Puma Deviate NITRO Elite 2 Introduction
The Deviate Elite was Puma’s top-of-the-range marathon racing shoe. Over the previous 12 months, the brand new Puma Quick R NITRO Elite tremendous shoe has been launched and it prices a whopping $50 greater than the Deviate Elite. The Puma elite runners nonetheless are nonetheless selecting to race marathons within the Deviate Elite and never the Quick R Elite.
This tells us that the Deviate Elite has higher stability and/or cushioning than the Quick R and that it’s higher suited to lengthy distances like full marathons.
Once I examined the Deviate Nitro Elite 1 final 12 months, I favored how sturdy and secure it was however I felt that it was a bit too mushy for racing in- I didn’t really feel sufficient propulsion coming from its midsole and plate geometry. I hoped that the Deviate Elite 2 would have a thicker midsole and a extra aggressive sole setup.
The Deviate Elite 2 appears related in look to the primary model however its higher, midsole and outsole have all been redone. The carbon plate inside it additionally has an up to date design.
The Deviate Elite 2 has midsole stack heights of 36 mm (heel) and 28 mm (forefoot) which is strictly the identical as model 1. It weighs 7.4 oz (210 g) which is so much heavier than its predecessor, 0.6 oz (17 g) to be precise. The burden enhance comes from the brand new higher and outsole rubber. It has additionally acquired an enormous $20 value enhance which now makes it $220 and nearly the identical value because the Saucony Endorphin Professional 3.
That is the Singapore Marathon particular version of the Deviate Elite 2 which was launched on the Singapore Marathon Expo and it’s known as the Electrocharged colourway. It has a customized Singapore Marathon emblem insole which is glued all the way down to the strobel lining.
Puma Deviate NITRO Elite 2 First Impressions
My first run in it was a 30 km weekend run at a average tempo. Total, it felt just like the unique Deviate Elite nonetheless I did discover that it had a barely firmer experience.
The toe-off felt extra highly effective because of the brand new carbon plate form and the experience felt extra environment friendly, not as mushy because of the brand new foam density.
I additionally observed that the brand new higher felt much more built-up and rather more snug than the minimal higher of the primary model. Lockdown felt higher on this new higher.
I used to be pleasantly shocked by the improved experience which had modified greater than I had anticipated. The long term felt actually easy and luxury was excellent.
Puma Deviate NITRO Elite 2 Higher
The brand new higher is comprised of an engineered mesh, not like v1 which was comprised of mono-mesh. It feels noticeably thicker and it additionally doesn’t breathe as effectively but it surely feels much less plastic-like.
One other massive distinction is that there’s now extra padding on the within of the collar so there’s extra consolation across the ankle and heel lockdown feels higher. This makes the Deviate Elite 2 really feel extra snug and race-ready.
My favourite replace is the tongue which is now hooked up on either side to the higher. There’s no lateral tongue slide within the Deviate Elite 2 which was a peeve I had with v1. The Puma logos on the heels are reflective so you may put on them for coaching runs in low mild.
The match is true to dimension with a spacious forefoot/toe-box and I’d say that it’s one of many extra snug tremendous footwear. This 12 months’s model runs shorter than final 12 months’s so that you don’t must go a half dimension down.
Puma Deviate NITRO Elite 2 Sole Unit
There are solely 2 tremendous footwear which I discovered too mushy for racing in: the New Steadiness SC Elite and the Puma Deviate Elite. Each of them use supercritical midsoles and in each footwear I felt like I used to be shedding an excessive amount of vitality within the midsole foam. Each firms will need to have listened to the suggestions as a result of the most recent variations of their racers have firmer rides.
Within the Deviate Elite 2, the Nitro Elite foam is a Nitrogen-infused PEBA foam and it feels barely firmer than the primary model. That is excellent news for runners who felt like the primary model was too mushy. I now get pleasure from doing sooner exercises like brief intervals within the Deviate Elite 2 due to the firmed up experience.
It’s nonetheless one of many softest tremendous footwear in the marketplace. It’s not as mushy because the New Steadiness Elite v3 but it surely’s means softer than the Alphafly 2, Endorphin Elite, Metaspeed Sky+ and Carbon X3. When you want agency rides, the Deviate Elite 2 is perhaps a bit too mushy for you.
The carbon plate within the first model of the Deviate Elite was forked with 2 prongs (similar to within the Deviate Nitro coaching shoe) however the brand new plate has a extra conventional, filled-in form and that is what supplies a stiffer forefoot with extra highly effective toe-offs. There’s extra resistance when the shoe flexes, so it feels extra snappy.
I discover it simpler to select up the tempo within the second model and I just like the extra prominent-feeling plate. The plate continues to be comparatively versatile in comparison with different carbon-plated racers such because the Endorphin Professional 3, Vaporfly 2, and the Adios Professional 3 so the Deviate Elite 2 has extra pure transitions and is simpler on the calves.
The Deviate Elite 2 excels at lengthy coaching runs that are slower-paced than exercises and races. It has friendlier transitions than different tremendous stiff, plated footwear but it surely nonetheless feels environment friendly and energy-saving. Runs over 3 hours are a pleasure within the Deviate Elite 2.
Being one of many decrease stack tremendous footwear at solely 36 mm within the heel, the Deviate Elite 2 feels comparatively secure despite the fact that its midsole is mushy. Sharp turns are snug and straightforward to do within the Elite 2 and in the event you’re a lightweight overpronator, the Deviate Elite 2 ought to have a secure sufficient experience. It additionally feels snug at straightforward paces (above 5 minutes 30 seconds per km/8 minutes per mile) so in the event you’re a slower runner, it should nonetheless really feel secure and easy.
The outsole rubber has been modified from PUMAGRIP LT to regular PUMAGRIP which you discover within the different Puma coaching footwear. This can be a thicker and extra sturdy rubber than that which was on the Deviate Elite 1. It additionally provides some additional weight although.
Sturdiness is sensational. After testing the shoe, there may be minor put on exhibiting on the outsole and there may be minimal midsole creasing. That is fingers down probably the most sturdy tremendous shoe I’ve examined.
Similar to on the Deviate Nitro 2, the forefoot lugs have been modified to a teardrop form and I discover traction to be unimaginable; it grips effectively in all kinds of climate situations.
One other new addition to the outsole is a shallow decoupled groove beneath the rearfoot. This makes the heel really feel extra vigorous and extra dynamic.
Puma Deviate NITRO Elite 2 Conclusions
I want the Deviate Elite 2 to the primary model. The firmer foam mixed with the brand new carbon plate makes the shoe extra propulsive and faster-feeling. The higher can also be extra snug and it feels extra polished general. It has gained a whole lot of weight although and it has additionally elevated in value however I’d nonetheless decide model 2 over model 1.
If the Deviate Elite 2 had remained at $200, it could have been excellent worth for cash and it could have been a steal. It’s probably the most sturdy tremendous shoe and it’s additionally extremely versatile.
Nevertheless, at $225, the Endorphin Professional 3 is a sooner, and extra propulsive possibility which I’d suggest over the Deviate Elite 2 for racing in. The Endorphin Professional 3 has a thicker midsole with deeper cushioning and it has a extra aggressive sole setup with a better toe spring.
If you’d like a troublesome tremendous shoe which you could race in in addition to practice in, the Deviate Elite 2 is a superb possibility. It has loads of thick rubber protection and its resilient foam is immune to scuffing and chips. You should use it for all sorts of runs together with intervals, tempos, brief races, and marathons.
Regardless that it has improved, the Deviate Elite 2 nonetheless isn’t a top-tier racer. It might be additional improved by maximizing its stack top to the 40 mm restrict (it’s at present solely at 36 mm) and by making its carbon plate steeper on the forefoot which might lead to extra pace help.
