It was only last year that Puma made a concerted effort to ramp up on its line of running shoes — an arena that it has had a longstanding foothold in, especially thanks to record-breaking sprinter Usain Bolt. The Puma NITRO series was launched in April 2021 and is the brand’s most advanced running series to date.
I’ve had the pleasure of testing out the Puma Deviate NITRO — the flagship shoe of the series — when it first launched. As someone who runs almost daily, I could feel a significant difference in the way that the Deviate NITRO helped to propel my foot forward with each stride. It’s a boon owed to Puma’s INNOPLATE technology that’s essentially a carbon fibre plate designed to provide an extra energy-returning boost.
A year later, the NITRO series as well as the INNOPLATE innovation, have been upgraded for better and faster running assistance. The PWRPLATE technology is the more advanced version of the carbon fibre plate element. It functions the same as INNOPLATE but engineered to help stabilise the midsole while maximising the energy transfer from foot to the ground, and back again.
In conjunction with the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) 2022, Puma reveals two new spring/summer 2023 silhouettes as well as the updated Deviate NITRO.
Puma Deviate NITRO 2
Best for: Amateur to avid runners for all types of runs.
Sports innovation and technology are routinely upgraded for better performance and so goes Puma’s flagship running shoe. The Deviate NITRO 2 is sleeker, especially in the base, for a more adaptive gear. It’s also fitted with the NITRO Elite foam (a technology that’s also included in the rest of the line-up here) for improved responsiveness as well as a more pronounced collar for better grip around the heels.
Puma Deviate NITRO Elite 2
Best for: Marathon runners who want to improve speed on race day.
Puma has designed the Deviate NITRO Elite 2 specifically as a race day shoe for better speed. It’s fitted with the newly evolved PWRPLATE for increased propulsion leading to more efficient energy transfers. And all these packaged in a more lightweight shoe that’s about 60g lighter than the previous Deviate model. The model also comes in a limited-edition official SCSM colours (green and blue) and fitted with exclusive Puma x SCSM 2022 insoles.
Puma Fast-R NITRO Elite
Best for: Marathon runners who want speed and superior running efficiency.
Another design made for marathon-running, the Fast-R NITRO Elite is visually a much sleeker shoe of the three. The midsole is separated into two and still retains the NITRO Elite foam and PWRPLATE technology. A reinforced PWRTAPE provides increased upper support and durability for longer runs, as well as a grooved heel for a more controlled landing. The design is meant to help increase bounce and a more responsive forefoot stride for maximum running efficiency.
Preview these running shoes and more as part of the Puma Community Run programme — a series of four runs happening in November leading up to the SCSM 2022. Register for any of the running slots now.
