Puma Deviate Nitro 4
Road Speed Training · Road Daily Trainer

Puma Deviate Nitro 4

A versatile plated daily trainer that softens its ride while keeping snap for tempo work, though its carbon-composite plate polarizes—excellent if your forefoot mechanics align with the rocker, less forgiving if not.

"an excellent tempo shoe" — Kofuzi
Physical blueprint

Where this shoe sits

Weight 241 g
Heel stack 35.0 mm
Drop 8.0 mm
Cushioning Medium

Best for

Marathon RacingTempo & SpeedDaily Training
Suits Forefoot, Heel, Midfoot strikers
Pronation Neutral
Surface Road

Specifications

Weight (M9)
241g (8.5 oz)
Stack (Heel)
35.0 mm
Stack (Forefoot)
27.0 mm
Drop
8.0 mm
Midsole
NITROFOAM Elite (PEBA) + NITROFOAM (nitrogen-infused TPEE)
Plate
Carbon (Forked carbon-composite PWRPLATE)
Outsole
PUMAGRIP rubber
Upper
Engineered mesh
Lacing
Traditional

Fit Profile

Length
True To Size
Forefoot Width
Wide
Midfoot Width
Snug
Heel Width
Average
Lockdown
Good
Toe Box
Average
Sizing
True To Size

Ride Characteristics

Cushioning
Medium
Feel
Balanced
Stability
Neutral

Durability

Outsole
Above Average

Expert reviews · 7 reviewers · grouped per channel

BI
Believe in the Run Youtube

A solid update that keeps the Deviate DNA while trimming weight, softening the foam and lowering the drop; a capable plated daily trainer, though the $180 price puts it in tough company.

Best for: Budget-conscious runners wanting one versatile plated daily trainer for easy miles, tempo and fartlek.

BP
Ben Parkes Youtube

A solid, versatile carbon-plated daily trainer with a good grip and wide enough use case range from easy jogging to 5K pace, though its lower stack limits it for longer runs over 90 minutes. Good value at £150 but not a standout bargain.

Best for: Runners wanting a versatile plated daily shoe for uptempo paces and budget race day use, particularly those training for 4+ hour marathons or 1:45+ half marathons.

DO
Doctors of Running Youtube

A lightweight, versatile daily trainer at $170 that can do a bit of everything, but its very stiff forefoot plate makes it polarizing — great if the rocker lines up with your metatarsal heads, problematic if not.

Best for: Neutral runners wanting a lightweight, versatile do-it-all trainer whose mechanics align with a stiff forefoot rocker.

+1 earlier review from Doctors of Running

An excellent stiff, snappy carbon-plated trainer whose forefoot stiffness holds up over miles, best for runners whose toe joints line up with its rocker.

Best for: Runners wanting a stiff, snappy carbon-plated trainer for workouts and tempo, especially those with narrower feet or higher insteps.

30 miles tested · source
E
EDDBUD Youtube

An aggressive tempo shoe with outstanding PumaGrip outsole that rewards fast running but is less versatile than its competitors.

Best for: Aggressive tempo runs and half/marathon race-pace training for runners who like a pronounced drop.

+1 earlier review from EDDBUD

Decent tempo trainer with improved outsole and softer forefoot, but lockdown and tongue issues hold it back from being a major upgrade.

Best for: Longer runs with tempo injections for half/full marathon training

FR
FORDY RUNS Youtube

A strong all-rounder super-trainer that delivers exactly what the Deviate Nitro line is known for, with a roomier upper and slightly lower drop making it a worthwhile upgrade over v3.

Best for: A one-quiver super-trainer for runners who want a single shoe to handle easy runs, long runs, tempo work, and intervals.

K
Kofuzi Youtube

The DV84 is a substantial upgrade over prior versions, softening the ride while retaining responsiveness, making it more versatile as both a tempo and daily trainer shoe. Kofuzi rates it an excellent choice for uptempo and fartlek work, though notes the $170 price is $10 more than he feels it should be.

Best for: Tempo runs and hard workouts for runners wanting a versatile shoe that can also handle daily training

TR
The Run Testers Youtube

A solid improvement on the Deviate Nitro 3 and a competent do-it-all plated trainer, though outshone on bounce and snap by cheaper plate-free allrounders like the Evo SL and Endorphin Azura.

Best for: Runners wanting a versatile plated daily trainer with excellent wet-weather grip and a natural, controlled ride.

37 miles tested · source

Where it sits among similar shoes

Compared to other road speed training in the same lane.

Weight · lower = lighter Men's size 9
Puma Deviate Nitro 4
241g
Saucony Endorphin Azura 1
244g
Adidas Adizero Evo SL 1
235g
ASICS Megablast 1
221g
Heel stack · higher = more cushioning mm
Puma Deviate Nitro 4
35.0mm
Saucony Endorphin Azura 1
41.0mm
Adidas Adizero Evo SL 1
37.0mm
ASICS Megablast 1
45.0mm
Drop · higher = more heel-leaning mm
Puma Deviate Nitro 4
8.0mm
Saucony Endorphin Azura 1
8.0mm
Adidas Adizero Evo SL 1
7.0mm
ASICS Megablast 1
8.0mm

Puma Deviate Nitro 4

Data-driven recommendation backed by expert reviews.

Ask the advisor
Methodology. Specs come from manufacturer data and authoritative third-party catalogs. Reviewer verdicts are summarized from named, linked sources — never copied verbatim. We weight clinical and lab-tested sources more heavily than community commentary, but the specific weights stay internal. Never sponsored, never paid placement.
Last updated 2026-05-05