Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3

Marathon race shoe designed for speed and lab tested to be more efficient than anything else on the market

Buy now for $300
The Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 is Puma’s newest marathon racing shoe. Priced at $300, it competes with the Nike Alphafly 3 ($285) and ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris ($250). At easy paces, the Fast-R 3 felt stiff and unenjoyable. At faster paces, though, the Fast-R 3 was insanely aggressive and lightning fast. It may have even surpassed the Alphafly 3 as the best Supwell certified "demon time" race shoe. Puma indicates that the Fast-R 3 is best for lower cadence, stride runners, which has exactly how it felt on initial testing. Our only concern for this shoe is whether it will be comfortable enough for non-elite runners over 26.2 miles or if it will be better suited for 5K distances and below. Aside from the Nike Streakfly 2, the Fast-R 3 is the fastest racing shoe we've ever tested and definitely lives up to the purported hype. The Puma Fast-R 3 is an incredible shoe and marks a substantial leap forward in performance running shoe innovation.
Category
Race Day
Release Date
April 2025
Plated?
Yes
Type of Plate
Full carbon plate
Foam
NITROFOAM Elite
Foam Compound
ATPU
Ride
Firm, Responsive, Stiff
Heel Stack (mm)
39.0
Forefoot Stack (mm)
31.0
Drop (mm)
8
Weight (mens size 9)
6.0
Support
Neutral
Fit
Snug

Alternatives

Here are some other options to consider. To find the best shoe for you, take the quiz linked below for personalized matches

Race Day

Nike Streakfly 2

Aggressive short-distance racing shoe with a direct and nimble ride
Nike Streakfly 2
Price
$180
Plated?
Yes
Foam
PEBA
Weight (oz)
4.5
Drop (mm)
4
Support
Neutral
BUYdetails

Race Day

Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris

Aggressive and lightweight racing shoe for fast PR attempts. More aggressive feel than Edge Paris
Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris
Price
$250
Plated?
Yes
Foam
PEBA
Weight (oz)
6.4
Drop (mm)
5
Support
Neutral
BUYdetails

Race Day

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2

Bouncy marathon racing shoe designed for forefoot strikers
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2
Price
$250
Plated?
Yes
Foam
PEBA
Weight (oz)
7.6
Drop (mm)
2
Support
Neutral
BUYdetails

Race Day

Nike Alphafly Next% 3

Marathon racer with fast and aggressive ride
Nike Alphafly Next% 3
Price
$285
Plated?
Yes
Foam
PEBA
Weight (oz)
6.8
Drop (mm)
8
Support
Neutral
BUYdetails

Get your personalized shoe matches

Answer a few questions to get matched with the best shoe for you
GET MATCHED

Latest Articles