Puma Deviate Pure Review — For the Purists

Let’s be honest – running has gotten pretty complicated in recent years. With the industry boom, hype, technology, and chasing PBs, it’s sometimes hard to find a shoe that simply gets the job done without too much fuss, because, while great, not everyone needs a carbon plate.

Enter Puma’s Deviate Pure, a new model on the German brand’s beloved Deviate line that strips back a lot of the edgier parts of the Deviate Nitro models for a simpler, more natural ride.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with having carbon plates in your running shoes, but some people don’t want that snappy responsiveness, especially when doing a mid-pace run. The Deviate Pure then opts for a traditional sole with the brand’s Nitrofoam cushioning that still gives that plush, soft experience. The Deviate Pure definitely feels a little less ‘squishy’ than something like Puma’s Deviate Nitro 4, which provides a bit more of a stable and balanced feel to every plant of the foot.

For me, personally, I’ve found that many carbon-plated shoes can feel like your foot rocks left to right a little bit, but the Deviate Pure feels a lot more neutral, with the focus of every stride making your foot feel as secure as possible with little-to-no side-to-side rocking. The 8mm drop of the Pure features does put you up on your toes a bit, but due to the wide and denser foam, you don’t feel that natural ‘roll’ as much as you do in other highly-stacked running shoes.

You still obviously feel very free in the Deviate Pure, and that’s due to the ultra soft upper made from Puma’s textile and synthetic upper, which features a really nice knitted tongue, which is a great touch from Puma.

At 250 grams (in a UK9), the Deviate Pure is also a little bit lighter than the other Deviate models, which bodes well for those who like to have that airy feel on foot. It’s not a lot, but it’s noticeable.

Admittedly, the Puma Deviate Pure has shot up to my favourite running shoe of the year. Daily runs and some light trots around the neighbourhood have felt great, and the ‘need for speed’ that plated shoes create isn’t there, and in the best of ways. This is a back-to-basics, no-nonsense running shoe that delivers the necessary top-grade tech from Puma without the more gnarly components.

The Puma Deviate Pure is priced at R3,199 and available from the Puma website and Puma retail stores.