Deviate Nitro has been my favourite daily trainer for four editions now. So far all of them had a carbon plate, and was a shoe I could run easy miles, as well as speed work, and occasional race paced tune-ups. So when Puma announced a Deviate without the plate, I wasn't sure what to expect. The plate is the Deviate, or so I thought.
I picked up a pair in June, the month it launched, and it has quietly taken over my shoe rotation ever since.
Is a Deviate without the plate still a Deviate? And how does it stack up against the Evo SL, the shoe every plate-less trainer gets compared to now? Read on.
VERDICT
The Deviate Pure Nitro is the most well-rounded plate-less trainer I have run in. It is light, flexes naturally, grips like every Puma does, and has just enough stability for easy days and long runs alike. It is not the bounciest of the lot; the Evo SL has more spring. But if you want one shoe for easy runs, midweek long runs and sub-threshold work, this is the one I would pick.
Tested: 400 km since June in UK 10. Longest run 28 km. Easy runs, midweek long runs and sub-threshold sessions.
What makes up Deviate Pure Nitro?
Take a Deviate Nitro, remove the plate and the second layer of foam, and this is roughly what you get. On paper it reads like a downgrade. But on the road it is definite not a lesser shoe.
- Midsole: full-length NITROFOAM, PEBA-based, no plate
- Upper: engineered mesh, at least 30% recycled
- Outsole: PUMAGRIP rubber
- Price: ₹14,999 in India, ₹2,000 below the plated Deviate Nitro 4
- Puma's rated life: 800 km
Midsole
Every Deviate so far has had a carbon plate sandwiched between two foams. The Pure has one layer of NITROFOAM and nothing else. Without the plate, the forefoot flexes the way a traditional trainer does, and that changes the character of the shoe completely.
The foam is not as springy as the Evo SL's, but it gives back enough to make easy runs enjoyable and steady efforts feel smooth. The base is wide, and the sidewalls around the midfoot hold the foot in place, which adds up to just enough stability. That is more than I can say for most plate-less super trainers. It does not have the trampoline of the Deviate Nitro 2 or the pop of the Nitro 3's plate, but it is a genuinely fun shoe to run in.
Upper
Engineered mesh, light and comfortable. The tongue is thin, lightly padded and gusseted, so it stays in place. The heel counter is moderately stiff and about three-quarter height, with enough padding to lock the heel without adding bulk. Step-in comfort is one of the best.
The fit is true to size for me, with the usual Puma snugness through the forefoot. If you have wide feet, try it on before you buy.
Outsole
PUMAGRIP, and it is as good as ever. Bengaluru roads after the rain, with fine sand collecting at the edges, are where most shoes struggle, but not this one. The grip is excellent, whether wet or dry surfaces.
After 400 km the rubber shows only light wear. Puma rates the shoe for 800 km, and as I said in the Nitro 3 review, I wish every brand published a mileage number.
On the run
Easy days This is the shoe I reach for without thinking. Light enough to forget, cushioned enough that easy really is easy, and flexible enough that my foot does the work naturally without fighting the shoe. That last part matters more than it sounds. I have been nursing a plantar fascia niggle through this block, and the Deviate Pure is one of the reasons I could keep putting in the miles.
Midweek long runs These runs my shoe rotation used to be Deviate Nitro territory. Now they have moved to the Pure. The longest so far is 28 km, about two and a half hours, and the shoe stayed comfortable and stay composed till the finish.
Sub-threshold This is where the shoe surprised me. Without a plate I expected it to feel flat once the pace picked up, but it turns over quickly and the foam has enough return for steady state work. But push into above threshold or VO2max reps, and you start to miss the plate. That is where the Evo SL or a plated Deviate Nitro shine.
Versus
Shoe | Weight | Drop | Stack | Plate | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Puma Deviate Pure Nitro | 220 g | 8 | 38mm | None | ₹14,999 |
Puma Deviate Nitro 4 | 250 g | 8 | 38mm | Carbon | ₹16,999 |
Adidas Adizero Evo SL | 224 g | 6 | 39mm | None | ₹15,999 |
Against the Deviate Nitro: I have run all four editions of the plated Deviate, over 900 km in the Nitro 3 alone. The Pure is lighter, more flexible and more comfortable, and gives up only the plate's pop at faster paces. For everything except race pace and VO2Max work, I would pick the Pure over the Deviate Nitro any day.
Against the Evo SL: The Evo SL has way more bounce; its foam gives back in a way the Pure's doesn't. But it is aggressive and unstable, and it wants to go fast. The fit is off by half-size as well. The Pure is the more well-rounded shoe. If you want a super trainer for fast days, get the Evo SL, but be sure to check the fit. If you want a daily trainer with a super shoe's ethos that also handles easy and long runs, get the Deviate Pure.
PROS
CONS
