Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4

The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 is an all-new race shoe designed for speed and versatility. Priced at $250, it replaces the iconic version 3 and goes head-to-head with shoes like the Adidas Adios Pro 4 and Saucony Endorphin Pro 4. Version 3 of the Deviate Nitro Elite was a huge hit among Hobby Joggers, so we were glad to discover that Puma kept the ride and spirit of the previous version intact. This update feels spot-on—Puma took a beloved formula from the v3 and simply made it better—improving the look, widening the toe box for a more comfortable fit, and lightening it up for better performance. You’re still getting the best qualities of the previous version—a protective, robust foam feel that sits right in that Goldilocks zone, along with an accommodating geometry that won’t punish heel strikers and a nicely tuned forefoot geometry that provides speed assistance. The only potential downside is for runners who prefer to be aggressively pushed onto their forefoot, as it is more of a midfoot-friendly racer. Overall, it’s a great example of an accessible race shoe that works for a wide range of runners while still delivering true race-day speed and performance.