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

Ben Parkes considers the Deviate Nitro Elite 4 a fantastic, user-friendly race shoe — the lightest he has tested in this category — and plans to race in it, though the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo Edge still narrowly edges it out for pure speed.

Best for: Midpack marathon runners seeking a stable, comfortable, and lightweight race shoe without the aggressive geometry of top-tier super shoes

Strong pick for heel-striker marathoners; reviewers split — one couldn't get the Fast-R 3 to work but loves the DNE 4. Puma is intentionally splitting their racing line for different mechanics rather than trying to make one shoe for everyone.

Best for: Heel-striker marathoners who want a less aggressive super shoe than the Fast-R Nitro Elite — diversification of Puma's racing line

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 step back for the Deviate Nitro Elite line — too rigid, unresponsive, and lacking the character of the V2 and V3, feeling like an unnecessary attempt to chase Nike Vaporfly 4's design direction.

EDDBUD is disappointed by the Deviate Nitro Elite 4's foam, finding it denser and less airy than v3, and feeling that the Puma Nitro Elite foams aren't working as well as the second-generation versions.

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

The reviewer's current go-to race shoe, worn to a personal best half marathon, praised for being super lightweight and responsive with a great ride feel.

Best for: Racing from 10K to marathon

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

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.

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

The Deviate Nitro Elite 4 is praised for recent race performance and advances from its group before falling to the Saucony Endorphin Azura.

A solid, accessible carbon plate racer that delivers a smooth and stable ride without being overly aggressive; slightly improved over the previous version with more bounce and softness, though outsole durability is a concern.

Best for: Runners wanting a reliable, accessible carbon plate racer from 10K up to marathon

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 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

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.

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 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.