PUMA ELITE 4 REVIEW

March 3, 2026

PUMA DEVIATE ELITE 4 RACE DAY SHOES

£210

PLEASE NOTE: I paid for the Puma Elite 4 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 market the Deviate NITRO Elite 4 as their top tier race day shoe for 2026, designed to deliver maximum efficiency without feeling overly aggressive or unstable.

On paper, it’s a lightweight, carbon plated trainer built to feel fast, but still controlled enough to handle longer distances.

Puma highlights a few key features:

NITROFOAM ELITE for high energy return
Carbon PWRPLATE for propulsion and efficiency
ULTRAWEAVE upper for breathability and lockdown
PUMAGRIP outsole for traction in all conditions

It seems like Puma are aiming for is a more approachable super shoe, something that performs at a high level, but doesn’t feel intimidating to run in.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect. I really liked the previous version and was tempted to just stick with that but decided to give these a go and see how they compared.

Straight out of the box, they look fast. They’re incredibly light and everything about them seems very race day. What stood out most though was how controlled they felt. In the sense that some carbon shoes can feel unstable or overly aggressive, but these didn’t.

On foot, they felt snug, minimal and very performance focused. Small details like the updated laces and cleaner upper design also give them a more premium feel.

I was initially planning to have these for harder training runs, but I quickly realised that these seem more for race day which was a little exciting and I thought that they may become my Milan marathon trainer.

FIT AND COMFORT

They fit true to size (UK 6 for me).

Lockdown is solid once you’ve tightened them properly (initially they felt a little loose and I did need to spend some time tightening the laces). However, once that was done, I experienced no heel slipping, no rubbing or hot points.

That said, they didn’t feel amazing straight away for me. They needed a bit of a break in period, which is quite unusual for a carbon shoe.

In my early runs I found them to be quite firm, slightly uncomfortable and not very forgiving at slower paces. Strangely though, they were comfortable to walk around in, which isn’t something I’d usually say about carbon shoes.

However, after a few runs, they definitely improved and started to feel much more natural.

THE HEEL

The heel is simple in design, but it does exactly what you need it to do.

There’s a subtle flare at the rear which adds a noticeable layer of stability on landing. As someone who sometimes heel strikes when I start to fatigue, I really noticed the added stability here. Even after longer sessions, I felt confident with each step, without the exaggerated tilt you sometimes get in carbon shoes.

What stands out most is the control, especially for such a lightweight trainer. It doesn’t feel overly built up, but it gives just enough structure to keep things feeling stable and predictable.

The heel felt secure without a restrictive feeling, and I had no rubbing or irritation, even on longer efforts. It doesn’t feel like a ‘supportive’ heel in the traditional sense, but it gives you just enough confidence to focus on running rather than worrying about your footing.

INSIDE

The inside of the shoe is very stripped back, but everything feels intentional.

There’s minimal padding throughout, keeping the weight down, but it doesn’t feel harsh or unfinished. Compared to more aggressive race shoes, there’s just a bit more structure, which makes it feel slightly more forgiving without losing that race day feel.

The tongue sits comfortably and doesn’t move around, and importantly, I didn’t experience any lace bite even when tightening the laces for a secure fit.

It’s not plush, but it’s not supposed to be. Everything inside the shoe feels designed with performance first, just with a bit more usability and comfort than you might expect from a full on carbon racer.

THE UPPERS

The upper does exactly what you want from a race day trainer. It’s built with a lightweight engineered mesh that keeps everything feeling fast and breathable, while still holding the foot securely in place. There’s no excess material, no unnecessary padding, just a clean, performance focused design.

The upper is lightweight, highly breathable, even during harder efforts with a secure lockdown through the midfoot

I know some runners have found the fit slightly narrow, but that wasn’t my experience. For me, they felt roomy for a race shoe, with enough space to stay comfortable without losing that locked in feel.

The upper is clearly designed to minimise weight and friction while maximising lockdown, exactly what I wanted in a race shoe.

THE MIDSOLE

The NITROFOAM ELITE midsole feels incredibly light underfoot, and when you add the carbon PWRPLATE, it delivers a very noticeable sense of propulsion, especially once you start picking up the pace.

At slower paces, I found them firm and not very forgiving, but at faster paces, they felt alive, efficient, responsive and encouraging a quicker turnover.

They’re not overly rockered, so running feels natural and controlled, unlike some aggressive super shoes that tip you forward too much. Personally, the faster I went, the better they felt.

THE OUTSOLE

The outsole is one of the real standout features of this shoe.

Puma’s PUMAGRIP rubber has a strong reputation, and it absolutely delivers with the Nitro 4s. The grip feels reliable in pretty much all conditions, but what impressed me most was how confident it felt in the wet.

I ran in heavy rain and didn’t feel hesitant at all, every step felt secure, even when cornering or changing direction.

They perform particularly well across:

Wet roads
Cobbles
Hills
Sharp turns and corners

There’s a real sense of confidence underfoot, which is exactly what you want on race day when you’re pushing the pace and don’t want to second guess your footing.

The only slip I had was on a wet stick, which honestly could happen in any shoe, so it’s hard to fault them for that.

WEIGHT, DROP AND SPECS

In terms of specs, this is exactly what you’d expect from a modern race-day shoe, they’re light, responsive and built for speed.

Weight varies on size, but approx. 150–155g (UK size 6)

Drop: 8mm

Stack height: 40mm heel / 32mm forefoot

The 8mm drop gives a nice balance between heel and forefoot, making them feel suitable for a range of runners and distances, whether you’re pushing through a 5K or settling into marathon pace. I found them good across the distance which makes them very versatile.

The higher stack adds protection for longer efforts, but because of the firmer ride, it still feels controlled rather than overly soft or unstable.

The Puma Elite 4's are a well balanced trainer that supports fast running without feeling overly extreme or difficult to handle.

DO THEY HAVE A CARBON PLATE?

Yes, these come with a full length carbon PWRPLATE.

The carbon plate adds a noticeable propulsive push, especially once you pick up the pace, making every step feel more efficient and purposeful. It also helps with smooth heel to toe transitions, so you don’t feel like you’re fighting the shoe mid stride.

Importantly, unlike some carbon trainers, it doesn’t feel unstable or overly aggressive. Even on corners or uneven surfaces, the shoe remains controlled, which is a real confidence booster during races or hard sessions.

COST

These are currently retailed at £210 which, though I’d never say these are cheap, they are on the slightly cheaper end of the premium race day category, comparable with other high end carbon shoes.

For what it offers, lightweight construction, stable propulsion and a polished race day design, it feels reasonable if you’re serious about fast runs or personal bests.

HOW I’D USE THEM

Initially, I got these for harder training runs, which they do work quite well for. However, I think they are more focused as a race day trainer particularly as I don’t really like the feel when I am running easier miles.

They perform best at:

Tempo runs
Long runs with pace
Racing

They are not ideal for easy runs or recovery miles, simply because the midsole feels quite firm when you’re running at lower intensities.

In short, if you’re running with intent, they reward you with efficiency, propulsion and confidence. At slower paces, they’re less forgiving, so I reserve them for days when I want to push myself.

FIRST 65 MILES

Over the first 65 miles, my experience definitely evolved.

10 miles (7:43/mile)

This started off feeling smooth and light, but after a few miles the firmness came through.

They felt quite hard underfoot and not particularly enjoyable, although there were no rubbing issues.

6 miles, including a hilly parkrun

This is where they started to make sense. At faster paces, they felt propulsive and efficient, and I ended up with a parkrun course PB.

22 miles (7:04/mile)

They performed well at marathon pace, probably the best I’ve executed this session.

But after around 16 miles, my feet felt sore, and I picked up a small blister.

7 miles and parkrun

By this point, they felt much more broken in.

No issues at all, smooth, responsive and comfortable even during warm up and cool down.

20 miles (7:44/mile)

A great run with no problems.

Still firm, but much more manageable than earlier runs.

What I’ve found is the faster you run, the better they feel.

CONCLUSION

The Deviate NITRO Elite 4 are a fast, lightweight and well balanced race trainer.

It’s not the softest or most forgiving option, but when you’re running at pace, they really deliver.

The main downsides

Firm at slower paces
Needs a short break in period

But once you get past that, they are a very capable race day shoe.

WOULD I RECOMMEND THEM?

Yes, but for the right runner.

I’d recommend them to:

Runners chasing PBs
Those wanting a more stable super shoe
Marathon training and racing, from anything from 1 mile to marathon.

I wouldn’t recommend them to

Anyone wanting soft cushioning
Easy/recovery runs

WHERE TO BUY

I bought mine from Sportsshoes.com using the links below as they offer 15% off to those with England Athletics membership.