Article by Sally Reiley and Sam Winebaum
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 ($250 / €250)
Introduction
Sam: The Deviate Elite 4 is an elite level road racing shoe whose highlights are:
very light weight at 6 oz /170g ,
state of the art dual density A-TPU foams,
and a more aggressive carbon plate.
It joins Puma’s other elite racer the Fast-R NItro Elite 3 of comparable weight and stack height as the more rear stable less radical option for marathon racers.
In a crowded field of competitors at the same stack heights such as the New Balance SC Elite v5, Brooks Hyperion Elite 5, and Hoka Rocket X 3, all promising more stable rides, it stands out for its considerably lighter weight, enabled in large part by its midsole foams and light upper.
The Deviate Elite Nitro 3 (RTR Review) was notable for its stability and friendly ride, even training ride for me, in what is a supershoe. It is clear from our testing that Puma retains that stability and more conservative ride while moving the Deviate Elite more towards an.. elite racing shoe.
Pros:
Dramatic (and felt) 30g drop in weight to 169g US 8.5 with no compromises in ride, stability or fit: Sam
Remarkably stable and secure for such a light shoe: Sam/Sally
Lighter, less plasticky, very comfortable and very breathable upper: Sam/Sally
Slightly wider midfoot platform and fit: comfort and underfoot stability: Sam
Cons:
Flat riding: not enough front drop in feel to toe off-stiffer plate and extended side walls of more rigid foam: Sam
Reduction in outsole coverage and rubber depth may affect durability somewhat. (but for sure helped reduce weight and now they are quiet unlike v3 ): Sam
Stats
Spec. Weight: men's 170g / 6 oz US9 (Elite 3 6.84oz / 194g (US9/EU42)
Sample Weights:
men’s 5.96 oz / 169g US 8.5 EU 41 (v3: 7.02 / 199g US8.5)
women’s 5.2 oz / 147 g US W8
Stack Height: 40 mm heel / 32mm forefoot
Platform Widths:
V4: 80 mm heel / 60 mm midfoot / 104 mm forefoot
v3: 80 mm heel / 52 mm midfoot / 104 mm forefoot
Most comparable shoes
NB SC Elite v5
Hoka Rocket X 3
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Sam: The upper is now a thin and highly ventilated and elaborately patterned non stretch engineered mesh, moving from the more plasticky thin mono type mesh of v3.
The tongue is a soft leatherette that is lighted padded in the lace up area and now features ridged laces with the tongue changing (left above in v3) from a cushioned mesh and wide flat laces. Lace up is easy and effective with no lace bite, Neither version has a tongue gusset and I think one would be helpful here given the light mesh.
The midfoot underfoot platform is now 8mm wider and thus wider fitting midfoot runners will find a bit more room there. The V4 has no PWRTAPE underlays, as V3 had, relying instead on dense strips of mesh. I think a bit more mid foot structure (underlays or a tongue gusset) would be helpful to secure the midfoot a touch better.
The lace up, hold and comfort is secure overall back to front. It is hard to believe such a soft and friendly upper works so well in what is a race shoe.
The midfoot as discussed above and rear heel counter and ankle collars are somewhat less rigid and less supportive than v3. The v3 has a more substantial heel counter whereas the v4 only has a far rear stiffener. I did get somewhat better rear support in v3 but have no significant issues with v4 and will take the weight reduction this change surely enables.
The toe box is plenty “wide” maybe not in appearance but, as is often the case, the mesh itself really determines the room.
I had plenty for my narrow to medium feet with the fit a perfect true to size. This is an upper I forget about once laced up.
Sally: I have not had the pleasure of running in the previous versions of the Puma Deviate (Nitro) Elite but the reputation of this shoe as a fantastically fast and comfortable race day shoe precedes it. Unboxing the Deviate Elite 4 got me even more excited: the shoe is lightweight (only 5.2 oz / 147 g in my US W8) and easy on the eyes with its white/navy/bright yellow sleek graphics, complete with a bounding cat.
The upper is a thin lightweight engineered mesh that is very breathable and yet supportive. The fit is comfortably true to size, holding my slightly narrow foot securely with room to wiggle the toes, a rarity in a race day fit. I would venture to say it has enough forefoot width to accommodate a higher volume foot given the amount of tightening I use on the laces.
The ungusseted tongue is made of a strategically padded leatherette fabric, and the simple lacing system uses my favored serrated edged laces often reserved for race day shoes (they rarely slip and come untied). It is easy to dial in lace tension for a solid hold, and I have not felt any lacebite.
My big toes are often sacrificed in snug race shoes, but this shoe affords some just enough bonus length and toe box height to make the fit comfortable, even for many miles. The heel counter is somewhat flexible and only moderately padded, but it does its job comfortably on my feet with secure lockdown and no irritations anywhere.
The unique thing about this as a race shoe is that it feels comfortable and natural underfoot from the get go - there is no mechanical forced rocker unstable sensation as often found in other race shoes. I could wear this shoe for warmups and then a race, and still feel comfortable wearing them post race. There is none of that all-too-common urgent need to change out of your shoes immediately post race.
Midsole & Platform
Sam: The midsole foam is state of the art A-TPU in two densities: softer underfoot, firmer below the carbon PWRPLATE. The foam is notably light feeling, energetic and forgiving for such a light shoe at barely 6 oz in a US9.
Also remarkable for such a light and svelte platform (80 mm heel / 52 mm midfoot / 104 mm forefoot) the Elite 4 is very front and rear stable I think in large part to its plate design but also and in a change from V3 by rising triangles of the slightly firmer lower foam.
The carbon PWRPLATE is no longer as spoon shaped and is now slotted and said to be stiffer and more aggressive with stiffening ridges as shown below.
Puma Deviate Elite 4 carbon plate
In my A/B testing with the 3 it is indeed stiffer and more aggressive. I would add it is now a more rigid and more flat riding (unless pushed hard) shoe than the 3. It is similar in feel to other 2025 shoes such as the SC Elite v5, Hyperion Elite 5 and Hoka Rocket X 3 in having a very stable rear feel.
The midfoot feel from the plate is quite mellow with no hump over spring sensation even at slower paces as it appears to me the plate is quite flat there plunging more gradually than some or there is less front foam give even though the top foam is plenty soft. The plate must be very stiff as even if it is bottom mounted it takes quite a bit of power to get a forward rolling sensation, and more so required than in v3.
I wished (without a plate hump in the mix) for a more dramatic roll forward to toe off as the 3 had. Even a bit of flex would be welcome. That said this midsole and platform is very stable and consistent riding with the 40/32 stack height of A-TPU foam providing plenty of very very leg friendly and energetic cushion if not the dramatic ride of Puma’s Fast-R3.
Sally: Puma says they are using a more advanced NitroElite/ NITROFOAM Elite blend with modified foam durometers to make the Deviate Elite 4 lighter and more responsive and propulsive than its predecessors.
And the sensation of pronounced energy return is apparent in the first run. The underfoot feel is well cushioned but not trampoline-like bouncy as one might expect from an Aliphatic TPU foam; there is a lot of obvious rebound for a delightfully energetic ride. To me the high energy return feels like a natural extension of my running gait and not a mechanically added boost in speed; this is the ultimate compliment I can pay a shoe.
Don’t we all love a shoe that produces splits and paces that are somehow faster than our perceived effort? The Deviate Elite 4 does this for me, bringing a smile to my face when I look at my watch.
I do feel a bit of flex in the PWRPLATE, most likely thanks to the new plate geometry and the cutout under the forefoot.
You can even see the slot of the plate in the cutout where the plate extends under the lateral and medial sides of the forefoot and some foam is exposed at the juncture. Most carbon plated shoes are totally stiff and don’t yield at all when you try to flex them; this shoe has some welcome give.
Outsole
Sam: The v3 outsole with its extensive rubber coverage, curved lugs and rear patches on both sides of the heel could almost be said to be trainer like In v4. We now have a more racing focused outsole and less of it than before including no front lugs and no medial side patch as we had in V3.
These outsole changes clearly also contribute to the weight reduction and with no medial rear rubber a notably quieter ride.
Outsoles: (Left) Deviate Elite 3 (Right) Deviate Elite 4
The front black rubber is notably tacky and sticky.
I raced a 10K on a combination of recently salted wet roads and dry and the grip was excellent. That said the now flatter profile makes them less suitable for looser surfaces such as gravel, slush, grass, etc.
Sally: I wrote in my concurrent review of the Deviate 4 that PUMAGRIP rocks and I will stand by that here. Sam shows above the tweaks made in the outsole with the intent of improving its performance. Suffice it to say that this outsole works great; its solid grip and excellent traction instill the necessary confidence underfoot. For a race day shoe, it has a decent amount of rubber, now strategically focused in a patch on the lateral side of the heel area and widely used under the forefoot. Given the Boston weather this past week I had no choice but to test this shoe on slippery snow-covered roads, and the grip was surprisingly good. And on dry roads I found the ride to be relatively and pleasantly quiet, oftentimes a rarity in a race shoe (I am looking at you and covering my ears, AlphaFly).
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Sam: The Deviate Elite moderately evolves away from its prior more “democratic” ride which was also great for faster training and as a first plated super shoe racing option, towards a far lighter and more aggressive elite race shoe. Yet at the same time, it does not lose its rear stability, a hallmark for me of version 3. I raced them in a frigid New Year’s 10K on wet roads (grip was superb) and found as long I was driving hard towards the front, sub 8 minute miles, I was able to compress and rebound the super energetic foams before the flat riding now stiffer plate caught up with me.
I also did an A/B test run v4 on one foot v3 on the other and it was clear while both are rigid the v3 had more of a forward roll sensation, and this despite the softer foams in v4, something I prefer given my let’s just say “low power” knee lift these days.
Keeping the more forgiving plate of the v3 and using the incredible foams of the v4 would be ideal for me. That said if you can drive hard off the front, close to 8 min miles or faster (unlike the v3 which was fine at 9 minute miles and even above r me), need some stability in the mix and might tend to heel strike, at its super light weight the Deviate Elite v4 is a great racing choice.
Sam’s Score: 8.96 / 10
Ride (50%): 8.8 Fit (30%): 9.2 Value (15%): 9 Style (5%): 9
😊😊😊1/2
Sally: The Deviate Elite 4 is built for speed yet feels remarkably natural underfoot. The upper has a refined, premium look and is instantly comfortable and true to size, securing my foot confidently with no pressure points. The ride is highly energetic and well cushioned—bouncy and full of rebound while still maintaining a touch of firmness underfoot. A reengineered carbon fiber PWRPLATE provides stable propulsion with just enough flex, embedded beneath layers of updated NITROFOAM Elite that deliver exceptionally lightweight, protective, and propulsive cushioning. The outsole features improved PUMAGRIP rubber, offering excellent, confidence-inspiring traction on the road in all conditions.
What I am loving about the Deviate Elite 4 is the pleasantly natural feeling “beyond fast” energetic ride that pushes you faster than the perceived effort. There’s no awkward or overly mechanical geometry—just an ultra-lightweight, comfortably fitting shoe that delivers consistent, quick, and springy forward momentum. It’s undeniably built for speed and thrives on it. I’m fortunate to have access to many of the latest top-tier carbon-plated race shoes, but the Deviate Elite 4 has quickly become a leading contender for my marathon shoe of choice.
Sally’s score: 9.40 / 10.0
Ride (50%): 9.4 Fit (30%): 9.6 Value (15%): 9.0 Style (5%): 9.4
😊😊😊😊
8 Comparisons
Puma Deviate Elite 3 (RTR Review)
Sam: The Elite 4 is significantly lighter (-30g) on the same stack height due its new A-TPU foam and more streamlined outsole and upper. It still shares a notably stable ride for a supershoe with the 3 and thus is a good choice for those runners who land further back or need stability. The Deviate 4’s plate is considerably stiffer, even if still with no midfoot hump sensation, as both have a relatively flat riding plate. Still bottom mounted up front, the plate’s stiffness makes it harder to roll through to toe off than before with the Deviate 3, a shoe that reminds me of the rolling action of the Vaporfly 1 and 2.
The Deviate 4 true to size upper has a more precise fit overal,l even if its more minimal heel construction and with no midfoot underlays is not quite as supportive there. Bottom line: the Deviate 4 is now a more aggressive elite type shoe than the 3 was requiring more front power striking to shine. I prefer the more easy going, easier to roll if, heavier 3, in this match up. Look to the Deviate 4 (non Elite) for the potential 4 hour marathon replacement at Puma.
Puma Fast-R NItro Elite 3 (RTR Review)
Sam: The Fast-R 3 is exactly the same weight as the Deviate at 169g / 5.96 oz US8.5 and shares the same 40/32 stack height. The experiences are very different!
Whereas the Deviate Elite focuses on some stability at the rear, the Fast-R is all about a forward landing and dramatic roll off the front with its extended plate. I find the Fast-R more suitable for my rolling stride and interestingly close to as stable maybe as its single density of A-TPU foam is as dense/firm as the Deviate Elite’s bottom layer while above the Deviate Elite has softer foam. Its upper is a single layer more “plasticky” less pliable mesh but actually holds my foot better The Fast-R “system” just seems more of a piece and more fluid.
Hoka Rocket X 3 (RTR Review)
Sam: Very similar riding and more stable super shoes but for.. weight..the Puma is a gigantic 1.1 oz / 32g on a slightly lower stack height. The Puma’s A-TPU foam is softer and more energetic than the Rocket’s denser PEBA while, at the same time, its similarly flat riding plate is stiffer. The Puma is a better shorter distance option for me as its feather weight can’t be ignored while the Hoka is a better long race and long training run option.
Sally: (W8 in both) These are both stable well-fitting shoes with great energy return and rebound and yet without the crazy aggressive geometries. Both are an excellent choice for uptempo training and racing. I think the Puma works better with my running mechanics to make it a marathon contender and the Hoka for me excels at the long quicker training runs.
New Balance SC Elite v5 (RTR Review)
Sam: As with the Hoka about 30g heavier in my US8.5, the SC Elite is also another stable super shoe option. Similar to the Puma it is quite rigid, lacking a big roll sensation with a denser slightly less energetic PEBA midsole, no surprise given the weight difference. Even though it loses the stats and foams war, I find it a more reliable and versatile option, equally adept racing as training, even if heavier.
Sally: (W8 in both) Both are really great stable supershoes that feel instantly comfortable without crazy geometries, but the Puma has more of a thoroughbred pedigree as a lightweight speed demon. The New Balance is heavier and more “democratic” and versatile for a range of runners, while the Puma is geared more to the aggressive uptempo runner or racer. The New Balance works better for wider feet and larger runners.
Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 (RTR Review)
Sam:The Hyperion Elite 5 has a similarly stable and consistent ride. It differs from the Deviate Elite in having (at those side bubbles) more midfoot to front flex, if slight, than the Puma with my sense its plate not as rigid as the Deviate’s. Its DNA Gold PEBA foam is comparable with less of a difference in feel between bottom and top layers.. While about 1 oz /29g heavier at the same stack height, and this is noticed, and. Its smoother, less rigid ride is my preference.
Sally: (W8 in both) I love the Hyperion Elite 5 for its natural smooth rolling consistent ride. FOr me the Deviate Elite 5 is the faster choice, the HE5 the more versatile and everyman’s supershoe. The Puma is a bit stiffer with less flex.
Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 (RTR Review)
Sally: (W8 in both) I just finished testing the Endorphin Pro 5 and was quite impressed. Both are natural feeling smooth and fairly versatile supershoes that have great rebound. The Saucony is softer underfoot, especially at the heel, and a bit bouncier overall. Unfortunately the heel collar of the Saucony dug into my achilles and caused some (bloody) irritation, but that lessened with time and hopefully won’t be a problem for too many others. I could run all day in the Saucony for uptempo long runs but I would choose the lightweight Puma for racing.
ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo (RTR Review)
Sally: (W8 in Puma, W8.5 in Asics) I broke my Alphafly 3 tradition and chose the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo for both the Berlin and New York Marathons last fall and finished both in a time of 3:31 with happy feet at the finish. The Asics felt fast, responsive, and protective underfoot. My legs felt fine the next day in both instances, a testament to the cushioning of the shoes amongst other things. The Asics might be a bit more mechanical and not quite as natural in feel as the Puma, but that aggressiveness works for me in a race and I seem to be a “stride” runner that benefits from the bouncy Metaspeed Sky geometry. Both are super lightweight at 5.2 oz for the Puma and 5.0 oz for the Asics (W8) with similar stack heights, though the Asics feels higher to me. The PUMAGRIP is far superior to the slick outsole of the Asics if you run on wet surfaces. Both great options, and for me the Asics is a proven commodity on race day but the Puma might still get its chance to prove itself.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
The Deviate Nitro Elite 4 will be available February 2026
Tester Profiles
Sally is a lifelong runner and mother of five who against her better judgement ran her first marathon—Boston 2014—at age 54. She has since completed 20 marathons, including twelve consecutive Bostons, four New Yorks, two Chicagos, London, and Berlin, and will earn her Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal in Tokyo in March 2026. She has raced in multiple Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships, running her marathon PR of 3:24:02 in London in 2022 (age 63, 6th place) and recently placing 3rd at the 2025 AG World Championships at the NYC Marathon with a time of 3:31 at age 66. Sally also competes in USATF events for the Greater Lowell Road Runners. She adds meaning to running Boston every year by running with Team Eye and Ear and has so far raised more than $360,000 for Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital. She stands tall at 5’2” and 105 pounds and lives in Marblehead, MA where she trains year-round outdoors. She blames her love of skiing out West for any Boston Marathon training challenges.
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:43 range. if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Park City, Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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2 comments:
It really feels like adidas got this one right. The EVO SL ATR keeps the fast, comfortable feel of the original, but adds just enough grip and weather protection to make it usable year-round.
I'm very much looking forward to the DNE4, especially as you all describe the geometry as more aggressive. The DNE3 had some quality issues for me, too, so I hope PUMA has addressed them.
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