The Puma Deviate Nitro 4 is a do-it-all training shoe — now smarter and faster
Weight: 250g (UK 8)
Stack height: 38mm (heel), 30mm (forefoot)
Drop: 8mm
Type: Training, performance, neutral
Ali: The Deviate Nitro 4 is the carbon-plated training companion to the Deviate Nitro Elite 4 and it’s built for runners who are really focused on getting faster. I feel like Rachel and I had quite different opinions on the Deviate Nitro 3. I really wanted to love this shoe, but the versatility wasn’t quite there. That’s because the carbon plate felt quite stiff and therefore didn’t translate to the amount of propulsion that the shoe could provide. I also wanted to see a slightly wider midfoot (as the fit was pretty snug) and a more traditional heel counter.
But me and Rachel run in very different ways. I’m a little bit ‘slower’ than Rachel (my half marathon PB is 1:29 and my marathon PB is 3:16) and I'm a heel striker, so I always appreciate some rear support.
Rachel: I’m definitely more of a forefoot striker than Ali and my biggest running achievement to date is a 2:48 marathon – I always gravitate toward those longer distances on the road. Because I land more on the forefoot, I definitely make the most of any rocker or technology that pushes you forward but don’t necessarily need it to keep me going – and in all honesty, I’ve never needed as much support in the heel for the same reason. That’s probably why I got on a lot better with previous versions of this shoe than Ali. In fact, the Deviate Nitro 3 is probably one of my most beloved running shoes.
Puma Deviate Nitro 3 versus 4: What’s new?
Ali: It feels like Puma has personally listened to me when it comes to the latest Deviate Nitro, incorporating all the main changes that I wanted to see from the v3.
First up, we have a slightly lower heel-to-toe drop (down from 10mm to 8mm). More importantly, though, the PWRPLATE has been contoured to improve flexibility (hooray!) so it’s no longer as stiff as the v3. There’s also a bit more support in the form of a wider midfoot and a more traditional heel counter that ditches that strange shark-fin clip from the v3.
Rachel: We have a re-formulated midsole, too. It’s an evolved, dual-layer Nitrofoam midsole, which – if the name didn’t suggest it already – is infused with nitrogen and, as a result, gives you a bouncier ride. You can definitely feel it as you transition from the midfoot to forefoot with each stride – there’s a slight trampoline-like bounce that lifts you up and forward. But more on performance in a moment.
The biggest thing that I’ve noticed is that it now looks more like the Velocity 4, which is the latest version of Puma’s – quite underrated – daily trainer range, The tongue is the same as the one on the Velocity 4, the upper is essentially the same and it looks very similar as well. I think that Puma has really consolidated its lines to create a distinct ‘look’ to its shoes, which I like.
How does the Deviate Nitro 4 fit?
Ali: I went for my usual UK 8.5 in this shoe and it runs true to size, with a good amount of room in the toe box in terms of length and width. More importantly, there’s a bit more room in that midfoot. I actually laced up the v3 to remind myself of the fit and had forgotten just how snug it felt. The v4 is a lot more accommodating, although I still think that Puma’s running shoes in general – with the exception of the MagMax Nitro – favour standard to narrower feet.
In terms of the heel counter, we’ve lost that shark fin from the v3 and have a slightly more traditional, protruding heel bevel. For me, that provides a smidge more rear support.
We also have a new tongue, thank goodness. The v3’s felt slap-dash and lazy – similar to the New Balance Rebel v4 in that it looked like Puma had stuck two pieces of felt together. The new one brings things to the level that you’d expect from a speed-leaning shoe.
Rachel: I’ve been wearing my usual UK 6 in the v4 and, likewise, would say that it fits true to size. Unlike Ali, though, I’ve never really had a problem with Deviate Nitro shoes – or Puma shoes generally – being too slim, as I come equipped with narrower feet. In fact, that’s one of the reasons the Deviate Nitro 3 has continued to be a shoe that I’ve reached for again and again – it fits me to a tee and I find it really comfortable, which is always a big green flag when it comes to running shoes. But since no two pairs of feet are the same, I can appreciate why people with wider feet would have some difficulties with it.
Like Ali, I also appreciate the more premium details that we now have with the v4. The smoother upper hugs the foot more naturally and, admittedly, I didn’t even realise how flimsy the v3’s tongue was until I saw the improvement that came with the v4. The laces, too, have been tweaked for the better.
What’s it like to run in the Puma Deviate Nitro 4?
Rachel: As with previous iterations of the Deviate Nitro, I really enjoy running in this shoe – but it does feel slightly different to the v3. Is that a bad thing? By no means. For me, the previous versions were quite firm but still propulsive and, while wearing them, I could maintain a relatively quick, consistent leg turnover for the long haul, without feeling the slightest discomfort. For these reasons, I’d regularly wear them for even my longest marathon training runs.
More in Lifestyle
With the Deviate Nitro 4, I’m personally glad to say that we have retained that energetic but supportive ride. What’s new, though, is a bit more bounce at the forefoot – more springiness.
For me, this is a great easy and tempo shoe – transitioning between paces feels natural when you’ve got this laced to your feet. And if you want to add some strides to the end of an easy run, this shoe will perform them beautifully.
As for price? This shoe comes in at £150. Today, in a market where even daily trainers keep moving up in price, that’s pretty affordable. And don’t forget that this is a versatile daily trainer with a carbon plate – it isn’t a one trick pony.
Ali: I totally agree with Rachel and feel that the v4 is a really great upgrade. I really like the underfoot feel – Puma has really nailed that middle ground between feeling soft enough for easy cruising and longer miles, but firm enough to suit the uptempo running that Deviate Nitro shoes are known for delivering. The ride feels more consistent than before and the added flexibility from the carbon plate unlocks the shoe’s potential to greater heights than the v3.
I wore this shoe for a 25km long run involving three blocks of 4km at marathon pace and would say that it’s perfect for that kind of run. It very seamlessly switches between paces and finds that middle ground between not working you too hard, but not being totally effortless either. There’s a real sense of control with this shoe.
I would add that I’ve found Puma’s shoes in general to ride slighter flatter than those of other brands, which often favour a more prominent, rolling rocker geometry. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, like Rachel says, the Deviate Nitro 4 is quite similar to the Velocity Nitro 4 in providing that more traditional ride – until you reach the forefoot, that is, where that pop comes into play. A more energised Velocity? Maybe.
RW verdict
Ali: The Deviate Nitro 4 is a fantastic upgrade on the v3 and brings the shoe much more in line with the best high-performance daily trainers, such as the Saucony Speed 5, Hoka Mach X 3 and Books Hyperion Max 3. The versatility is great, too – I can do easy, long or speedier sessions in these. And for that reason, I could see this being a good racer for four-hour marathon runners who want something a bit faster than a standard daily trainer, but with more flexibility and support than a super shoe.
Although the ride is nice and smooth, if you’re after a shoe that really rolls you through your stride, this isn’t it. It’s not a totally effortless shoe, but you’re not having to do all the work either. Also, I have to call out the cushioning again. I think that this is my ideal blend. I love a middle ground between cushioned and bouncy and firm and snappy – somewhere in between the Hyperion Max 3 and the Boston 13 – and that’s where the Deviate Nitro 4 lands.
Rachel: I’m with Ali – this is a shoe that can do so much and one that I personally will continue to wear regularly for many of my runs, from short, uptempo efforts to easier marathon training runs lasting well over two hours. As Ali says, although it won’t do all the work for you, this shoe is a fabulous assistant – it makes daily miles feel that much livelier, without compromising comfort. No, it doesn’t have the razzamatazz of a carbon-plated racer – it wasn’t designed that way. What this shoe does offer, though, is a lot of understated, get-the-miles-done fun.
As a bit of a diehard Deviate Nitro fan, there are aspects of the Deviate Nitro 3 that I’ll miss – just the look and feel of it, really, because it became such a familiar part of my day-to-day training. But I’m excited about how this line is evolving and think that many runners, if they haven’t tried a Deviate Nitro shoe already, really should give it a go.
The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 will be available as a limited drop from 23 January 2026, and globally from 26 February 2026, at uk.puma.com.
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