In our Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 review, we give our first impressions on what is undoubtedly one of the best-value super shoes currently available. Unfathomably light, fast, and fun, there’s just one thing we’re not sure about — are they built to last?

When you smash a PB in the shoe you’re about to review, it’s easy to get overexcited, view it through rose-tinted spectacles, and credit it with everything. And while I’m typically terrible at giving myself credit where it’s due, I’m not going to cede all the responsibility to the Nitro Elite 4 this time. Nonetheless, there’s no denying they played a significant role.

Midsole Feel

The dual-density A-TPU NITROFOAM ELITE midsole — a soft top layer for comfort paired with a firmer bottom layer for stability and responsiveness — is like Goldilocks’ porridge: it’s just right. Not too firm, not too soft. There’s bounce, but it’s restrained rather than trampoline-like, sitting in a perfectly balanced middle ground. The result is a super shoe that’s likely to appeal to — and work for — a wide audience.

Stability

One of the biggest perks of the Nitro Elite 4 not having a marshmallow-like midsole is its stability. Some shoes — like the Endorphin Elite 2 — are unstable at slower paces, firming up only as you drive more force through them. That’s fine if you don’t anticipate slowing down, but for most runners the marathon is a tad more unpredictable. I ran my warm-up and cool-down at 5:30–6:00/km and found no stability issues at those paces. Even walking in the Elite 4, there’s none of the usual “will I twist an ankle before I’ve started?” anxiety that can accompany some of the softer shoes. Stability is further aided by Puma’s decision to add an extra 8mm of width to the platform in both the midfoot and heel — a change that also makes them slightly more accessible to wider-footed runners.

Upper & Support

One of the first things you notice about the Nitro Elite 4 is its weight — or rather, the distinct lack of it. A big part of those savings come from the new version of Ultraweave, Puma’s lightweight mesh upper. It’s thin, with minimal structure. While it’s comfortable and easy to achieve a good lockdown, that lack of structure could be a problem for runners who need a little more support. The absence of medial support did make my arches feel slightly uncomfortable — though this seems to be a recurring theme across lightweight carbon racers. If you’re already running in this type of shoe without issue, there’s nothing to suggest the Pumas will cause any problems.

Outsole

What outsole? To shed even more weight, Puma has trimmed down the outsole rubber — it’s thinner, there’s less of it, and the medial heel rubber has been done away with altogether. My first concern was grip. Opening the curtains to a typically wet British day wasn’t exactly reassuring. But I was pleasantly surprised. Having unwittingly stumbled upon a kids’ parkrun at my local park, I ended up putting the shoes through some questionable conditions — gravel, wet grass, and plenty of quick direction changes on wet tarmac to avoid a small-child catastrophe. PUMAGRIP is known as one of the best in the game, and despite its reduced presence on the Elite 4, it earned that reputation.

The lingering concern — and one I can’t yet answer — is durability. The exposed medial heel may give heavy heel-strikers a reason to be cautious, even if A-TPU is significantly more durable than PEBA.

Gritty Verdict

After effortlessly breaking a PB in the Nitro Elite 4, I have nothing but love for them. They’re far from the softest shoe in the category, but that’s precisely the point. The real value lies in how the measured propulsion of the A-TPU NITROFOAM ELITE midsole, combined with the newly-designed carbon-fibre plate and rocker, encourages quick turnover — keeping your legs cycling through the gait cycle even as fatigue sets in.

What surprised me wasn’t the PB itself (I’d been mainly running trails and hadn’t tested my pace in a while) — it was how effortless it felt. After my last 10K PB, I keeled over at the side of the road. This time, I ran on for another couple of kilometres before pulling back. Some of that credit goes to the Elite 4s.

What’s even better is that they work equally well for shorter efforts (5K/10K) as they do for longer ones (half/full marathon). At around 170g, they’re barely noticeable on foot, and the efficiency they encourage makes running in them feel natural. A little more medial support would be welcome — but that’s a familiar compromise in this category. What I’m most confident about is that the Elite 4s will slot seamlessly into almost any runner’s rotation. Exactly where depends on the individual.

Price

At £209.99 (or £178.49 with the Gritty Runners subscriber discount code), the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 is one of the better-value race day super shoes on the market. More and more brands are nudging towards £300 (the Puma Fast R3 included), so it’s good to see one of Puma’s flagship race day shoes remain sensibly priced.

There is a caveat, though. The absence of outsole rubber on the medial heel raises questions about longevity. As discussed in our review of the ASICS Megablast, the real cost of a shoe comes down to price per mile — and hopefully the Elite 4’s relatively modest outlay doesn’t prove misleading. While it’s impressive to see a shoe this light at this price, most runners would likely benefit more from extra durability than the few grams saved by losing the rubber.

Who Will (and Won’t) They Work For?

I’m not in the habit of gatekeeping super shoes — wear what you want, especially if it makes you feel good and keeps you running. The problem with specifying pace ranges is that what feels fast to one runner feels easy to another. For what it’s worth, the Elite 4s felt comfortable and, importantly, stable anywhere from 4:20 to 6:00/km.

With its Goldilocks midsole feel, the Nitro Elite 4 will suit most runners — unless you sit firmly at either extreme of the firmness spectrum.

To err on the side of caution, there are two potential sticking points. First, the upper’s lack of structure won’t suit everyone. Though it’s worth noting this is true of most race day shoes — you simply can’t have something ultra-lightweight and performance-focused that also cradles your foot. If support is a priority, the answer may be a different category altogether, like a more structured training shoe (the Superblast, for instance). Second, there’s a mild durability concern for heavy heel-strikers given the exposed medial heel — though it’s worth noting the midfoot is also exposed, as it is on most running shoes.

Related Articles

• If you don’t want to pay new release prices, we’ve put together a list of the best discounted carbon-plated racing shoes (and the best-value everyday running shoes here) currently available.
• Need a training companion to go with the Elite 4s? Check out the ASICS Megablast for a performance-focused shoe, or the Mizuno Neo Zen 2s for a dependable daily trainer.
• Don’t forget, when you subscribe to the Gritty Runners newsletter, you’ll receive a fresh 15% discount code for SportsShoes every month, bringing the Nitro Elite 4 down to an even more reasonable £178.49.