Liteway Equipment is a cottage company based in Ukraine. They make ultralight gear for hiking and camping such as shelters, backpacks and sleeping bags etc. Liteway sent me their new one-person Illusion tent. It is a classic single-wall trekking pole tent, which uses one of your trekking poles instead of dedicated tent poles. This is my preferred style of tent, because I’m carrying my poles anyway and can save some weight along the way during my fast packing trips. The tent has some nice new details I’ve not seen before in other tents. It also uses SilPoly as the main tent fabric, which is finding more and more applications in ultralight tents recently, this in comparison to the classic SilNylon fabric. Let’s see how it performs.
"ForeverRUN NITRO ushers in a new era of stability shoes by encouraging an optimal running stride for everybody and every run. The new running shoe achieves this through a unique combination of cushioning with NITRO foam and enhanced guidance with its RUNGUIDE System."
Let’s get it out of the way, right away. I can’t speak to how stable they are for “heavy” pronators but for this predominantly neutral shoe runner it runs mostly like a neutral shoe with some neat twists that point to its potential for some support.
First, we have a dual density (soft inner core, firmer outer carrier) of Puma’s excellent light and lively NITRO foam, a nitrogen infused supercritical EVA. I have run every Nitro shoe and it is among the most dynamic foams out there if somewhat soft. Here they effectively firm up the outer carrier foam somewhat.
NITRO is light compared to regular EVA or blends so we have a giant 40mm heel / 30 mm forefoot stack weighing just 9.5 oz / 269 g in a US9. Wait, you'll say many supercritical foam shoes are lighter at similar stacks. But here is where the ForeverRun starts to show its “stability” focus.
We have a gigantic and broad 95mm heel platform with the foot sitting down in the midsole and backed up by a plastic clip. The Invincible Run 3 is about the same heel width and the Nimbus 25 is at about 90mm with both notably heavier at 10.3 oz /292g (US9) whereas here we are at about 9.5 oz / 269g
The next part of the magic here is that the midfoot platform is notably narrow at about 65mm and running to the front we have cored out triangles leading to the broad 110mm wide forefoot which has nice flex.
Holding it together, if you will, is a PUMA Grip outsole with full rear and front coverage. Together with the 10mm drop, and and overall design that Puma calls Run Guide System everything hinted that this would not be lumbering hard to transition shoe as the Nike and ASICS tend to be for me.
Oh and the upper. It is a very soft simple engineered mesh with tufted pods and a copious helping of equally pliable PWRTAPE overlays arrayed differently medially and laterally. Finally, in collaboration with the Kaiser Sports Clinic in Denmark, we have a sockliner with a metatarsal pad.
Bottom line, at first look, there is lots of carefully thought out design here and a very reasonable stack for the weight. Let’s see how they run!
Pros:
Finally a big stack stable neutral unplated trainer that moves lively and easy at any pace: foam, geometry, drop, flex: Sam
Transition from the giant heel to midfoot is particularly well executed Sam
NITRO Foam in dual density, more please! Rebounding heel and forefoot, copious cushion Sam
Clearly a stable neutral shoe Sam
Maybe not a speed day shoe but everything else is deliberate moving and rebounding smiles Sam
Super comfortable well held upper Sam
Cons:
Forefoot while flexible enough is slappy, pointing to a bit too much rubber coverage and not enough segmentation: Sam
A pronation control shoe, not so sure Sam
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 9.5 oz / 269 g (US9) / women's oz / g (US8)
Official:
Sample Weight : 9.26 oz / 263g US 8.5 sample
Stack Height: men’s 40mm heel (measured) 30 mm forefoot (10mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 95/ 65 /115 (measured)
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Bold, bright, and big in optic orange the ForeverRUN NITRO makes its presence felt!
The upper is a soft thin engineered mesh with functional tufts of thicker material for support. The media box was over the top! It even included exercise bands and a ball in a drawer below the shoes.
Support is also provided by PWRTAPE overlays in an unusual design with a front to back medial taping with 2 bands tying into the last 2 lace holes.
The lateral side tape ties into 1st, 3d (in V) and very front lace holes.
Obviously conscious decisions were made about where to put the support tapes and I find the hold excellent, just between “comfort” and “performance”.
The gusseted tongue has thin padding and with the soft thin laces, PWRTAPE overlays, and pliable mesh providing a very secure and comfortable mid foot lock down.
The sockliner is part of the design done in collaboration with the Kaiser Clinic of Denmark. An EVA type sockliner it has a metatarsal pad that was pleasing on try on but seems to fade into the background while running doing its thing without overdoing it.
The heel counter is semi rigid with a plastic clip that is not totally rigid as well. except at the far rear. It works very well to provide supportive stability without resorting to an over extended forward design as found on the Nike Infinity or Brooks Guide Rails. This design allows my foot to flow forward without the rigid inflexible sensation towards mid foot of the “rails” in the Nike and Brooks.
The rear collars have bolsters on the inside that extend deeper down than usually in such non rolled collar rear designs. Unlike many of the other bolster cushion heel and ankle areas (for example Nike Invincible Run 3 for several of us) there is no slippage.
The fit is true to size with a somewhat characteristic of Puma pointy very front of the toe box.
Midsole
The NITRO midsole is the “secret sauce” here. A dual density nitrogen processed supercritical EVA foam as with all Puma Nitro shoes it is notably lively and energetic. As a supercritical foam, it is also light allowing Puma to build to a 40mm heel / 30mm forefoot stack height with a very broad forefoot and heel platform and with an extensive outsole yet come in at a mere 9.5 oz / 263g US9.
Most notable in the design is the very broad 95mm heel.
Usually inherently stable shoes without posts or plastic pieces continue with a broad midfoot but here we narrow down considerably at mid foot. So, while the heel landings are notably stable, transitions away from the heel to midfoot for such a wide heel are notably easy. I particularly noted how stable yet rebounding the heel wass during test runs in Park City on steep hills with tremendous cushioning that was never sloppy.
Outsole
Plenty of fine durable PumaGrip rubber here in a single moderately firm flavor as the outsole itself is a single unit. The rubber is well matched to the midsole, neither over soft reducing response or over firm and harsh. Grip is excellent.
As always with the outsole I look at the underside geometry of the shoe. By reducing the midfoot rubber coverage and in fact concentrating it on the lateral side Puma clearly allows for the smooth transition I feel.
The cut out triangles exposing the softer central Nitro core, narrowish midfoot, no medial midfoot rubber converge and 8mm drop all contribute to a smooth flow from heel towards toe off.
The very front outsole could use some work. While the forefoot is clearly very stable I found the forefoot a bit slappy, for me usually an indication of not enough flex and segmentation. The shoe has some stiffer flex up front no question but I think the front rubber could be more segmented across the shoe as there are plenty of cut throughs but they are not connected across the width of the platform.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Sam: None of the recent big stack trainers except the Craft Pro Endur and plated SC Trainer have been much to my liking, especially those that try for “inherent stability” such as Nimbus 25, the new Invincible Run 3, Ultraboost Light, or Puma’s 2022 Magnify. They tend to be lumbering, overly broad underfoot (and especially at mid foot), stiff, and not always any pace versatile.
The ForeverRUN Nitro is none of the above. It is highly cushioned, Nitro foam lively and fun without being overly soft or firm, stable “enough” and is smooth flowing at any pace. Credit goes to the relatively narrow mid foot platform, the cut throughs and the elegantly arrayed outsole. While a bit "bulky" in geometry it is light and can serve most daily training needs from moderate pace everyday runs to long runs to recovery runs.
I am not convinced that it is an ideal shoe for heavy “late” more midfoot pronators but if you need the support on heel landing at the rear of the shoe you will for sure find it here. It is ideal for “heavy” hard heel landing including steep downhills.
It is light at 9.5 oz for its 40mm heel and has enough drop at 10mm and flex to never get in its way.
My only negative is that the forefoot is a bit slappy and stiff (overly stabilized, overly broad?) even with the shoe broken in and more flexible. A bit more segmentation across the width and less rubber might help. Even with the outsole issues upfront the Nitro foam midsole comes through with lots of forefoot rebound and cushion.
In the wish list department I would love to see a similar dual density midsole and trimmed down outsole on a less broad platform (lighter and more agile) which I think would make for a model that would be a near ideal run any pace trainer.
Even on tired legs at slow paces every run brought smiles. A bit “bulky” but never heavy or heavy feeling), other Puma Deviate Nitro, Liberate, Velocity) are better suited to speedier training days but for 80% of my miles, the regular easier ones the ForeverRUN is the one I want to reach for.
Puma really has delivered a powerful refinement of what max cushion daily trainers can be here by carefully blending some stability from the broad platform with attention to run flow through the geometry and outsole. Finally the upper is without reproach for comfort, hold, and fit.
Weighing about 0.8 oz more this previous generation inherently stable big trainer from Puma had a dual density midsole with a firm EVA carrier and internal core of Nitro. Much more lumbering and not as much fun to run, the Forever easily replaces it for me with a more lively foam ride and smoother transitions and toe offs.
These two are direct competitors in the stable neutral category and share 8mm drops. The ASICS weighs 10.3 oz / 292 g (US9) 23g, so is 0.8 oz heavier a very slightly higher stack of midsole foam. In the duel between Flyte Foam Blast + and dual density Nitro, the Nitro wins with a more energetic foam. In the overall ride competition, the Puma also wins for me with a less broad blocky midfoot and a more flexible forefoot. It’s close for the uppers but here the luxurious Nimbus upper with its yet softer feel wins although the narrower front of the toe box Puma's is a bit more secure and locked down. Both true to size.
As with all the other max cushion shoes here except the Superblast, the IR3 weighs 0.8 oz more on essentially the same platform height and close to the same platform width. And it weighs more despite having a full super light ZoomX supercritical PEBA foam midsole. Why? Nike lathers on a full stiff outsole front to back and the upper is denser and heavier. Mostly rocker based compared to the more flexible Puma ( in a big stack shoe I prefer either flex as the Puma has or a plate) the Nike favors a more mid to forefoot strike to activate its rocker, while the Puma is good for either a heel strike (strength) or forefoot strike. While Zoom X is magical and superior to Nitro, it doesn’t shine as brightly in the IR3 for me as what surrounds the outsole and upper just doesn’t move as easily with the stiffness of the upper in the NIke also affecting ride and flow more than the smooth, more linear and carefully designed Puma upper. I would note the Puma is $30 less than the Invincible and for me a better value.
The Ultraboost sees a dramatic weight reduction to 10.3 oz in my US8.5 as it gets a new flavor of Boost that is slightly denser and less bouncy than prior Boost or the Nitro foam in the Puma. It as with the other comparisons also at 10.3 oz is heavier than the Puma. Both shoes have very broad stable heels with lots of rear cushion and stability. They differ significantly up front with the adidas having a very thin 20mm stack and LEP plastic propulsion plating. Clearly snappier off the toes but less cushioned and bouncy, if you are a true forefoot striker headed over to the Puma. If you tend to heel strike and prefer a quick and agile forefoot you might prefer the adidas. Both have great uppers with the adidas potentially a bit more accommodating to broader higher volume feet. At $40 less than the adidas the Puma is a better value.
Significantly lighter, higher stacked in cushion by 5mm and $70 more expensive at $220 the Superblast with its supercritical Flight Foam Turbo foam is pretty much the ultimate in unplated max cushion trainers. Not quite as stable or as energetic in foam it is not as practical as the Puma especially if you need a touch of support. Both true to size fits with the Puma upper a bit more substantial and supportive.
Watch the ForeverRun Nitro Initial Video Review (16:08)
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Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is 65 with a 2018 3:40 Boston qualifier. 2022 was Sam’s 50th year of running. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets lucky,, training 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run or nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 164 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
Samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.
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