TRIED & TESTED
Some Nitro Served on a Plate
The world ’ s elite athletes are all running in plated shoes these days , because very simply put , they make you faster , and if you have that same need for speed , you should give the PUMA Deviate Nitro a try . – BY SEAN FALCONER
Over the years , I have found it interesting to watch the development of the tech in PUMA ’ s shoes . One of their projects that stood out for me was Mobium technology – introduced around 2013 , if my memory serves – which featured a thin figure-of-eight bungee cord built into the midsole , which contracted and stretched with your foot to give the shoe better rebound properties . It was an interesting concept that unfortunately didn ’ t really hit the spot with the running market , but I give PUMA points for trying something new .
Now PUMA have come out with the Deviate NITRO , which the company describes as a “ max cushion shoe with improved efficiency for long runs .” But that ’ s just marketing speak , and could just as easily describe every other running shoe on the market . No , the real story here is the new tech , and it starts with the carboncomposite plate embedded in a nitrogen-infused midsole !
Riding the Plate Wave
The midsole is made from PUMA ’ s new NITRO foam , which is a supercritical material that provides a lighter and bouncier ride than previous midsole materials from PUMA , even their IGNITE foam . In layman ’ s terms , they pump nitrogen into the compound as it is formed and baked , which then creates subtle bubbling that ensures better cushioning and springiness in the midsole .
PUMA then added the carbon-infused INNOPLATE , sandwiched between two layers of NITRO and running till midway in the forefoot . This plate is designed to really make your toe-off ‘ pop ’ as the shoe helps to propel you forwards … much like PUMA ’ s Mobium band was designed to do , but this is so much more effective and efficient !
Furthermore , I like that the tongue has minimal padding and is gusseted ( attached to the footbed ), meaning it stays in place throughout your run , but at the same time my wider foot found the forefoot area roomy and comfy enough . That ’ s an important consideration for me , given that PUMA did build some of its shoes on a narrow last in years gone by , which I found too tight .
However , there was one part of the upper that rubbed me up the wrong way at first . The first time I put on the shoes , I noticed slippage in the collar around my ankle , and I put this down to the interesting design of an unpadded collar with two prominent pads a little lower down that wrap each side of the heel . I also found that the slightly harder upper edge of the heel cup area was digging into my Achilles . I therefore put the laces through the extra eyelets closest to the ankle and synched them really tight , and that took care of the slippage , and to a large extent the Achilles irritation as well , but I did find that thicker socks were better .
… But the Ride Solves That !
That said , once I got up to speed in the shoes , I quickly forgot about the collar , because the performance of the rest of the shoe was so good ! This shoe seems to promote forefoot striking and a quicker toe-off , and thus the collar of the shoe doesn ’ t play nearly as prominent a role as it would if you were heel-striking and squishing down on your heels . So , my take on this is that each individual runner will need to experiment with lacing and socks to find the most comfortable fit , and when you get that right , you will feel the real benefit of these shoes and their snappy forefoot .
When I ran in the shoe , I found it a little on the rigid side at slow speeds , but that ’ s understandable – this shoe is designed to help you go faster , after all . Once you get up even a little speed , and pivot ever so slightly more forward than you may be used to doing , those plates really kick in . Overall , I felt the shoe gave me the right balance between soft cushioning on landing and a snappy take-off .
The tooling of the shoe is rounded off by a PUMAGRIP outsole , which is particularly effective in the forefoot to ensure firm grip on the road as that plate does its ‘ slingshot ’ act . After all , the last thing you ’ d want with that extra power is loss of traction , like an over-revved car spinning its wheels . The stack height drop is 8mm ( 32mm in the heel , 24mm at the toe ), which is pretty standard stuff for a well cushioned running shoe .
My Only Criticism …
The mesh upper of this shoe is breathable and looks both modern and cool – and personally , I love the bright orange colour , because I like my running shoes to look fast ! The upper has minimal overlays , which is good – while they provide structure and form to an upper , they can make it less flexible and giving , and I think this shoe has just the right amount .
GET THEM HERE
The PUMA Deviate Nitro retails for a recommended R3999 and is available from PUMA stores and at PUMA . com
Images : Courtesy Puma
50 ISSUE 139 MARCH 2021 / www . modernathlete . co . za