PUMA Deviate Nitro 3 Review

Who Should Buy the PUMA Deviate Nitro 3?

Putting aside my personal issues with width, the PUMA Deviate Nitro 3 do a lot of things right. These are absolutely worth checking out if…

• You Need a Comp Shoe: Your training and competition is primarily focused on running and you are looking for a dedicated race-day shoe that offers solid forward propulsion.
• You Have a Narrow Foot: You’re an athlete with a narrower foot (E width or narrower) and need something that fits more snug without having to over crank the laces.
• You Forefoot Strike: You’re a forefoot striker and want something that provides good bounce and snap throughout your running pattern.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the PUMA Deviate Nitro 3?

• Wide Foot Runners: If you have an EE-width foot or above, these will be suffocatingly narrow and you’ll find your pinky toe spilling over the side constantly. They do make a wider version of this shoe, but it’s still not Altra-esque wide if that’s what you’re used to.
• Daily Trainer Needs: If you’re looking for a shoe to train in daily, the carbon-plate can be so-so for “all the time”” use. These are better saved for race-day or intermittent training sessions leading up to race-day.

Fit and Sizing

About My Feet: I have a normal arch/instep and my feet come in at an E/EE width. The length of my left and right foot are consistent with one another, and I size as a true US 10 for most companies’ sizing charts. 

My Sizing Suggestions

• Narrow feet: True to size. 
• Medium width: True to size.
• E and EE: Size up a half size.
• 3E+: Skip entirely.

I tested the PUMA Deviate Nitro 3 in my normal size 10 and the length was fine. The problem is the width. The toe box is so aggressively narrow that my pinky toe was literally screaming to get out and breathe. Even standing still, my foot was spilling over the sides. Thankfully the mesh upper was forgiving enough that it allowed enough give along the lateral side.

Lockdown through the midfoot and heel is secure. PUMA even reinforced the midfoot eyelet for extra lockdown, but it feels unnecessary given how tight the shoe already is.

If you’re a narrow or standard-width runner, true to size should work. If you’re wide, especially if you’re an E or EE like me, I’d suggest sizing up a half size. Anything wider, 3E widths and up, this is a no-go. I wouldn’t even recommend sizing up because of how narrow these run.

Performance Assessment

Note, I purposely didn’t test these for longer runs. I limited my scope to runs that are more dialed for HYROX prep. Think short runs around 5K and 1,000 meter intervals.

Hybrid Workouts & HYROX: 9/10

For workouts where you’re blending running and lifting, and for HYROX-focused sessions, these shoes do a really good job. They will have some limitations, but for straight up HYROX work, these are more dialed than most current running shoe offerings.

When it comes to hybrid limitations, keep in mind these will skew more heavily on the running side of the lifting:running spectrum. You can use these for bodyweight work, light dumbbell and kettlebell exercises, and conditioning that includes sleds and jumping. Hybrid workouts that include using a barbell or anything heavier, you’ll want to opt for something else like the Inov8 F-Fly.

For workouts that were focused on HYROX, so think my sessions with more sled pulls, pushes, and wall balls, these did a good job. The grip and stability demands of these movements were pretty easily handled by this shoe’s midsole and outsole.

Short Runs: 8.5/10

I really like these for short runs. From the moment I put them on, they felt dialed for forward propulsion. The Nitro Foam and the carbon plate deliver a great amount of snap and responsiveness, especially if you’re a forefoot striker. I’m not a fan of training in carbon-plated shoes every day, I believe they’re best reserved for intermittent training runs leading up to race day. These fit that bill perfectly.

Whether you’re headed out for a 5 or 10K training run, jumping on a treadmill for a warm up or cool down jog, doing some tempo work, or hitting internals during a workout, these are a solid choice for all things running. Just be careful that you don’t rely on them for every run so your feet continue building the strength to handle impact naturally.

Construction Details

The PUMA Deviate Nitro 3 is built for speed, and its construction reflects that focus. It has a foam midsole, PUMA’s Nitro foam, which runs the length of the shoe and houses a baked-in carbon plate that spans the forefoot and midfoot. It’s highly responsive and delivers good snap for propulsion, but it does make the shoe stiff. What the shoe gains in terms of bounce and responsiveness from the Nitro Foam midsole, it sacrifices in terms of flexibility.

The outsole is made of segmented pieces of rubber. There’s full rubber coverage across the forefoot for traction, plus two separate pads on the lateral and medial sides of the heel. Large portions of the midsole foam are exposed, which has me concerned about long-term durability, especially if you’re running outdoors or in wet environments. There is some extended outsole over the toe box, which adds some durability and protects the toebox against rocks and limbs during outdoor sessions.

The upper is a full mesh construction, designed for maximum breathability. PUMA added TPU overlays on the lateral side and a haptic PUMA logo overlay on the medial forefoot. The heel is a padded mesh boot with a TPU wrap that provides extra stability and support. 

The tongue is a thin mesh with no loop. However, PUMA added extra padding beneath the eyelets, which prevents the laces from rubbing along the top of the foot, a small but thoughtful detail. There are 5 core eyelets with a 6th for lace lock. The middle eyelet is reinforced for added lockdown.

This shoe is built for speed and competition, not necessarily for longevity, durability, and flexibility. It’s a shoe best reserved for intermittent training and the race-day itself.

Final Thoughts: Would I Bu Again?

The PUMA Deviate Nitro 3 is lightweight, breathable, and snappy thanks to its Nitro Foam and carbon plate combo. If you’ve got narrow feet and want a race-day shoe with serious propulsion, it’s worth considering.

For me, the fit is the deal-breaker. They’re simply too narrow to compete in comfortably and confidently. I don’t see myself going back to these, even for a one-off training session or short run.

If you’re narrow-footed and love shoes with a carbon plate, the Deviate Nitro 3 could be your weapon. If you’re wider footed or prefer more flexibility in your daily trainer, look elsewhere — because even the wide option can be so-so.