Puma Deviate Nitro 4 Review — Comfort Meets Carbon

Puma’s Deviate Nitro range has always delivered on its promises, giving runners comfortable and accessible shoe options, yet ones that open the door to some new PBs and an extra hint more speed than your average daily option. The Deviate Nitro 4 aims to push that notion a little further, with a lighter build and some new additions to make it a go-to for the season.

Weight-wise, the Deviate Nitro 4 comes in at 15g lighter than its predecessor, which may not seem like much, but given how light the Nitro 3 was, this takes an already feathery entry one step further and makes it a great shoe for those days when your legs are feeling a little heavy.

And this is one of the most overlooked purposes in the running shoe market. There are a lot of PB-breaking, speed shoes around to help you chase podiums and medals, but not that many options to assist with recovery runs and just giving you a comfortable ride when doing so. The toe-box seems slightly wider than last year’s model and there is a greater feeling of lockdown thanks to the cushioned and slightly-improved heel area.

On top of that, the mesh upper feels significantly softer than the Nitro 3, providing a sock-like feel and fit that won’t cause any hot spots as your feet swell and heat up during runs. It’s a lot more maliable too, and the Nitro 4 didn’t crease or crumple up during my testing.

The burrito-style padded tongue is also incredibly soft, giving you a very plush and subtle feeling on the sensitive part of your foot. This design works better than the thicker, more obtrusive tongues of yesteryear.

Of course, the Deviate Nitro 4 is also about going fast, so the goal to improve your times is definitely still a core focus. To achieve this, Puma’s carbon plate, which the brand calls its Pwrplate, is still embedded in the sole. There’s a noticable snap back and responsiveness from the shoe, moreso than many other brands on the market. Additionally, the Nitro 4 feels bouncier than its predecessor too, thanks to a few upgrades in the foam technology and its enhanced lightweight construction. It’s the perfect combo of snappy responsiveness and comfort, and we’re here for it.

As for the drop, the Deviate Nitro 4 offers an 8mm drop and a 30MM/38MM stack height. With that much foam underfoot, the shoe is technically considered a max-cushion shoe, but don’t let the amount of padding fool you: this shoe is still a high-performance “super trainer” designed for long runs and marathons where your goal is speed, not an easy trot.

So, with the re-angled carbon plate and ‘squishier’ sole, you can definitely feel that the shoe is more flexible this time around, allowing for a more natural stride while feeling noticably elevated above the road. If that’s your jam, the Nitro 4 should be on your radar.

As for traction, Puma’s famous Pumagrip outsole has also been spruced up. The outsole is known for its ability to ensure traction across any surface, but in the new Deviate, you get more of it. The wider platform of the Deviate 4 ensures you get improved coverage this time around, making the shoe more accommodating for any footstrike pattern. The result is a more consistent, stable ride while maintaining the natural feel needed for up-tempo training runs and everyday kilometres.

If you’re after a shoe that will help you smash your goals on race day and give you the pep you need to hit those paces during your interval training runs, then the Deviate Nitro 4 would be a great pick for you. It also accomodates those who just want to ‘feel good’ on their runs, which is as important as anything.

The Deviate Nitro 4 is out now and is available to purchase on Puma.com, Puma retail stores, Totalsports, Sportsman’s Warehouse and Takealot at a recommended price of R3,999.