoot rocker. It jogged my memory a little of the Nike Vaporfly 3. I didn’t understand a large distinction between the brand new midsole foam and the former one. The brand new foam felt relatively more impregnable however extra considerable.
I used to be maximum inspired with the brand new higher. It was once so comfy that it felt love it was once designed particularly for my ft.
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 Higher
On the subject of uppers, the Deviate Elite 3 is without doubt one of the extra comfy available on the market nevertheless it has a cosy, racing have compatibility that’s now not very accommodating. It’s constituted of mono-mesh which is tricky and looks like plastic, very similar to the Deviate Elite 2. Breathability is reasonable for a racing shoe and it doesn’t take in a lot liquid.
The flat tongue is gusseted so there’s no motion all the way through working. The collar and heel tab are calmly padded, and heel lockdown is superb. Sadly, there’s no reflectivity at the higher like on model 2.
The have compatibility could be very slim, particularly within the midfoot so it’s now not appropriate for huge ft. I like to recommend going true to dimension even if it’s relatively longer than maximum trainers. When you choose much less house within the entrance of your ft, you’ll almost certainly move down a part dimension however best you probably have very slim ft.
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 Sole Unit
By way of converting from supercritical PEBA to aliphatic TPU, PUMA has controlled to extend the stack top whilst additionally decreasing the burden; that’s a win-win. With 40 mm within the heel, the Deviate Elite 3 feels extra like a marathon tremendous shoe than its predecessor and I may simply run a marathon in it.
The usage of a thicker midsole, the carbon plate may also be steeper and extra curved. The plate feels extra distinguished, and extra noticeable than in model 2 which is a transformation that I really like. It nonetheless doesn’t have a prime toe-spring so there isn’t a lot of a rocker.
PUMA says that the brand new midsole foam has 93% power go back in comparison to the former model which was once 83% but if in comparison to the highest tremendous foams from different manufacturers, PUMA’s Nitro Elite foam doesn’t compress and rebound as a lot. It feels denser which leads to a much less bouncy, flatter journey.
Additionally they state that this new foam compound keeps its cushioning over the whole lot of a marathon whilst maximum foams begin to damage down from kilometre 32. I did a 35 km long term within the Deviate Elite 3 and through the top of the run, the froth nonetheless felt recent and well-cushioned. That is my favorite function of the Elite 3.
Probably the most cons is that it has an overly slim base and all the way through some runs, I will really feel the sides of the midsole the place portions of my ft dangle over the brink. It doesn’t motive me any blisters nevertheless it’s relatively irritating. I’ve very slim ft so this narrowness can be a large downside for some runners with huge ft. It’s additionally now not in particular strong.
The Deviate Elite 3 works very best as a marathon racer or lengthy pace run instructor: it’s light-weight and it looks like an extension of your ft, it simply disappears. It additionally feels first rate on simple or stable paces so it’s reasonably flexible. It doesn’t have sufficient ‘pop’ for the shorter, sooner stuff like durations or V02 max workout routines because of its midsole foam and loss of a rocker.
The only factor I’ve been in point of fact upset with is construct high quality. The higher is already beginning to cut loose the midsole within the forefoot and there’s an opening forming at the medial aspect. I skilled this identical factor with the PUMA Rapid-R 2. Once I reached out to PUMA, they stated that this downside were fastened in manufacturing nevertheless it obviously hasn’t since the Deviate Elite 3 additionally has this factor.
The traction of the Deviate Elite 3 is excellent. I used it all the way through a heavy downpour and had no slipping problems. The rubber and uncovered midsole could also be very sturdy so it may be used for a large number of coaching runs.
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 Conclusions
Every so often it’s just right to take the trail much less travelled however with regards to midsole foam selection, I don’t assume that PUMA will have to have modified from PEBA to TPU. The Deviate Elite 3 doesn’t really feel as bouncy or as full of life as one of the different top-tier racers.
We’ve noticed New Steadiness alternate to PEBA of their SC Elite v4 previous this yr, bettering it through leaps and boundaries.
Adidas additionally created the Adios Professional Evo 1 the usage of PEBA which is the brand new drive that’s wreaking havoc on marathon podiums.
I revel in working within the Deviate Elite 3. It’s a just right racer nevertheless it isn’t superb. Numerous runners will probably be proud of it as a marathon racer (particularly taking into account its skill to retain cushioning over lengthy distances) however I didn’t fall in love with it. Midsole foam apart, I believe if it had a extra competitive rocker, I’d revel in it much more. The rocker is what makes it really feel much less like a racing flat and extra like a great shoe.
There are a large number of PUMA elite runners lately appearing nicely within the Deviate Elite 3 at the global degree. The former model of the Deviate Elite felt extra like a racing flat as a result of its skinny midsole however with the added stack top within the new model, it feels much more aggressive. It will provide you with the correct tremendous shoe enjoy.
Model 3 is an growth over model 2 in nearly each manner: it’s lighter, extra cushioned, extra comfy and it has a extra competitive plate setup so it feels sooner. It prices much more although so it doesn’t constitute just right worth like its predecessor, particularly taking into account its low construct high quality. It nonetheless then again prices $20 lower than the common tremendous shoe.
I choose the Deviate Elite 3 to the Rapid R-2. It transitions from heel to forefoot sooner because of the continual midsole. It fits heel strikers like me higher and it feels smoother. It feels nimbler and extra agile than the Rapid R-2 as a result of its lighter weight. It’s additionally $30 inexpensive than the Rapid R-2.