| Puma FAST-R 3 |
 |
| £280 |
| BUY NOW FROM PUMA |
PLEASE NOTE: I paid for the Puma FAST-R 3 trainers myself and was not gifted these trainers or paid by Puma to give a honest review. This page may contain affiliate links. Making a purchase via our affiliate link means I may receive a small share of the sale.
Until this year I had not worn Puma shoes, stupidly dismissing them straight away.
Then I road tested the Puma Elite 3 as a friend would not stop going on about them. I instantly fell in love them with them, so when the Puma Fast-R 3 was released, I had to see what all the fuss was about with bold claims of a 3.15% improved running economy.
The Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 is a high performance racing shoe designed for speed and efficiency, boasting a feather light weight and advanced materials.
It is the third iteration in the Fast-R line, featuring significant improvements over its predecessors, including a more refined design and enhanced ride quality.
With its £280 price tag this shoe is targeted at runners seeking a responsive, cushioned, yet lightweight option for optimal efficiency in races and fast training sessions.
Read on to find out why.
THE HEEL
The heel of the Fast-R 3 features a 40mm stack height, which is the maximum allowed in official road racing by World Athletics.
The first time you put them on, you can feel how they are different to your typical carbon shoe. As you walk around in them, it feels like the heel almost collapses underneath you, but this feeling completely disappears as you start to run in them.
It offers a notably soft and plush landing, providing good impact absorption for long distance comfort, especially towards the end of races.
The heel collar is semi-padded with a rigid cup that rises halfway up, but the overall heel lockdown remains excellent despite the removal of the previous hard fin feature.
THE UPPERS
The upper is constructed from Puma’s Ultraweave engineered mesh, which is ultra thin, breathable, and lightweight.
It abandons the construction of earlier versions, resulting in a cooler and more comfortable fit suitable for racing. The tongue is really thin and not gusseted, but I have not had any issues with rubbing or comfort.
THE OUTSOLE
The outsole features a thin layer of PumaGrip rubber at the forefoot and heel that provides great traction without adding unnecessary weight.
The rubber is minimal, which helps keep the shoe light but may affect durability, with an expected lifespan of around just 200 miles.
Something I really like about this shoe is the cut out is big enough not to get stones stuck in the outsole.
The outsole also extends slightly beyond the front of the shoe, enhancing leverage and stability during toe off, a unique feature that aids in a powerful and smooth finish.
THE MIDSOLE
The midsole uses Puma’s Nitro Elite foam, a nitrogen-infused aliphatic TPU material that is highly responsive yet slightly softer than in previous versions. It delivers a good balance of cushioning and energy return, it does not feel as explosive as some competing foams like PEBA, but it works so well.
The midsole height remains at 40mm in the heel and 32mm in the forefoot, with an 8mm drop. A significant improvement is the filling in of the midfoot gap present in the previous model, which now results in smoother heel to toe transitions, which I personally loved.
The midsole has a decoupled design but less pronounced than before, contributing to a more approachable and less aggressive ride.
SIZING
The fit is true to size but runs slightly long, with a wide toe box, offering a secure lockdown while allowing natural toe splay.
My UK size 9 comes up slightly to big due to the length to be honest but because they had sold out I did not bother sending them back for a 1/2 size smaller.
It wasn't an issue though and it has not felt uncomfortable or given me any blisters but it is something to consider.
HOW MUCH DO THEY WEIGH?
One of the standout features of the Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 is its remarkable lightness.
Weighing just 175g for my UK size 9, it is significantly lighter than its predecessor by about 95g, making it feel more like a feather than traditional running shoes.
This weight reduction is achieved by removing unnecessary features such as the rear fin and hanging loops, as well as using ultra-light materials throughout.
IS IT A FULL CARBON PLATE?
The Fast-R 3 incorporates a full length carbon fibre PWRPLATE embedded within the midsole. This plate is more flexible and less rigid than in previous versions, which makes the ride less aggressive but more forgiving.
The carbon plate extends beyond the toe, which I think is where it improves propulsion efficiency. While this flexibility reduces the "punchy" feel some runners seek, it creates a smooth and efficient running experience, especially at faster paces.
This shoe just wants to run fast and the design aims to maximise energy return and assist with forward momentum.
HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?
I have only done 30 miles in them so far and only used them in races. The only criticism I have, is like others have mentioned in other reviews I have seen, the landing area of my forefoot on both sides of the outsole has a slight indentation in them (hard to show in the photo above).
It has not effected the performance of the shoe though, I have actually got faster in each race I have worn them so this could be just a superficial fault with the thin rubber outsole.
HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?
The Puma Fast-R 3 shoes retails at the top end of the race shoe market at £280.
CONCLUSION
- The shoe’s heel strike is somewhat compromised due to its softness and minimal heel counter, which may not suit runners who rely heavily on heel striking or require extra support.
- The fit is long overall, so those with shorter feet might need to try different sizes or consider this before purchasing.
- The outsole rubber is minimal, which could affect durability if used extensively in training; the shoe is best reserved for racing.
- The flexible carbon plate offers a smoother ride but less aggressive propulsion, which might not appeal to runners expecting a very stiff, explosive feel.
WOULD I RECOMMEND THEM?
Yes! These aren't just my shoe of 2025 but personally I would go as far as to say these are the best race day trainers I have tested so far.
I didn't think I could find a race day trainer that I would put above my beloved Nike Alphaflys but this is it. That's how highly I rate them.
I will be buying another pair on the next drop, not because I need them, but so I have a pair ready when I do need them because my guess is, this shoes will sell out again!
WHERE TO BUY
This is the hardest part. Due to it's popularity your struggle to get hold of a pair until the next colour drop as they have sold out everywhere.
I bought mine via Sportsshoes.com and even managed to use my 15% discount for connecting my EA Athletics membership to my account.
You can buy Puma Fast-R shoes direct from the Puma website.
| Puma FAST-R 3 |
|
|
| £280 |
| BUY NOW FROM PUMA |
If you have any questions you would like to ask about the Puma FAST-R 3, please get in touch.
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