A lighter, more responsive evolution of its predecessor, this max-cushion trainer excels at easy runs and long mileage but divides testers on energy return—some praise its versatile rocker and bounce, while others find it soft and sluggish compared to rivals at its price point.
A versatile max cushion trainer that avoids feeling overly soft or heavy, offering responsive Nitro foam, a pronounced rocker, and excellent durability. Both reviewers gave it a green light, praising the comfortable knit upper, improved width, and ability to handle a range of paces.
Best for: Runners wanting a versatile max cushion trainer that can handle daily runs, long runs, and easy runs with the ability to pick up the pace when needed.
A lighter, bouncier and slightly roomier evolution of v1 that nails its brief as a plush long-run mileage monster, though the GBP 170 RRP is a touch high versus competitors.
Best for: Long runs, easy mileage and marathon training for neutral or heavier runners who want a soft, durable mileage monster.
A smooth, high-stack daily trainer with a pronounced rocker platform, though the firm Nitro foam surprised the reviewer given the massive stack; promising after one run but more testing needed.
A tall max-cushion trainer whose aggressive heel flare works well for some runners (midfoot strikers, Andrea) but clunks badly for others (heel strikers, Matt), illustrating that foot strike and landing location drive the experience.
Best for: Easy runs and daily training for midfoot strikers who tolerate a tall shoe with notable lateral heel flare
Solid max-cushion option with great Puma grip and warm-climate-friendly upper, but at $200 it's hard to justify when only standard Nitro is in the midsole.
A fantastic wide, cushioned recovery/easy-day option, but too heavy and warm to be as versatile as the Megablast.
Best for: Easy days and recovery runs, especially as part of a larger rotation; good in cooler weather
A wide, stable, durable max-cushion trainer locked into easy and recovery paces, but less bouncy and less versatile than the Vomero Plus.
Best for: Runners wanting a stable, wide, max-cushion easy/recovery shoe with durable PumaGrip outsole
Puma smartly reduced weight and improved the Nitro foam, keeping the stable wide platform that defined v1 — the result is a more responsive, more versatile max-stack trainer at a competitive price.
Best for: Max-stack daily training and long runs where the runner also wants to inject marathon-goal-pace work without feeling weighed down.
A serious contender in the max-stack performance category — lighter and more responsive than v1, stable, with excellent Puma grip; main drawback is price versus the Vomero Plus.
A subtle update that firms the foam and nudges the MagMax toward a long run shoe with pep, but the weight keeps it straddling the line between max-cushion and long-run rather than fully committing to either.
Best for: Taller/heavier runners wanting a tall-stack long run shoe with some pep for steady and marathon-pace work
A comfortable and well-cushioned daily trainer that excels at easy and long runs with excellent impact protection, but the reviewers found the ride too soft and lacking in energy return compared to rivals like the Nike Vomero Plus, On Cloudsurfer (Rad UFO), and ASICS Super Blast 2, making it less versatile and hard to justify at its price point.
Best for: Easy and long runs where maximum cushioning and impact protection are the priority over responsiveness or versatility.
A comfortable, wider, more cushioned modern daily trainer that leans toward easy-run comfort, but its higher price is hard to justify when the Magnify Nitro 3 performs similarly.
Best for: Runners wanting a cushy, supportive max-cushion daily trainer for easy miles and long runs.
A solid, comfortable max-cushion trainer but feels like a fairly standard cushion shoe rather than the explosive super-trainer its positioning suggests.
Best for: Protective, lightweight max-cushion daily trainer for easy miles
Solid, comfortable max-cushion daily trainer with good PumaGrip outsole, but lacks the versatility and bounce of the RAD UFO.
Best for: Workhorse max-cushion daily trainer for easy runs and steady mileage.
The more versatile and lighter of the two max-cushion cruisers, with a softer cradled ride; not a speed shoe, but a good pick for comfortable long sessions.
Best for: Comfortable high-mileage easy and long runs, with enough versatility to handle steady or uptempo long sessions.
A lighter, more responsive evolution of its predecessor, this max-cushion trainer excels at easy runs and long mileage but divides testers on energy return—some praise its versatile rocker and bounce, while others find it soft and sluggish compared to rivals at its price point.
Reviewers note: True to size in UK 9.5; lockdown is brilliant; no width issues despite other Puma shoes running narrow; no hot spots or blisters.
Per FORDY RUNS.
The Puma MagMax Nitro 2 weighs about 266g (men's 9), has a 46.0mm heel stack and a 8.0mm heel-toe drop.
Reviewers compare the Puma MagMax Nitro 2 to ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28, Brooks Glycerin Max 2, Nike Vomero Premium, Nike Vomero Plus.
Per FORDY RUNS, The Run Testers, Kofuzi, EDDBUD, Believe in the Run, Ben Parkes, Doctors of Running.
Next Pair aggregates 15 expert reviews of the Puma MagMax Nitro 2, including FORDY RUNS, The Run Testers, Kofuzi.
Per FORDY RUNS, The Run Testers, Kofuzi.
Compared to other road daily trainer in the same lane.
