The Deviate Nitro is a brand new Puma trainer on its 2nd iteration and is designed to have a similar ride and feel to the Deviate Nitro Elite but with increased durability for daily usage. It costs $160.
The Deviate Nitro Elite is also a brand new shoe and is Puma’s fastest marathon racing shoe. It has a lighter weight, a more minimal upper and less durability than the Deviate Nitro. It costs $200.
Which one of these Puma shoes is better for you?
The midsole of the Deviate Nitro has nitrogen infused foams called Nitro Foam and Nitro Elite foam which have excellent energy return. At slow paces, Nitro Foam is cushioned and bouncy while at faster paces, it becomes springy and responsive.
The midsole of the Deviate Nitro Elite is also nitrogen infused but it is a PEBA based foam called Nitro Foam Elite. The Deviate Nitro Elite’s midsole foam is softer and lighter than the foam of the Deviate Nitro.
The Deviate Nitro Elite’s softer midsole makes it better at long runs and marathons because it is lighter and softer so it has more long-distance comfort than the Deviate Nitro. The Deviate Nitro has better long-term durability because it doesn’t compress as much as the Nitro Elite foam so it will retain its cushioning better over time than the super soft Nitro Elite foam.
Both shoes have plates embedded in their midsoles but the Deviate Nitro has a composite plate while the Deviate Nitro Elite has a carbon plate. The carbon plate is lighter and stiffer than the composite plate so the Deviate Nitro Elite has a more prominent feeling plate and provides more propulsion.
Stability is better in the Deviate Nitro because its upper has more structure, as does its midsole, especially in the heel section. It has a TPU plate in its heel to aid with stability while the Deviate Nitro Elite doesn’t have one. The Deviate Nitro is also firmer and has less lean bias than the softer Deviate Nitro Elite.
Both shoes are very durable when it comes to their outsoles but the Deviate Nitro has the more durable outsole because of its PUMAGRIP rubber. The Deviate Nitro Elite has PUMAGRIP LT rubber which is lighter but less durable. Both rubbers offer excellent traction on most surfaces, wet or dry.
The Deviate Nitro has an upper which is made from thick engineered mesh of average breathability. It has a lightly padded tongue and there is no tongue slide. The Deviate Nitro has an intrusive heel tab which is hard and comes up high so it may cause blisters if the shoe is tied too tight. The Deviate Nitro fits true to size and doesn’t come in additional widths.
The Deviate Nitro Elite has an upper made of translucent mesh which allows air to pass through it more freely so breathability is excellent. It has a tongue with no padding and lots of tongue slide occurs. The heel tab of the Deviate Nitro Elite is not intrusive and heel lockdown is superb. The Deviate Nitro Elite’s upper is much more minimal and way lighter than the Deviate Nitro’s upper but it doesn’t have as much durability. The Deviate Nitro Elite fits a half size large and it also doesn’t come in any additional widths.
If you’re looking for a plated trainer with more durability that you can use for training in, the Deviate Nitro is the better option. It has a thicker upper, more resilient midsole foam and a tougher outsole which will last longer than the Deviate Nitro Elite. The Deviate Nitro also has better stability and is $40 cheaper than the Deviate Nitro Elite.
If you’re looking for a light racer which has more propulsion, the Deviate Nitro Elite is the shoe for you. It has a very breathable, super light upper and a heel tab which doesn’t cause any unwanted rubbing. Foot lockdown is also better in the Deviate Nitro Elite. The Deviate Nitro Elite has a softer ride which translates to better long-distance comfort but it has overall less durability than the Deviate Nitro.
