Puma Deviate Nitro 2 Review: These Sneakers Seriously Boosted My Confidence as a Beginner Runner

I began running last fall, and after I say I did so cautiously, casually, and, above all, slowly, I mean I could have had a reasonably competitive race against Aesop’s tortoise. I never planned to make running my foremost type of exercise, so I figured I didn’t need a pair of performance-level shoes to do it.

I spent months plodding down the sidewalk in sneakers that lacked adequate cushioning, felt dull as an alternative of springy, and just made my outings somewhat boring. Then I tested a sample of the Puma’s Deviate Nitro 2 for SELF’s 2023 Sneaker Awards. Not only did this shoe remind me that I can have nice things, it also gave me the footing I needed (heh) to change into a more enthusiastic runner.

Who it’s for

The primary iteration of the Deviate Nitro impressed runners when it got here out a pair years ago, and this newer model takes that design and ups the ante: In response to Puma’s site, the Deviate Nitro 2 is more responsive and features an updated platform that makes toeing off more seamless. There’s also more padding across the ankle and traction on the outsole for good measure. With these form of all-around upgrades, it’s intended for runners trying to increase their speed on on a regular basis runs.

Out of the box

When my Puma package arrived, the box felt nearly empty—to the purpose that I wondered in the event that they’d forgotten to truly include the shoes. The Deviate Nitro 2 could be very lightweight, despite the fact that it has a large foam sole. The pair I received got here within the brand’s Royal Sapphire-Elektro Purple colorway—a reasonably inoffensive, if sort of generically sporty, blue and green combination. Colours aside, my first impression of this shoe was akin to that moment in any Batman movie when the Batmobile is revealed for the primary time: I couldn’t wait to take it out and see what it could do.

Fit and feel

If I assumed the Deviate Nitro 2 was lightweight in my hand, it felt barely there on my foot. It’s easy to tug on, lace up, and move in it—I took some practice steps and hops around my apartment, and it felt springy yet stable. It matches close against my foot, with a rather curved shape that matches where my foot narrows on the arch and widens on the toes. I ordered the scale I normally wear and, though I probably could have gone up a half size for added toe-wiggling room, I used to be comfortable with it.

On the run

I wore the Deviate Nitro 2 on several transient runs around my neighborhood and couldn’t imagine how good I felt every time. It encourages my steps to roll forward and into the following, and it balances its energy return with a pleasant level of control. It felt like my strides required far less effort than usual, as if I had tapped right into a cruise control setting—but I never felt like my legs were running away from the remaining of me.

Comfort-wise, I used to be immensely impressed. My shins and ankles can ache and fatigue pretty easily, but they felt great—downright sprightly—by the top of my runs within the Deviate Nitro 2. This was my first time wearing a running shoe that actually felt like an extension of my foot (albeit a greater cushioned, bouncier version of it). It made me want to only keep going.

Bottom line

I’m a giant fan of this shoe—it served as an incredible introduction to performance-level trainers for me, and I could see it doing the identical for others who wish to level up their footwear from the beginner’s stage. It is comparatively expensive in the event you only run from time to time, but it surely is perhaps value it in the event you find that your occasional outings feel somewhat blah. I highly recommend the Deviate Nitro 2 to people trying to train and improve their habits as runners, but I also think it’s value your time in the event you’re more seasoned, too, since it’s just so fun to wear and put to work.