
Molly Seidel not just won a medal at the Olympics but also millions of hearts. For one, we are all impressed by her performance, grit, and vulnerability. Wonder why a reference to Molly Seidel for a shoe review of Puma Deviate Nitro? That is because she ran in Puma Deviate Nitro Elite shoes at the Olympics, which is the close cousin of Deviate Nitro. 

##### What makes up Puma Deviate Nitro?

Deviate Nitro is a carbon-plated neutral trainer cum racer, positioned just below the Deviate Nitro Elite in Puma’s Nitro Running Shoe lineup. An affordable racer with a carbon plate, this shoe is a greate way to experience what it is like to run in carbon-plated shoes. The shoe is comparable to Nike’s Zoom Fly, in terms of price, positioning, and performance.

<ShoeCard shoeCode="005001000M"></ShoeCard>

The midsole height at the heel is about 38 mm and is the highest in Nitro lineup. The heel-to-toe drop is about 10mm. At a weight of 258g (Men's UK 8) this shoe is not light when compared to other carbon plated racers.

**Midsole**  
The shoe’s midsole is made up of Nitrogen infused EVA foam called "Nitro". The midsole has two layers to accommodate the curved carbon plate called "Innoplate". The carbon plate is shaped such that it is supposed to maximize the energy return at push-off. The plate in the front is split at the big toe so that it can provide stability and propulsion independently to the big toe.

**Upper**  
Upper uses mono-mesh fabric and is very breathable. The fabric is rich and gives good character to the shoe. The mesh holds the shape of the shoe very well. 

**Heel**
Heel is reinforced by a plastic heel counter, but there is no padding at the back. This is probably the cause of heel slippage as many reviews point out. There is a small TPU plate inserted below the heel to add stability, which uses reflective coating to improve night visibility. 

**Bottom sole**  
The bottom sole uses "Puma Grip", and is the best in class. It has plenty of rubber, and feels very robust, and offers solid grip on any surface. Bottom sole is cut such that you can see the carbon plate through it.

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        <LightBox src="/images/pdn-weight.jpg" caption="Slightly heavier compared to racers" alt="" ></LightBox>
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        <LightBox src="/images/pdn-heel.jpg" caption="Heel design is the weak point" alt="" ></LightBox>
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The shoe is constructed traditionally and is not a rocker. So if you are looking for traditionally constructed shoeswith a carbon plate, this is the one to consider.

##### Why did I consider this shoe?

<div class="avatar-label-1" data-toggle="tooltip" title="VINEET">VI</div>

I was looking for a shoe to replace from my current running shoes ([Reebok Floatride Run Panthea](https://shoegeeks.in/shoe/reebok-floatriderunpanthea-008001001/) and [Nike Pegasus 37](https://shoegeeks.in/shoe/nike-airzoompegasus38-002010038/)). I prefer a shoe that is an all-rounder shoe that can be used for long runs, speed training, or easy runs.  I’ve come across Deviate Nitro through a friend. The technology used in the shoe is very appealing, more importantly, the price point. 

<div class="avatar-label-2" data-toggle="tooltip" title="ARAVIND">AR</div>

I have used Nike ZoomFly for my last marathon, and very happy about it. For the new running season, I was looking for a shoe with a carbon plate and is constructed traditionally. While I like rockers and the snappy foot transition they offer, they feel tiring over a long run because of the adjustments I have to do. I have been using [Velocity Nitro](https://shoegeeks.in/shoe/puma-velocitynitro-005003000/) (check out the [review](https://shoegeeks.in/review/puma-velocitynitro-005003000/)) and I really liked the Nitro foam. So buying Deviate Nitro with Nitro foam is an easy decision. The other factor that favored is the price of Deviate Nitro. If you look hard enough you could find [it under 10,000](https://shoegeeks.in/shoe/puma-deviatenitro-005001000/).  

##### Ride In Deviate Nitro

<div class="avatar-label-1" data-toggle="tooltip" title="VINEET">VI</div> 

I have run about 600+ kilometers already in this shoe. Used it for all kinds of runs in my training, which averages about 100+km a week. My runs include long runs, easy runs, and interval runs. While Deviate Nitro worked well for all kinds of runs, I liked it best for my speed training that includes long intervals and tempo runs.

Innoplate (carbon plate used by Deviate Nitro) as advertised by Puma, gives that extra push which helps to maintain the faster paces over longer distances. Nitrogen infused cushion is really comfortable, and post-run soreness is less compared to
Nike Pegasus 37.

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    <div class="col-6 col-md-6 px-1">
        <LightBox src="/images/pdn-forefoot.jpg" caption="Airy mesh, and Roomy forefoot" alt="" ></LightBox>
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    <div class="col-6 col-md-6 px-1">
        <LightBox src="/images/pdn-grip.jpg" caption="Top of the class traction, and slit to see the carbon plate" alt="" ></LightBox>
    </div>
</div>

<div class="avatar-label-2" data-toggle="tooltip" title="ARAVIND">AR</div>

I have run about 120km in the shoe so far. I have mostly used it for long runs, tempo runs, and recovery runs.  The weight of the shoe is such that I didn’t use it much for shorter interval runs.

**Long Runs**
If you are not used to high-stack shoes, stepping into a shoe of 38mm stack can be unsettling at first. It can feel unstable when you run.  But Puma has done an good job in offering stability despite the high stack. The cushioning is firm (not as firm as Nike React foam, but comes close to it), and the carbon plate adds some more stability. Long runs feel comfortable, and the only complaint is it is hard to run at an easy pace in these shoes. This is not necessarily good, when you want to slow down and run easy towards the latter kilometers of your long run. The shoe feels harsh, and make it hard to run easy.

**Tempo Runs**
This shoe is really made for moderate effort and tempo effort runs. It has an excellent bounce that makes you to put your best for such runs. It’s hard to resist the bounce and get quicker.

**Speed Intervals**
While the shoe is bouncy, the weight of the shoe makes it hard to use it for speed work. It is not as snappy compared to low-profile shoes. Lack of flexibility in the midsole makes it harder to transition the stride and push-off from the ground.  I prefer a low-profile [Liberate Nitro](https://shoegeeks.in/shoe/puma-liberatenitro-005004000/) to Deviate Nitro any day.

##### Fit & Comfort

<div class="avatar-label-1" data-toggle="tooltip" title="VINEET">VI</div> 

The fit of the shoe is excellent, and I use the same size as with Nike, and Reebok. The forefoot is comfortable, and the toe box fits nicely. 

As this is my first carbon-plated shoe, It took me some time to get used to the ride. I found the shoe not so comfortable in the initial days. However, post 100kms is when I got comfortable and really started liking the shoe.

<div class="avatar-label-2" data-toggle="tooltip" title="ARAVIND">AR</div>

I use UK 10 normally and the Deviate Nitro is true to size and fits perfectly. If you’ve used Nike, Asics, or Saucony earlier, same size in Puma Deviate Nitro will probably fit well. The shoe probably needs a few kilometers to get used, especially because of the stack height and somewhat harsher bounce.

I prefer a bigger toe room, and the shape of the shoe offers a very good room to wiggle the toes and helps with toe flexion.  

Because of the higher stack and carbon plate, the shoe is not something you can say is flexible. That makes the transitions harder and can put extra stress on your Achilles, especially if your ankle flexion is not that great.  

Heel slippage is also an issue. While it didn’t bother me much, few of the runners that I know have complained about it.  Consider using the last eyelet in case you have heel slippage. I also would have preferred some padding at the heel for those longer runs.

##### Stability

<div class="avatar-label-2" data-toggle="tooltip" title="ARAVIND">AR</div>

My foot pronation is in the typical range, with Deviate Nitro, I have no problems adapting to the shoe. The stability offered is good. However, because of the high stack height, running on uneven surfaces can get tricky. It is very easy to twist your ankle on roads that you find these days in Bangalore. 

<LightBox src="/images/pdn-testers.jpg" caption="Testing in Action" alt="" ></LightBox>

##### Road Grip

<div class="avatar-label-1" data-toggle="tooltip" title="VINEET">VI</div>

This shoe has excellent traction.  I have tested it on various terrains including tarred roads, trails, loose sand, and muddy roads. It handles the corners and turns very well, makes you feel run confidently no matter what.

<div class="avatar-label-2" data-toggle="tooltip" title="ARAVIND">AR</div>

Like other Nitro shoes that use Puma Grip, this shoe offers exceptional road grip. I could use it on any surface, wet rainy roads, and the shoe just aces it.  Perfectly fit for Indian roads.

##### Aesthetics
<div class="avatar-label-2" data-toggle="tooltip" title="ARAVIND">AR</div>

The colorway that I have (Green Glare) is the best that I have liked so far. Upper fabric adds further class to the shoe.  Every part of the shoe feels very premium; textured laces, and reinforced eyelets, reflective makers, and the aggressive looking Puma stripes.

##### Review Summary

<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="005001000M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "Excellent bounce and medium-soft cushion make it a good shoe for training longer distances, tempo runs, and even for speed training.",  
    "Very affordable among the carbon plated trainers.",
    "An excellent roadgrip that can ace any kind of surface.",
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "Lack of flexibility in the midsole makes it harder to transition at easy paces.",
    "Heel slippage can be an issue for some runners.",
    "It will take a bit longer to get used to the shoe and to feel comfortble",
    "The weight of the shoe is on the higher side, which makes it particularly not suitable for races, compared to other super shoes"
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
    Puma Deviate Nitro is a reasonably priced carbon plated and high-stack shoe. It is well construcuted, and is recommended as a race trainer to runners training for distances up to marathon. 
</InfoCard>


Puma Deviate Nitro is a well cushioned, high stack neutral trainer with a carbon plate.

Puma Deviate Nitro Review


Ever since the first edition of Kinvara introduced the 4mm heel drop in 2009, it influenced the midsole design of running shoes drastically.  It is now rare to see shoes with heel drop more than 10mm.  In its twelfth edition Saucony Kinvara continues to hold the baton of natural running.  

In Saucony’s running shoe line-up, Kinvara 12 has a special place.  It is the go to shoe for a lightweight, well cushioned, neutral daily trainer.  It is designed to be a very versatile shoe to handle any kind of run, speed work, or marathon. While It is in the same category of daily neutral trainers as Brooks Ghost, Nike Pegasus, and the likes, it is still different. Shoes like Pegasus changed its ways to keep up with the current trend of high stacks, while Kinvara 12 continues to be true to its original design philosophy, yet it stays right at the top of the list of modern neutral trainers.

<ShoeCard shoeCode="006003012M"></ShoeCard>

### What makes up Saucony Kinvara 12?

If you are running in Kinvara for the first time, first thing you will notice is how light it feels for a neutral daily trainer that costs under ₹10,000. It is built as a traditional shoe but with a low heel drop of 4mm. With a published weight of 213g (for US9) and 216g for UK 10 (as we measured it), it is the lightest cushioned daily trainer in the market.  Other shoes in this category, such as Nike Pegasus, Brooks Ghost weigh upwards of 260g. With a stack height of 28mm, it is also the lowest profile amongst its category.

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        <LightBox src="/images/skw-sideprofile.jpg" caption="Low profile and flexible" alt="" ></LightBox>
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        <LightBox src="/images/sk-weight.jpg" caption="Lightest daily trainer" alt="" ></LightBox>
    </div>
</div>

**Midsole and Outsole**

Kinvara 12 is made of PWRUN Midsole, which is a light-weight blend of EVA. It is firmer than TPU and PEBA foams, but is very flexible. It naturally bends along with the feet, as we run. As an EVA blend, it is also very durable, so much so that Saucony designers decided to expose the midsole fully with very little outsole rubber on it.

<LightBox src="/images/sk-outsole.jpg" caption="Midsole is fully exposed" alt="" ></LightBox>

**Upper**

The upper is an engineered mesh, and is very well constructed and seems durable. With almost no other overlays, it is very well ventilated and airy.  It is very stretchy, and gives plenty of room for toes to move around while running.  Wider shape of the shoe combined with the upper mesh makes it quite suitable for runners who prefer the shoes to be roomy.

<LightBox src="/images/skw-topview.jpg" caption="Durable engineered mesh, and is highly ventilated" alt="" ></LightBox>

**Heel**

The heel is very well padded at the back and gives plenty of confidence during foot transition at toe-off.  The midsole below the heel is built such that the shoe feels very stable.  The bottom part of the midsole flared out quite a lot (at forefoot and heel), which is probably the reason why the shoe feels stable. 

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        <LightBox src="/images/skw-heel.jpg" caption="Flared out midsole helps stability" alt="" ></LightBox>
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        <LightBox src="/images/sk-heelpadding.jpg" caption="Well padded heel" alt="" ></LightBox>
    </div>
</div>

### RIDE IN KINVARA

<div class="avatar-label-1" data-toggle="tooltip" title="ADITI">AD</div> 

Truth be told, this is the first time I have tried any other shoe brand than my usual favorite. I have run more than 150kms both at tempo and easy paces and the longest run was ~17kms. The light weight of the shoe surely helps with the pace as the cadence increases.  Furthermore, I'm more aware of the way I’m striding because of the low heel drop and the lower stack height. 

These shoes have speed written all over. If you have been practicing well and are looking for a short-distance race, the shoes will improve your cadence and pace by a notch.  For faster-paced runs such as strides, and tempo runs, the bounce from the midsole comes very handily. Given the lighter weight and extremely flexible midsole, which makes the shoes excellent for uphill running.  


<div class="avatar-label-2" data-toggle="tooltip" title="ARAVIND">AR</div>

With all my recent running in high stack shoes, carbon plates, and rocker profiles, running in Kinvara feels very different, but in a good way.  The shoe didn’t need any break-in, but for a bit of adjustment to low heel drop for the first few km.  Once done, the shoe is as comfortable as it can be.  I have run 130 km so far, the ride experience is as good as the very first day.  

I have used the shoe for interval runs, tempo runs, easy and long runs of more than 25 KM distance.  The shoe is as versatile as it can be.  No matter the type of run, it works very well.  For interval and tempo workouts, it offers enough bounce.  For longer runs, there is enough midsole cushion across the entire foot, and the lighter weight of the shoe keeps me comfortable even in the latter kilometers. However, I may not consider this shoe for training distances beyond 30 KM, as I am better served by shoes that have more cushioning and are much softer.

The low heel drop definitely promotes mid-foot strike better than other shoes that I have used.  Despite being a very flexible shoe, the extra outward flare at the bottom helps the stability. My pronation angles reflect it, and are quite low too at 7 degrees, compared to the 11 degrees that I see in my other shoes.  That said, I don’t expect it to match with stability shoes. For neutral runners wanting slight stability with lightweight, Kinvara could be a good option. Here is how my foot strike and pronation measures (courtesy: [RunMechanics](https://runmechanics.in)).  

<LightBox src="/images/sk-footstrikestability.jpg" caption="Very stable and promotes good stride" alt="" ></LightBox>

**Fit & Comfort** 

<div class="avatar-label-1" data-toggle="tooltip" title="ADITI">AD</div> 

I use UK 6 and the shoe is true to size. The shoes fit snugly on my feet, and the toe box is roomy.  The laces lock well and don’t come off while running.  The cushioning is good enough for long runs.  But during the latter kilometers, I feel the feet hitting the road harder, due to the stiffness of the midsole.  The heel collar is well padded and hugs the back of the feet very well.  It gives good grip and confidence during faster paces.  The shoe tongue is attached and is held very securely in place. I  have the future black color, it has many shades of color and is quite colorful.  

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        <LightBox src="/images/sk-forefoot.jpg" caption="Forefoot is wide and roomy" alt="" ></LightBox>
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    <div class="col-6 col-md-6 px-1">
        <LightBox src="/images/sk-innersole.jpg" caption="PWRRUN+ inner sole adds softness to midsole" alt="" ></LightBox>
    </div>
</div>

<div class="avatar-label-2" data-toggle="tooltip" title="ARAVIND">AR</div>

I use UK size 10, and the shoe fit is perfect for me.  If you are a user of Nike, Puma, or Asics, you can consider the same size.  The midsole cushioning is well balanced across the feet, so there is plenty of protection across the heel, midfoot, and forefoot.  What I like the most about the shoe is the flexibility.  The shoe bends naturally along with the foot during toe-off, which makes the ride very enjoyable. There are few studies that say, the flexibility of running shoes is one of the defining characteristics that determine shoe comfort.  I can’t agree more.

My toes run high, and that often causes cuts, blisters, and bruised toenails after the longer runs.  Kinvara’s wide forefoot shape, and stretchy upper mesh, really helps.  If you are like me and have an issue with toes, Kinvara could be a good option to consider. 

I have run in the rain quite a few times, and it is the most comfortable than any other shoe.  The upper doesn’t absorb water, nor does the midsole.  Despite not having much rubber on the outsole, the outsole grips quite well and is good for most conditions including wet roads.  However, it does have traction issues when there is loose sand.

**Packaging**

<div class="avatar-label-2" data-toggle="tooltip" title="ARAVIND">AR</div>

I like to give a shout-out to [Saucony India](https://sauconyindia.com) for the packaging of the shoe. The package has a pace chart at the back and has a space to log Personal bests.  While the utility is questionable, it is a nice touch. The package also included a cap and a saucony branded t-shirt.

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        <LightBox src="/images/sk-box.jpg" caption="Pace chart and PB log is a nice touch" alt="" ></LightBox>
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    <div class="col-6 col-md-6 px-1">
        <LightBox src="/images/sk-packaging.jpg" caption="PWRRUN+ inner sole adds softness to midsole" alt="" ></LightBox>
    </div>
</div>

**Review Summary**

<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="006003012M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "Very versatile and can handle any type of run",  
    "Pleasing aesthetics",
    "Very good midsole bounce",
    "Low heel drop promotes natural running",
    "Extremely durable",
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "The midsole is firmer compared to other neutral trainers",
    "May not work for heel strikers or those with niggle in the heel"
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
    Kinvara 12 is the best neutral trainer out there.  It is the most versatile and can handle any type of run, easy, tempo, long, or speed workout.  If you are a midfoot or forefoot runner and are looking for a very versatile shoe that doesn’t interfere with your natural running, then Kinvara 12 is the go-to shoe.  
    <br/><br/>
    Rotation: 
    Kinvara can handle training up to any distance, and racing up to half-marathon.  While well-conditioned runners can use it for racing marathon distances, that space is well addressed by higher stack shoes like Saucony Endorphin, Brooks Hyperion, Puma Nitros, and Nike ZoomX.
</InfoCard>


Kinvara 12 is the lightest and most versatile daily trainer in the market. It is cushioned, low-profile and doesn't come in your way of running.

Reviews

Puma Deviate Nitro Review

Saucony Kinvara 12 Review