puma nitrate elite 3 review

PUMA DEVIATE NITRO ELITE 3 REVIEW

PUMA DEVIATE NITRO ELITE 3 SHOES

puma deviate nitro elite 3
From £136.49 to £194.99 BUY NOW FROM SPORTSSHOES.COM

PLEASE NOTE: I paid for the Puma Deviate NITRO Elite 3 trainers myself and was not gifted these trainers or paid by Puma to give a honest review. This page contains affiliate links. Making a purchase via our affiliate link means I may receive a small share of the sale.

puma deviate nitro elite 3 in box

The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 is Puma’s latest entry into the high performance racing shoe market, designed to compete with the best marathon “super shoes” available today.

With a lighter build, increased stack height, and a new midsole formula, it aims to deliver speed, efficiency, and comfort for runners chasing personal bests across a range of distances.

Read on to find out why.

THE HEEL

puma deviate nitro elite 3 heel

The heel of the Deviate Nitro Elite 3 is notably plush, boasting a stack height of 39.2 mm, just shy of the World Athletics limit for competition shoes.

This provides exceptional shock absorption, making it especially beneficial for those whose form may deteriorate late in races.

The heel is well designed, offering a smooth transition at heel strike and a split heel that allows for a more forgiving landing, particularly for those who heel strike when fatigued.

THE UPPERS

puma deviate nitro elite 3 uppers

The upper is constructed from Ultraweave engineered mesh, which is extremely thin, lightweight, and breathable.

It provides a secure, race ready fit with minimal padding, though it’s more accommodating and comfortable than the previous version.

The upper includes PWRTAPE reinforcements for added stability, and overall ventilation is great.

THE OUTSOLE

puma deviate nitro elite 3 outsole

The outsole features PumaGrip rubber, which like other Puma trainers it has an excellent grip and durability, even on gravel and wet surfaces.

Others have reported minimal wear after high mileage, making it a robust choice for those who want a racing shoe that can handle training miles as well.

However, my only criticism is large stones can get stuck in the cut out section in middle of the outsole.

THE MIDSOLE

puma deviate nitro elite 3 outside midsole
puma deviate nitro elite 3 inside midsole

Puma has equipped this model with its latest Nitro Elite foam, now made from aliphatic TPU rather than PEBA, resulting in a slightly firmer, but more substantial ride.

The midsole delivers a high energy return, feeling like you get more a return than many of its competitors, and is engineered for both speed and protection over long distances.

The shoe feels bouncy and responsive, though it can feel on the firmer side for the first few miles, you soon fall in love with this midsole.

HOW MUCH DO THEY WEIGH?

The shoe is impressively light, with a weight of 205g depending on size, making it highly competitive with other leading super shoes.

This is a marked improvement over previous versions and makes it a lightweight racing option.

IS IT A FULL CARBON PLATE?

Yes, the Deviate Nitro Elite 3 features a full length PWRPLATE carbon plate, visible through the outsole.

This plate is stiffer than previous iterations, providing significant torsional stability and propulsion during toe-off.

The plate’s aggressive positioning contributes to the shoe’s snappy, responsive ride, though some may find it a bit too stiff for slower paces or very long distances.

HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?

The retail price is approximately £194.99, which is such a good price in comparison to other super shoes.

This represents a price increase over previous versions, but the improvements in weight, cushioning, and performance justifies the cost.

CONCLUSION

The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 is a serious contender in the super shoe category, offering a combination of high stack height, lightweight construction, a full carbon plate, and a responsive Nitro Elite midsole.

It excels in energy return, durability, and comfort, with only minor drawbacks such as large stones getting stuck sometimes. 

WOULD I RECOMMEND THEM?

For those looking for a versatile, racing shoe that can also handle training sessions, the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 is my new favourite. They also pair brilliantly with the Puma Deviate Nitro 3 in a rotation.

Personally I think the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 are best value super shoe on the market and the only trainer that is better is the Puma FAST-R 3.

WHERE TO BUY

You can buy Puma Elite 3 shoes direct from the Puma website but I found the best deals on sportsshoes.com.

From £136.49 to £194.99 BUY NOW FROM SPORTSSHOES.COM

If you have any questions you would like to ask about the Puma Elite 3, please get in touch.

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