Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4

Believe in the Run calls this their favorite Puma race day shoe ever — a legitimate marathon contender with softer, bouncier Nitro Elite foam, a light and breathable upper, and a strong plate pop that finally puts Puma in the competitive tier of super shoes.

Best for: Marathon racing from sub-3 through 4-hour pace; a familiar, non-intimidating race day shoe for runners coming off the DV8 daily trainer.

Thomas's top race-day pick of the year — light, fun, familiar-feeling, and the ATPU foam plus carbon plate hold up well over 100 miles.

Best for: Race day across a wide pace range, from warm-up to marathon pace

Matt's first Deviate Nitro Elite he's actually liked since v1 — comes alive at tempo paces, less stiff than v3, bouncier and more aggressive without being overly stiff. Not meant for easy runs.

Best for: Heel landers picking up the pace at tempo and race efforts

Matt's current favorite and preferred race shoe of the five — best price in the group at $250, and the best match for heel-/midfoot-striking runners who want to go fast.

Andrea's #3 shoe of 2026 so far and one of her favorite racing shoes tested this year — the first comfortable Deviate Nitro Elite for her foot shape, with a firm-but-snappy ride that reminds her of the New Balance SC Elite v3.

A lighter, firmer, more controlling racer than the V3 that rewards aggressive cadence runners; exciting at half-marathon pace and above but probably not midpack-friendly.

Best for: Faster, cadence-oriented runners chasing half-marathon and shorter race times; fans of the Vaporfly 4 feel.

An aggressive, responsive racer that suits lighter, higher-cadence runners for shorter race distances up to the half marathon.

Best for: Shorter distances up to half marathon at faster paces for lighter runners with a faster cadence

Pick from FORDY RUNS' current favourite brand; he's run his fastest times in it and considers it one of the best racing shoes available — a toned-down Fast-R that works for many runners.

Fordy's pick as fastest marathon shoe; lighter build with ATPU foam suits confident, fast runners.

Best for: Confident, faster marathon runners chasing their fastest time

A notably lighter refinement of the v3 with a firmer, Fast-R3-adjacent ride that slots in as his pick for half marathon racing.

Best for: Half marathon racing for runners wanting a lighter, slightly less aggressive alternative to the Fast-R Nitro Elite 3

After racing a rainy winter 10K in it, Fordy reverses his earlier stance and now views the Elite 4 as a fast, stable, forgiving racer he is seriously considering for the London Marathon.

Best for: 5K through half marathon racing, and potentially marathon for runners who want stability with speed.

The reviewer won a mixed-terrain 10K club race in the Deviate Nitro Elite 4 and recommends it as the ideal secondary racer for British club runners on hilly, mixed-surface courses. It offers a more stable and grounded ride than flagship super shoes, making it especially effective when terrain is unpredictable, even if it gives up some flat-road efficiency to shoes like the Puma Fast-R 3 or ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo.

Best for: Mixed-terrain club races, parkruns, and undulating courses where a stable, lightweight racer is preferred over a max-stack super shoe.

The Deviate Nitro Elite 4 is the reviewer's top carbon shoe pick for road ultras due to its accessible, natural feel that works on fresh and tired legs alike — provides energy and assistance without being all-or-nothing, though it has a narrow platform.

Best for: Road ultra runners willing to race in a carbon shoe who want something more forgiving and versatile than a pure race rocket.

Tom's top marathon race pick if he were racing now — more accessible than the Fast-R 3 at his paces.

A tweaked, more performance-focused evolution of the Elite line that remains accessible; one of Tom's top carbon-plate race picks.

Best for: 10k to marathon racing for runners wanting a carbon-plated shoe that's still comfortable and accessible.

A notable upgrade on the Elite 3 thanks to significant weight loss and a punchier midsole, making it a fast, versatile, and approachable carbon racer that rivals more aggressive super shoes for a wide range of runners.

Best for: Marathon and half-marathon racing for runners who want a versatile, approachable carbon racer that also doubles for fast training.

The Deviate Nitro Elite 4 is a significant improvement over its predecessor thanks to a notable weight reduction and more responsive foam, delivering a fast but forgiving ride that suits runners who want carbon-plate speed without the prescriptive feel of the most aggressive race shoes.

Best for: Runners who want an approachable, reliable carbon racer for marathons and half marathons without the aggressive geometry of top-tier super shoes

A versatile, approachable carbon racer that is lighter, softer and more natural-feeling than the Fast-R 3, well suited to longer races and fast training.

Best for: Half marathon to marathon racing, plus fast training, for runners wanting a versatile carbon shoe with more protection and a natural feel