TRIED & TESTED
Even
Better
Than
Men ’ s Model
Before
The lightweight , neutral PUMA Velocity Nitro 2 is a slight upgrade on what was already a really good shoe , offering a cushioned , responsive and comfortably smooth ride . – BY SEAN FALCONER
Images : Courtesy PUMA
In 2021 , PUMA made the running world sit up when it introduced its Nitro range , featuring new nitrogen-infused NITRO foam midsoles . These immediately proved popular because of their cushy , soft feeling , but still with a snappy , responsive ride . The Deviate Nitro Elite garnered widespread attention that year when US marathoner Molly Seidel wore them as she won the bronze medal in the Olympic Marathon , and another popular model in the range was the Velocity Nitro , a budget-friendly neutral trainer designed more for recreational runners . Now with the Velocity Nitro 2 , PUMA has managed to enhance the performance of the original shoe .
Targeted Cushioning
As much as NITRO foam has proven popular , some runners have found that the softness of the NITRO can start feeling a bit sluggish as your legs tire and you tend to heel-strike more and ‘ sit ’ lower on your heels . In other words , they wanted a bit more structure in their shoes , not just out-and-out soft cushioning , and that ’ s where PUMA has tweaked the design to improve the shoe ’ s performance .
The Velocity Nitro 1 featured a midsole made predominantly of NITRO , but with a heel plug of firmer EVA foam and a stabilizing plastic shank in the heel . In the Velocity Nitro 2 , PUMA has extended the layer of EVA foam , which now runs the entire length and width of the shoe and sits underneath the NITRO layer . This provides more stability for the NITRO , allowing it to do its cushioning job without compressing too much and becoming sluggish . At the same time , PUMA has reduced the EVA foam ’ s thickness in the heel , and increased the NITRO foam ’ s thickness there , while eliminating the heel clip . The heel stack height remains the same at 33.5mm , with a 10mm drop to the forefoot .
These changes are responsible for a softer feel in the heel and a smoother , snappier toe-off , but that plusher heel is obviously of more importance to heelstrikers , especially with that 10mm heel-drop . That said , because I am a midfoot striker and like running lighter and faster , more up on my toes , I still found the midfoot and forefoot provided great cushioning and a most enjoyable ride , with a noticeable feeling of forward propulsion as you transition to the forefoot . I therefore found these shoes ideal for faster tempo runs and speedwork , but I could definitely still do long runs in them .
I also found that the PUMAGRIP rubber outsole coped well with several different surfaces I ran on , including tar , gravel and grass , as well as wetter surfaces , and the treadmill . The Velocity Nitro 2 features more outsole rubber than the original , but more importantly , the new triangular lugs on the outsole provide exceptional grip . I felt really sure of my footing these shoes . Oh , and at just under 250 grams per shoe , these shoes are light , but they also ‘ feel ’ really light , too .
Comfort Ensured
I don ’ t mind admitting that I have really soft feet , and thus I like a bit of cushioning around the heel area . Otherwise , shoes can rub my Achilles up the wrong way … That ’ s pretty much the only reason I was not the world ’ s biggest fan of the Deviate Nitro plated shoe last year , and also why the original Velocity Nitro was criticised . Happily for my heels , this new Velocity Nitro 2 ticks all the boxes in this area , with a well-cushioned and comfy heel collar , and I had no problems with slippage , because it ’ s not too bulky to prevent the heel being locked down securely .
The shoe ’ s new seamless mesh upper proved comfy , too – not quite the stretchy sock-like fit of other shoes I have run in , but still very comfy . I particularly liked the toe box area , which is unstructured and allows my toes room to wiggle . The tongue is now also slightly thicker and more cushioned , for extra comfort .
What My Feet Said
The key to this shoe is its NITRO midsole , providing exceptional shock absorption with energetic rebound , but that grippy outsole and comfy upper are also big pluspoints . Meanwhile , the women ’ s version has been created with specifically for the female foot , with a narrower heel , lower in-step and sculpted arch .
In terms of fit , I have wider feet and found the half-size did the job in giving my feet enough room , while my usual 8.5 UK sizing seemed just right – the thumbwidth of space in front of my toes is definitely a thumb-width . However , some reviews I read said that testers found the shoes a bit on the longer side , and thus recommended trying a half-size down . This is one of those situations where you will only know if you go into a PUMA stockist and try the shoes on for yourself . As they say , if the shoe fits …
Women ’ s Model
GET THEM HERE
The PUMA Velocity Nitro 2 retails for a suggested selling price of R2799 at PUMA stores , Totalsports , Sportsmans Warehouse , Superbalist and selected retailers , or you can order the shoes online at puma . com .
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