When Puma first launched the Deviate Nitro they took a lot of us by surprise. They shipped media these samples with custom numbering in an effort to really hype things up, but who knew it would end up laying the groundwork for an entire new line of running shoes from Puma all built on that Nitro midsole. And now comes the second iteration of that first shoe, the Puma Deviate Nitro 2. A plated road shoe with a bit more heft and a bit more durability but as with all second generations, the question is how much better or worse is it. We won’t make you get to the end before telling you that this is a phenomenally better version than the original, but what’s changed?
Quick Details, Specs, and Availability
- A fantastic update to what was already a solid carbon trainer and race day shoe.
- Designed for the more normal runner instead of only elite runners, like most plated shoes.
- Weight – 9.1oz or 258g for a US Men’s 9, 8.3oz or 235g for a US Women’s 7
- Cushion – 38mm of cushion and a 6mm heel/toe drop
- Pricing – $160.00 USD
- Colors – 3 color options for men and women
Construction and Materials
- Upper – A breathable mesh upper gets a new addition of PWRTAPE which should provide targeted reinforcement for support and durability. The heel has also been fully redesigned into a more classical style which functions so much better than before.
- Midsole – The midsole has moved to NITRO Elite delivering premium performance foam technology that provides incredible responsiveness while also feeling soft and comfortable. This also uses their carbon PWRPLATE for maximum energy transfer and optimised efficiency.
- Outsole – The outsole uses a durable rubber compound called PUMAGRIP but also has incredibly coverage and lugs making it capable of tackling most terrains.
Performance Review
Some of the big changes on this shoe are exactly why we love it. The first comes in the upper where we see a slightly updated engineered mesh design, still with a bit of width and plenty of breathability. It doesn’t necessarily skew narrow or wide, coming in at a nice sweet spot that will work for most runners. They added what they are calling PWRTAPE at certain spots across the upper which is really meant to enhance side-to-side support where it isn’t found within that mesh. The updated flat lacing system works better than the older oval round laces and there is very little tongue movement during the run. Then the heel gets an entire rethink into something that not only provides enhanced cushioning but also holds you so so much better. The heel also now has a more traditional design which will feel better to a larger number of runners, but the important part is that lockdown where that internal heel counter really holds you in place. So if you experience slippage as many did in the original version, you will not find that here.
Next up, they added their new Nitro Elite foam to the forefoot of this shoe to deliver a bit more performance. This mixed material ride provides a better feeling transition depending on where your foot strikes but the shoe just feels better to run in overall. The outsole has moved to a new formulation of their PUMAGRIP and the size of the lugs has been increased a bit, but they are big enough to make it a great choice for fall and winter days like we’re in now. You get a lot more grip almost to the point of being a decent trail shoe.
This shoe is going to be best for the normal runner who is looking to add a bit more speed into their lineup and even considering moving to a plated marathon or half marathon shoe. It is simply more comfortable than a lot of other plated shoes are, the stack is still race-legal, and while it does weigh more it’s not going to hamper your performance all that much. For elite runners, this makes for a very good distance training shoe which we’re seeing more and more of. You still get a nice bit of stack height, but with that plate in there, it is still mimicking race day so your long training runs should still see great times.
Overall Conclusion
Puma has really knocked it out of the park with the Deviate Nitro 2 update. This shoe fixes every single issue we might have had with the first version and delivers a performance-level shoe for everyone. It doesn’t try to be the fastest but instead, Puma delivers a balanced race day shoe that blends comfort and ease of ride with that carbon-plated performance experience. It is also not overpriced so you are getting a really well built shoe at a decent price tag.
Learn more on the Puma website
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Check Out Other Reviewers Thoughts
As always, we gather together some of our favorite reviewers so you can get a well-rounded view of the shoe. Here are our favorites.
