How does the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro Stack Up Against the Competition?
Below we are comparing the new Puma Deviate Pure Nitro to its direct competitors, the Adidas Evo SL, Saucony Endorphin Azura, ASICS Novablast 6, and the Dynafish Xiaonian. We will let you know how it stacks up in terms of the firmness of the foam, the rocker geometry, speed assistance, step-in comfort, and stability.
The lightweight, non-plated super trainer category is getting crowded, and the Deviate Pure Nitro has quickly become one of the most talked about entries. With its bouncy NitroFoam, Goldilocks ride, and versatile feel, it carves out its own lane against options like the EVO SL, Novablast 6, Endorphin Azura, and Dynafish Xiaonian. While every shoe here brings something different to the table, the Deviate Pure Nitro stands out with its blend of speed, stability, and everyday usability.
Puma Deviate Pure Nitro
Puma’s answer to the lightweight super trainer category is finally here, and it delivers exactly what many runners have been asking for. The Deviate Pure Nitro packs 37-38mm of NitroFoam into a non-plated package, creating a ride that feels balanced, stable, and surprisingly versatile. While it may not be the wildest or bounciest shoe on the market, it shines as a reliable daily trainer that can handle easy miles, uptempo efforts, and everything in between. It shines as peppy, versatile daily trainer with a bouncy, elevated midsole foam that’s on the firmer side. The Deviate Pure Nitro possesses a more direct, streamlined ride and a flatter rocker than its competition. At just 230g and $150, it undercuts many of its biggest competitors while still offering a fun and efficient ride.
Puma Deviate Pure Nitro
Dynafish Xiaonian
The undisputed champion of the $150 non-plated category, the Dynafish Xiaonian delivers an unmatched combination of speed and protection. The Xiaonian has the highest stack of foam compared to its competitors while also having the lightest weight, making it an undisputed unicorn in the performance running shoe space. It has a decent amount of stability, but we wouldn't recommend it for anyone with true stability needs. With a firmer, denser feeling foam and a more aggressive geometry compared to these other shoes, it lands on the higher end of speed assistance while also being really good as a daily trainer. The Supwell team and community has loved the Xiaonian so much that Supwell has become the US retailer for this amazing shoe. Go to HobbyJogger.com to get your pair with fast shipping delivered from the US.
Dynafish Xiaonian
Saucony Endorphin Azura
The most robust, stable shoe in its category, the Azura is a firm, highly-rockered, durable workhorse built to go the distance. It comes in second just behind the Xiaonian in terms of stack height and underfoot cushion feel, making it very protective for high mileage training. Despite the aggressive geometry, the foam is softer compared to the competitors, so it doesn't deliver as much speed assistance as the Xiaonian and Evo SL.
Saucony Endorphin Azura
Adidas Adizero Evo SL
The shoe that started this market segment, the Evo SL is tailor-made for zone 3 mileage with its aggressive rocker and race-tuned foam. It is unstable, however, and isn’t great for slower efforts. The Evo SL compares most directly to the Deviate Pure Nitro in terms of stack height and underfoot foam feel, but it has more speed assistance due to its firmer, more responsive foam and more aggressive rocker geometry. Our favorite version of the Evo SL, which does give it some more stability, is the Evo SL EXO. The Evo SL Woven also delivers a more dialed fit compared to the original.
Adidas Evo SL EXO
ASICS Novablast 6
The most “true daily trainer” shoe on this list, the Novablast 6 offers a ride that’s comfortable for zone 2 mileage, but can also push the pace when you drive power through the FF Turbo2 in the forefoot. It falls right in the middle in terms of underfoot cushion feel and stability, which makes it a great shoe for newer runners or people who just like a really normal feeling running shoe without a crazy rocker or bouncy foam. It is definitely the slowest in terms of speed assistance compared to these other shoes on the list.
ASICS Novablast 6
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