PUMA DEVIATE NITRO 3
The Deviate Nitro 2 was my introduction to Puma running. Considering how far Puma running has come, the Deviate 2 will always hold a special place in my heart as my introduction to the brand. The Deviate 3 has been a highly anticipated shoe for me, and it does not disappoint.
The Breakdown
Men: 9.3 oz
Women: 8.8 oz
Drop: 10 mm
MSRP: $160
The Outsole
Puma continues to have the best rubber and outsoles on the market. You’ve got Pumagrip on about 3/4 of the shoe, providing excellent coverage for every touch point no matter your stride. This ensures that the Deviate 3 is a very durable shoe, while the cutout in the middle of the outsole saves some weight so that you still feel plenty of pep when taking this shoe through its (your) paces.
The Midsole
The Deviate 3 features more Nitrofoam in the heel, which raises the heel to toe drop, while also providing extra cushion for your miles. The Nitrofoam is incredibly cushioned and responsive, and the super critical foam has proven to be incredibly durable as well. The arch profile built into the shoe feels very nice, without being overly aggressive. The midsole also has a carbon power plate that gives you that extra pop in your stride, making this an excellent choice for your workouts. I don’t think the plate in this shoe is as aggressive as the plate in the Deviate Elite, so this shoe can also be used for your regular miles but it really shines in workouts with a higher tempo.
The Upper
The engineered mesh upper fits comfortably on the foot and feels nicely breathable. Puma uses power-tape in the upper to add some extra structure to the upper without adding weight to the shoe. There is a fin on the back of the shoe that gives a nice little thumb notch to hold onto and creates a cool aesthetic, though I’m not sure that it necessarily adds anything to the shoe.
The Fit
The fit is one of the biggest issues I have with Puma and I think that while a lot of brands have some inconsistency in sizing relative to other brands, Puma still seems to have some issues with the fit from model to model and color to color. With the Deviate 3 it does seem like it runs consistently short, so I would recommend going up a half size from your normal sizing choice. Ironically in my Elites (still getting miles, review coming soon) I went down a half size from my standard.
Running and Walking
This shoe is built for speed but also provides a solid option for those seeking a daily trainer that can do a bit of everything. The nitrofoam midsole is soft underfoot yet responsive on the run and the powerplate provides extra pep when you’re picking the pace up and really working on getting your legs to turn over. I also love how stable the shoe feels. When I’m doing a hard interval workout, my rest tends to be at a walk. I struggle with some of the faster shoes that feel great at speed but feel wobbly while walking. You won’t have that issue with the Deviate 3. We’ve had quite a bit of rain during my testing period with the Deviate 3 and I can say with confidence that whatever the road conditions, you will have excellent footing and grip no matter the season (well, ice is another bag of tricks).
I do really enjoy running in this shoe at all paces and think that it is one of those swiss army shoes that I feel comfortable recommending for just about anything. If you don’t have the funds to have a large rotation, and how many of us do these days, then I have no issue saying this is a shoe that you can take from day one to race day and get a solid training block and race in with this shoe.
If you’re a walker I think this shoe provides an excellent option, but I would lean toward the Magnify or the Velocity as I don’t think you get the benefit of the plate when you’re walking with the Deviate. The caveat to this idea being that the Deviate does have a bit more cushion than the Velocity but less than the Magnify, so if this is your goldy locks cushion level, rock it!
The Gym
While I prefer this shoe for running, if you’re gonna get your run done inside and head straight into a lifting session, I don’t have anything against the Deviate 3 for gym work. If you’re not into running but like the feel of the shoe, I also don’t think that it will interfere with maintaining a solid connection to a stationary bike or rower, as it isn’t overly stacked. The Nitrofoam feels great underfoot but doesn’t crush when you’re lifting so you’ve got some ability to move from station to station without worrying about the shoe getting in the way of your lifting routine.
Daily Life
Much like the gym, I prefer this shoe for running, and I think that the Velocity or Mangnify make better shoes for daily living as they are non plated; that being said, the Deviate 3 is incredibly comfortable when wearing as a daily shoe. The Nitrofoam combined with the Pumagrip provide a lot of versatility to the shoe and make it an excellent choice. The biggest issue with the Deviate for daily wear will be deciding on sizing. I’d still go a half size up from what you normally choose for a daily wear shoe.
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