Puma Velocity Nitro 5

The Velocity Nitro 5 trades a bit of weight and firmness for a wider toe box, new wide-fit option, and thicker outsole, remaining an easy recommendation as the best value daily trainer under £100 despite a stack too low for long runs.

Best for: Budget-conscious daily training across easy runs, tempos, and races up to half-marathon distance, especially for runners needing a wider fit

Ben Parkes recommends this as a good-value, grippy daily trainer for runners on a budget, though it trades away some cushioning versus pricier rivals. He notes it typically retails for around £100.

Best for: A budget-friendly daily trainer, especially in wet/winter conditions, for runners wanting to spend less.

David (Doctors of Running) calls the Velocity Nitro 5 Puma's classic, traditional-feeling neutral daily trainer — soft and forgiving but less responsive than the Deviate Pure Nitro, and best for runners who just want a dependable workhorse trainer.

Best for: Runners who want a dependable, traditional-feeling neutral daily trainer

Lost round one to the Mizuno Wave Rider 30; the panel felt it skews toward faster training paces and lacks the Wave Rider's all-around versatility.

Preferred over the Deviate Pure Nitro for its faster-returning foam and more natural underfoot feel on quicker paces, though it falls short of the Evo SL's forefoot stack and edges behind the Novablast 6 overall.

Best for: Tempo work and runners wanting versatility across a range of paces

EDDBUD finds the Velocity Nitro 5 a solid, good-value daily trainer let down by a heavier build, an unresponsive stock insole, and a thicker, warmer tongue compared to the V4 — he still prefers the previous version overall.

Best for: Runners looking for a well-cushioned, good-value daily trainer for shorter-to-medium distance runs

Fordy calls the Velocity Nitro 5 a brilliant, lightweight budget daily trainer with an excellent ATPU-blended foam and great value at £110, but says the upgrade over the cheaper v4 is minor and advises buying the discounted v4 instead unless the v5 is also discounted.

Best for: Runners wanting a lightweight, springy budget daily trainer for easy-to-moderate midweek runs, including newer runners, as long as they don't need extra width.

A value pick as a comfortable, versatile daily shoe, expected to drop further in price over time.

A modest but positive update to a longtime favorite value daily trainer — slightly more cushioned and comfortable than the v4 with a more durable outsole, though existing v4 owners don't need to upgrade.

Best for: Daily training miles for beginners and value-focused runners wanting a durable workhorse trainer.