Article by Shannon Payne, Jana Herzgova, and Jeremy Marie
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 HYROX ($230)
Introduction
The Deviate Nitro Elite 3 HYROX is a co-branded version of Puma's top marathon shoe the Elite 3 intended for Hyrox competition. Hyrox is an indoor competition alternating eight 1km run with 8 different functional fitness challenges.
Our testers, all strong runners who also participate in functional fitness workouts and competitions, put the Elite 3 to the test and share their take.
Pros:
Light, comfortable
Very reactive Nitro Elite Foam and PWRPlate combination, making runs a treat
PumaGrip delivers the goods
Cons:
Too soft a foam for heavy lifting
Stability impaired for Farmer’s Carry or weighted lunge
Be careful during the run’s corners
Please find the testers full run/Hyrox bios at the end of the article after Comparisons.
Stats
Sample Weights:
men 7.05 oz / 200g US8.5 , 7.65oz / 217g US10.5
women 6.28 oz / g USW8
Stack Height: men’s 40mm heel / 32mm forefoot (8mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 104 forefoot /52 midfoot /79 heel
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Shannon: My initial impression was that this is one sharp looking race shoe. Extremely lightweight with a minimal upper yet ample cushioning and a rigid plate underfoot, it appears to be the perfect mix of light and fast, yet forgiving enough for over five miles on the concrete floors that comprise a typical Hyrox course.
Putting it on, my first thought however was that I wished I’d gone up a half a size from my typical women’s size 8, which I did in the Puma Deviate Nitro 3, also a good shoe for Hyrox.
This shoe fits both shorter and narrower than its “non-elite” counterpart. I was also surprised at the amount of compression of the midsole upon weight bearing; this is a very soft shoe, and while I’m fairly certain I’ll appreciate that for the runs, I’m curious how it will perform on the heavier weight bearing activities such the sandbag lunges, carries, and the 100 wall-balls Hyrox has as its infamous final station before the finish.
There also appears to be just a little bit less blown rubber on the outsole in comparison to the Deviate Nitro 3 as well as less outsole surface area in general, and a slightly less structured heel counter.
I’m not certain those small tweaks will either enhance or diminish overall performance, but it makes me curious as to how it will perform on a heavy sled push where outsole grip and heel-lock are paramount.
Jeremy I reviewed the Deviate Elite Nitro 3, which was one of my favorite 2024 running shoes, especially for fast sessions. I found it quite versatile, light, and ultimately fun to run thanks to the highly resilient aliphatic Nitro Elite foam.
Now PUMA comes with the same shoe with a terrific new color scheme celebrating the Puma x Hyrox partnership, with the mismatched right and left shoe - something I really dig. A big, bold “Hyrox” logo on the medial part seals the collaborative aspect.
I’ll try to avoid repeating what I wrote in my Elite 3 review, and which has remained true after more miles in the shoes. The UltraWeave upper is supple and pliable, and despite its “delicate” appearance, it remains unharmed and still provides the same great foothold and adequate toe space.
Trying to consider the shoe more from a gym and Hyrox point of view, I still think that the upper does a perfect job of securing the foot for typical Hyrox workouts, and provides excellent breathability which is very welcome as Hyrox events take place inside, and given the pretty hard effort you put into, along with hundreds of other contenders, the air gets moist really fast.
Actually the only workouts where I can see the upper reaching its limits is during shuttle runs, where some caution might be required to avoid a torn ankle.
They fit a bit long (as I usually find for Puma shoes) so if you already tend to choose your shoes with 5mm free space at the front, and considering the use of the shoe, you might want to try half-size down. Now if you also intend to run marathons with the shoe, keep your usual size.
Jana: I first saw the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 Hyrox Edition while shooting Hyrox Las Vegas as the event photographer. Between capturing the action, I chatted with a few competitors about their experience with the shoe—some were really satisfied with its performance, while others had mixed opinions.
What initially caught my eye, though, was the design. I love how sleek and modern it looks, and the pair I received has a unique color split: bright green with a white upper on the left shoe and the opposite on the right. It’s a bold, standout look—exactly the kind of design that makes a statement.
The moment I got my hands on them, I could tell this was a serious performance shoe. Holding it, I immediately noticed how incredibly light it is—definitely a promising start for a shoe designed for speed and efficiency. Everything about it, from the aggressive shape to the minimal yet structured build, suggested it was made for racing. I was excited to lace them up and see if the performance matched the aesthetics.
Slipping them on, the fit felt snug but comfortable. The engineered mesh upper is breathable and wraps around the foot nicely without feeling restrictive. It has a secure, locked-in feel that’s great for fast-paced efforts, and the toe box gives just enough room to prevent discomfort. However, it does run a little narrow, so wider-footed runners might want to take that into account. The padding around the heel collar adds just enough comfort without excess bulk, and overall, the upper feels premium and race-ready.
I don’t usually wear socks for my gym workouts and the short runs I do between exercises (up to 1km), so I was a little concerned about potential chafing. But after multiple sessions, I haven’t had any issues at all. The inside of the shoe is smooth and comfortable, with no noticeable hotspots or irritation points. That’s a huge plus for me, as some race-oriented shoes can be a little rough when worn sockless.
Midsole & Platform
Jana: The cushioning in these shoes hits a sweet spot—soft enough to take the edge off hard landings but firm enough to keep things feeling snappy. There’s a nice spring with every step, making them feel fast without being too aggressive.
The lightweight foam doesn’t feel mushy, and the plate inside the shoe adds a noticeable push forward. Whether I was picking up the pace or cruising through easier efforts, the ride felt smooth and efficient.
Jeremy: The new Nitro Elite foam is an aliphatic TPU foam, which is way more responsive than previous Nitro Elite foam that I experienced in the Fast-R.
There’s still the PWRPLATE carbon plate sandwiched in, closer to the outsole so that the general feeling when running is of a soft shoe. The foam compresses quite a bit, which is nice for running fast, with a short ground contact time and an explosive toe off. It’s like the foam is more dense when putting more energy into it, and softens a bit when easing the pace. That was one of the key aspects I felt during my review and which makes the shoe quite versatile for me, considering that stability even when running at easier paces was not degraded.
Now, in a Hyrox context, I find that the softness of the foam impairs stability during heavier weight lifting. This is especially true during gym workouts, where lunges will put a great stress on your knee and ankle stability, for instance, so the result will be the same during weighted lunges during the Hyrox event. But that’s the only specific workout where I can see an issue.
For every other station the DNE3 will either work as every other shoe: Ski Erg; rowing, sled push/pull…the terrific midsole of the shoe won’t help. But having such a responsive shoe will ease the runs and will allow you to put just a bit less effort for the same pace (running economy that is), hence giving a slight advantage coming into the next station.
Shannon: Echoing what others have said, I appreciated the exceptionally soft, bouncy and lively midsole on the runs, all of which are on quite a hard concrerte or paved surface both in a Hyrox race and generally within my own training as well.
This is a FUN shoe to run in. It feels fast, and somehow strikes a magical balance between feeling plush underfoot but with spectacular energy return derived from the plate within it. Of note for those who may have a specific insole that they prefer to use, in keeping with their minimalistic design, the insole is not removable nor is there enough volume within the shoe to accommodate an additional one should that be your preference.
Outsole
Jana: Traction is solid, which is also something I heard from competitors at Hyrox Las Vegas a lot.
Whether on gym floors, pavement, or wet roads, the grip has been reliable. Durability is still a question mark, but so far, I don’t see any major wear. The rubber layout provides enough coverage to feel secure without adding unnecessary weight.
Jeremy: Puma Grip, what more to say ? It’s been years that I’ve discovered this compound (in the Nitro Liberate…which by the way can be a tremendous gym shoe for those searching to strengthen their feet) and it yet has to disappoint me.
And this stays true in the gym, where the solid traction secures heavy sled push/pulls. For Hyrox, the runs involve a fair share of turns, and having such a securing outsole is a clear advantage.
Shannon: Puma Grip is tough stuff. While I did not have the opportunity to test on a slicker concrete surface with tight corners that may be featured at some Hyrox venues, generally I found the outsole grip to be excellent during the runs and fabulous on the sled push. Worth noting is that the Elite (right) does feature less blown rubber on the outsole than does its non Elite Deviate counterpart (left), but that doesn’t seem to compromise it’s performance whatsoever.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Jana: On the run, these shoes feel incredibly smooth and efficient. The lightweight build, responsive cushioning, and snappy feel make them a great option for both short and long efforts. They feel fast without being harsh, which is exactly what I want in a race-ready shoe.
Overall, the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 Hyrox Edition is an impressive shoe. It’s fast, fun, and delivers strong performance without the crazy price tag of some other supershoes. The unique design, comfortable fit, and solid traction make it a great choice for both racing and high-intensity training. If you’re looking for a versatile, well-balanced shoe that can handle speed work and gym sessions alike, it is definitely worth considering.
Ride (9.5): Fit (8.5): Value (9): Style (9.5)
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Jeremy: For the run part, my conclusion of the previous test stays true: the DNE3 is one of the best, most versatile and fun super shoes on the market.
Comfortable fit, great midsole/outsole combination providing both great energy return and very secure traction so that none of your energy is lost.
Now, in the Hyrox context, maybe its “lesser” sibling, the Deviate Nitro 3, would be more than adequate, due to the slightly firmer midsole which will be more stable during weight lifting, with just a little to lose on the runs.
Anyway, the Deviate Elite Nitro 3 is, as Jana said, an impressive shoe, and this special color scheme makes it stand out from the crowd even more.
Ride 9.8 Fit 9.5 Value 9.7 Style 10
Smiles Fun Score! 😊😊😊😊😊
Shannon: The Ntiro Elite is a blast of a shoe to run in; it’s fast, it’s fun, it’s minimal, and beyond the weightroom, I would bust it out for a 5k to half marathon race or any fast workout any day of the week.
I have to say though that the non-elite Deviate Nitro 3 set the bar awfully high when it came to overall functionality on some of the zones. To me, that shoe feels like the Hyrox shoe and doesn’t fall short anywhere in any way.
I felt the Elite’s biggest shortcoming was that the midsole is just too soft for my taste on weight bearing activities like the sandbags, carry, and wall balls, and gave it a slight feeling of instability on those zones that I did not feel even a little bit of in the regular Deviate Nitro.
! add a “zone functionality” category to my rating for this shoe as well to account for some of those activities.
Bottom line, this is a solid hybrid racing shoe and it won’t let you down on the much-feared sled push, so no worries there, but I would not place it below the “non-elite” Deviate Nitro 3 in terms of performance, on the contrary actually. I would also reiterate that in the women’s sizing, move up ½ size from your typical Puma sizing to achieve the best fit.
Ride: 9
Fit: 7.5
Value: 8
Style: 10
Zone Functionality: 8
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3 Comparisons
Puma Deviate Nitro 3 (RTR Run Review)
Shannon: An obvious comparison to make, the hype is real on this shoe. The fit is excellent, it’s terrific on the runs, and overall it has a more stable feeling both running and particularly with anything weight bearing. The only thing making this feel like “less” of a race shoe is the more substantial upper and higher weight, which I felt was more than easy to overlook. I can’t say enough great things about this shoe with regards to Hyrox performance and I get straight-up excited every time I put this shoe on.
Jeremy: I’ll compare with the first Deviate Nitro, as I think it has the same “flavour” of the 3 and I totally agree with Shannon. The firmer midsole adds welcome stability of weight lifting and I think, given the short runs in an Hyrox contest, that you won’t loose much versus the Elite version. And It’ll be a far more versatile options for every other runs.
Saucony Kinvara (RTR Run Review)
Shannon:This has historically been my go-to shoe for just about everything, but don’t use this shoe for Hyrox, okay? While it is light and a good amount of midsole to use as a race shoe for this distance, it features nowhere near the outsole grip that is needed for the sled–particularly in the pro weights–and it will feel slippery underfoot on any slick spots or sharp corners on the course. This is a fine training shoe for Hyrox, but definitely leave it at home on race day and thank me later..
Brooks Hyperion (RTR Run Review)
Shannon:This shoe is highly underrated in my opinion, and is one plated-midsole away from being very competitive with Puma’s Deviate Nitro series in the Hyrox world. While it does lack a little bit of pop and the forgiving underfoot feel that Puma features, it is wonderfully stable, has excellent outsole grip, and doesn't fall short performance-wiset on any zone. If you prefer more of an “old-school” race shoe with no bells and whistles, this shoe will absolutely get the job done in Hyrox.
Tester Profiles
Shannon is a Colorado native currently residing in Northern California. Having run competitively for over 20 years, she was a 7x All American at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, was a 2x member of the U.S. Mountain Running Team, 2x winner of the Mt. Washington Road Race, and was 3rd at the 2014 World Mountain Running Long Distance Championship.Currently, she competes as a member of the Sacramento Running Association’s USATF racing team. More recently, she has found her way into the hybrid athlete world in 2022 and since has 2 top-12 finishes among the elite women at the DEKAfit World Championships, and just completed her first Hyrox in 1:14 with an ultimate goal of qualifying for Worlds in her age group in the open weight division. Beyond running and the weightroom, she can also be found putting in the miles on her absolute favorite training tool of all time, the Elliptigo
Jeremy MARIE, French, 44y/o. Running since 2013 and quickly transitioned to trails, focused on ultras since 2015, and then triathlon since 2019: the more sports, the better !
Mixing sports is a nice way of limiting injuries - or deal with them ! - and so regular gym workouts since 3-4 years. Hyrox is a new opportunity to discover a different kind of efforts !
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Jana Herzgova took up running in 2016, after a back injury. Prior to that she was a speed skater, but due to back pain and doctor's recommendation, she transitioned into running. Since then, starting with shorter ultra distance races she quickly evolved into an avid long distance and unsupported mountain runner. She also loves to take on challenges/races in arctic and subarctic climates, mainly in unsupported and semi-self supported style. She currently lives in Utah/Wyoming.
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