PUMA Deviate NITRO Pure Review: A Versatile Non-Plated Daily Trainer

PUMA has been steadily building its presence in the performance running shoe market. At elite relay races in Japan, PUMA’s market share on feet has been quietly climbing — and the technology behind that growth is now available across the lineup.

At the high end, the Deviate NITRO Elite series and FAST-R series attract plenty of attention. Both are light and propulsive — legitimate competitors to the best carbon-plated shoes from any brand.

The Deviate NITRO Pure takes a different approach: no plate, just NITROFOAM™. It’s a plate-free design where the foam handles everything.

For my daily training, I rotate between non-plated shoes — mainly the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 and the Adidas Adizero EVO SL. In this review, I compare the Deviate NITRO Pure directly against both.

Read on for a detailed look at comfort, propulsion, stability, and where this shoe fits in your training rotation.

Product Specs

Spec	Details
Model	DEVIATE NITRO PURE
Brand	PUMA
Retail Price	¥19,800 (Japan)
Stack Height	Forefoot: 30mm / Heel: 38mm / Drop: 8mm
Weight	US 9 (27.5cm): 225g (measured)

Why I Bought the Deviate NITRO Pure

For most of my training, I limit carbon-plated shoes to one or two sessions per week. High-end carbon racing shoes amplify your output — I’d run faster, but the added load eventually caught up with me in the form of injury.

My go-to non-plated options were the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 and the Adidas Adizero EVO SL. Both are excellent, but the EVO SL wore out and the Rebel v5 was deep into its mileage.

That’s when I heard about the Deviate NITRO Pure. Having run in the Deviate NITRO Elite series and FAST-R 3, I’d been consistently impressed by PUMA’s feel underfoot — every model delivered.

Another draw was the outsole. The Deviate NITRO Pure uses PUMAGRIP — I recognized the outsole pattern from the Deviate NITRO Elite 3 — and I had high expectations for its traction on wet roads.

What Is NITROFOAM?

The Deviate NITRO Pure is built around PUMA’s proprietary NITROFOAM™. True to the “Pure” name, there’s no plate — NITROFOAM™ is responsible for 100% of the ride.

NITROFOAM™ Features

NITROFOAM™ is a nitrogen-infused foam that achieves greater energy return and lighter weight than traditional EVA foam. According to PUMA, the material stores energy efficiently at landing and releases it as propulsive force.

Research supports this approach: a shoe’s internal foam structure determines how efficiently energy is stored and returned.※1 The 38mm heel stack gives NITROFOAM™ enough volume to do its job, and one clinical study found a 2.4% improvement in running economy with shoes stacking 40mm at the heel.※2

The absence of a plate is a deliberate choice. A study removing the carbon plate from a high-performing shoe found no significant difference in running economy.※3 That finding suggests the foam itself — not the plate — is the primary driver of efficiency. NITROFOAM™ as the sole performance driver is a rational, well-grounded design.

Running Review

I tested the Deviate NITRO Pure across a range of sessions: jogging, long runs, and strides pushing below 4:50/mile (3:00/km) pace.

My first impression putting them on: a relaxed toe box and a secure midfoot feel. The internal strap prevents any lateral foot movement — unlike the EVO SL, where my foot shifted slightly inside the shoe.

Starting at a slow jog, the ground feel is soft. As I pushed the pace, I felt a moderate propulsion build — comfortable, if not as bouncy as the EVO SL’s springy rebound.

The 8mm drop is noticeable, but the rocker feel is milder than I expected — closer to the Rebel v5 in character than the EVO SL.

The traction impressed me most. PUMAGRIP bites the road hard on both dry and wet surfaces. I felt zero slipping at any intensity.

On propulsion alone, the EVO SL has the edge. But the Deviate NITRO Pure delivers better stability and a more confident, secure ride.

During strides, the shoe moved cleanly. The combination of light weight and exceptional traction means you can drive hard into the ground and the shoe responds.

Overall: a highly satisfying shoe. Whether it’s a rainy-day run or a stride session, the Deviate NITRO Pure handles everything.

Fit, Stability, and Propulsion

Here’s a detailed look at each performance dimension.

Fit and Lockdown

The standout feature is the midfoot lockdown. Compared to the EVO SL, the internal fit is more secure — no lateral foot movement at all. That security translates to confidence on long runs and faster sessions alike.

Ground Feel and Cushioning

The ground feel is soft — not mushy or floating, but with a firm, springy quality. Cushioning is ample without any sluggishness; the transition from landing to toe-off is smooth and quick.

The 30/38mm stack (forefoot/heel) is generous, but it doesn’t compromise stability or ground feedback. The cushioning-to-feel balance is well-tuned.

Propulsion

“Moderate and purposeful” is the best description. The shoe doesn’t match the EVO SL’s aggressive assist, but it clearly outpropels the FuelCell Rebel v5.

You feel like you’re doing the running — the shoe amplifies your effort rather than driving for you. Stability and propulsion coexist comfortably; even at faster paces, the ride stays composed and controlled.

Weight

At 225g for a US 9 (measured), the Deviate NITRO Pure is light enough to minimize fatigue across long training blocks.

Traction

The Deviate NITRO Pure uses PUMAGRIP on the outsole, and the traction is exceptional. It grips firmly on dry pavement and barely loses any bite on wet roads — I experienced zero slipping in any condition.

Both the FuelCell Rebel v5 and the Adizero EVO SL struggle on wet surfaces. The Deviate NITRO Pure is clearly superior in that department. For rainy-day training, it’s a decisive advantage.

Sizing

The Deviate NITRO Pure fits true to my size in other running shoes. Compared with other brands, it runs slightly large — there’s a relaxed fit in the forefoot with no cramping.

The sizing feels similar to the Adizero EVO SL — slightly more roomy in the toe box than the FuelCell Rebel v5.

Durability and Lifespan

PUMAGRIP’s hard compound is wear-resistant, and the upper reinforcement looks solid. Early impressions suggest strong durability.

I’ll continue updating the midsole and outsole condition as I log more miles.

Out-of-the-Box Condition

Here is the midsole condition at purchase.

And the outsole — note that I missed the shot right out of the box, so this is after a few runs.

Who Should Buy the Deviate NITRO Pure?

The Deviate NITRO Pure excels as a daily trainer from jogging to threshold-pace running. Here’s a clear breakdown of who it suits — and who should look elsewhere.

Personally, I plan to skip slow recovery jogs in this shoe and focus on moderate-pace sessions instead. Moderate-pace runs make up 30–50% of my training load, so the Deviate NITRO Pure will see plenty of miles.

Deviate NITRO Pure vs. FuelCell Rebel v5 vs. Adizero EVO SL

Here’s how the Deviate NITRO Pure compares to the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 and the Adidas Adizero EVO SL — three non-plated training shoes I’ve run in extensively.

Spec	Deviate NITRO Pure	FuelCell Rebel v5	Adizero EVO SL
Retail Price	¥19,800	¥16,940	¥19,800
Weight (US 9, measured)	225g	228g	232g
Stack (Fore/Heel/Drop)	30mm/38mm/8mm	29mm/35mm/6mm	38.5mm/32mm/6.5mm
Propulsion	★★★★	★★★	★★★★★
Cushioning	★★★★	★★★★	★★★
Stability	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★
Best For	Jogging to threshold runs	Jogging to intervals	Jogging to intervals

In terms of propulsion, the ranking goes: EVO SL > Deviate NITRO Pure > FuelCell Rebel v5. The EVO SL is almost shockingly assistive — it can feel carbon-plated. The Deviate NITRO Pure keeps you connected to your effort while still delivering a meaningful forward push.

Stability is highest on the Deviate NITRO Pure among the three, despite the tall stack. At the same ¥19,800 retail price as the EVO SL, the choice comes down to whether you prioritize stability or raw propulsion.

In one sentence: the Deviate NITRO Pure is the best-of-both-worlds option between the Rebel v5 and the EVO SL. If the EVO SL feels slightly too aggressive, or you want more forward drive than the Rebel v5, this is your shoe.

Summary

The Deviate NITRO Pure is a balanced, non-plated training shoe that splits the difference between the FuelCell Rebel v5 and the EVO SL. For runners who want purposeful propulsion without extreme assist — and a stable, secure ride for every session — this shoe delivers.

References

※1 Suo Y, et al. Hollow-Structured AFT Improves Running Economy Through Enhanced Energy Storage and Return. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2026;36(4):e70280.

※2 Baumann CW, et al. The Effect of Midsole Thickness on Running Economy in Well-trained Runners: RCT. Sports Med Open. 2025;11(1):41032180.

※3 Healey LA, Hoogkamer W. Longitudinal bending stiffness does not affect running economy in Nike Vaporfly Shoes. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(3):285-292.