Puma PUMA ForeverRun Nitro Verdict
The PUMA ForeverRun Nitro brings a delightful running experience, offering an impeccable balance of softness, responsiveness, and support in the sole. The comfort it provides, especially beneath the foot and around the well-padded heel, enhances the overall enjoyment. This shoe stands out as an excellent choice for both daily training and runs, whether they are short or long in distance.
Who would benefit from purchasing the PUMA ForeverRun Nitro?
Those seeking cushioning, ranging from neutral to light stability requirements, and are increasing their mileage will find the PUMA ForeverRun Nitro beneficial. It offers both support and cushioning, making it suitable for various daily training sessions, including speedwork, long runs, and recovery miles.
Who might find the Puma PUMA ForeverRun Nitro less suitable for their needs?
If you’re seeking a shoe with a sturdy midfoot that doesn’t easily twist or bend, you might want to pass on the ForeverRun Nitro. In that case, consider the adidas Boston which offers strong midfoot support with its ENERGYRODS technology. Additionally, if you tend to put a lot of strain on the forefoot uppers, this might not be the ideal shoe for you, as the thin mesh layers may not hold up well against continuous pressure from the big toe.
PUMA ForeverRun Nitro Introduction
PUMA is exploring stability through a new technology: “nitrogen-injected” foam with two densities that offer a balance of cushioning, support, and responsiveness. This innovation is seen in their Magnify NITRO max cushion neutral model and their short-distance shoe, the Liberate NITRO.
This addition of nitrogen is novel but not exclusive! Brooks’ DNA Loft v3 foam also integrates nitrogen infusion.
A shoe quite akin to the ForeverRun NITRO is the Glycerin GTS 20, which features a comparable nitrogen foam.
Both NITRO and Glycerin DNA loft iterations provide a seamless transition, dependable Guiderails/RunGuides, and a pleasant underfoot feel. In my women’s size 9.5, the Glycerin GTS is 0.6 oz. heavier than the ForeverRun NITRO, possibly due to its 3 mm. larger midsole.
Retailing at $150 USD, the price tag is $10 lower than the analogous Brooks Glycerin GTS.
The shoe weighs 9.6 oz. in US men’s size 9 and 7.9 oz. in women’s size 8. The swift transition lends this mid-weight shoe a lightweight sensation during wear.
PUMA ForeverRun Nitro First Impressions
Upon unboxing, these shoes presented themselves as sleek and generously cushioned. Curiosity led me to query Google, “Do pumas have spots?” Given the spotted patches adorning the upper, I learned that while adult pumas lack spots, young pumas (also known as cougars or mountain lions) can display spots or stripes.
Thus, the spotted pattern aptly suits this fledgling stability shoe as it ventures into the market!
During my initial stroll around the kitchen, I couldn’t help but notice that the bottom of the shoe seemed to be adorned with “upside-down suction cups.” This peculiar sensation was a result of the double-layer midsole, creating an unexpectedly buoyant feel. It was reminiscent of those miniature two-inch popper toys that spring up when flipped inside out!
Engaging in runs while wearing this shoe is truly refreshing. The fit around the heel is secure and comfortable, requiring no special lacing techniques. Additionally, the dense material at the tongue’s top shields against pressure from the laces.
PUMA ForeverRun Nitro Upper
The upper of the shoe mainly consists of two thin layers of transparent, breathable mesh. These layers create a distinctive pattern resembling the spots of a young puma.
Since I have the white color option and went on several runs on a trail covered in mulberries, I was relieved to discover that it cleans off quite well! The images in this review were captured after dark stains from four mulberry-covered runs had been removed from both the upper and the sidewalls of the sole.
I typically clean them shortly after the run by rinsing them with water and using a paper towel or washcloth. Water easily passes through this upper, which is advantageous for releasing moisture when running in the rain. However, it retains a bit more water compared to single-layer adidas racing shoes like the Takumi Sen. The padding in the heel is more absorbent and does collect some water.
A lightweight cap covers the front of the toe box, while a sleek rubbery plastic reinforces the lace holes. The tongue is wide and partially attached to the upper with 1.5-inch wide bands on both sides, providing a snug fit around the midfoot. There are two loops on the tongue for threading the laces, enhancing lockdown.
At the top of the tongue, it transitions to a coated pad that remains slim yet effectively safeguards the foot from potential irritation caused by the laces. PUMA has done an excellent job in this regard.
The upper features PWRTAPE overlays throughout for reinforcement, along with thicker PUMA logo strips on the sides. Adding reflective elements to these strips and the heel logo would improve visibility, especially in low-light conditions.
Moving to the ankle opening, there’s just the right amount of padding for comfort and a secure heel hold. One standout feature for me is the generously sized heel loop. This simple addition is incredibly practical, and I think other shoe brands should take note. It’s much more useful than the grip piece on the back of recent Adidas Adizero shoes. Personally, I greatly appreciate this loop as it makes slipping the shoe on much easier.
The heel counter is a noteworthy feature, particularly the external RUNGUIDE System rubbery-plastic clip that reinforces the internal heel counter lining the upper mesh. Inside the shoe, the heel cup extends into the midsole, with the sturdier outer midsole also serving as an initial heel counter. This design is both intelligent and functional.
Lastly, the sockliner of this shoe is not your standard one. It incorporates a metatarsal pad developed by the Kaiser Clinic of Denmark, which enhances comfort in the high-pressure area of the foot. Despite its benefits, this pad is unobtrusive and doesn’t affect the running experience.
Fit is true-to-size with a medium-narrow fit throughout. My forefoot felt just a touch constricted early on but the sidewalls relaxed after a few runs.
PUMA ForeverRun Nitro Sole Unit
The midsole’s inner core is soft and flexible, creating a comfortable landing for the foot. A firmer variation of the nitrogen-infused supercritical EVA NITRO foam serves as the lower heel counter, facilitating forward foot movement.
In the context of “supercritical,” the material possesses the characteristics of both a gas and a liquid. This implies that its molecules have the fluidity of a gas, allowing them to move freely, while maintaining the density typical of a liquid.
Though this is a max-cushioned shoe with a wide base, it is not that heavy due to the lighter weight of this foam.
The shoe offers easy twisting and bends with moderate pressure, classifying it as having light stability. It’s comfortable for both neutral runners and those in need of stability. The wide base, which flares outwards, enhances resistance against lateral movement.
The outsole’s appearance is as captivating as its traction performance, featuring PumaGrip teardrop and triangle patterns carved into the rubber. These designs enhance grip and provide a glimpse into the softer inner core through the midsole cutouts.
Personally, I have a fondness for the Puma cut-out near the heel’s base. Reminiscent of my high school days with a tiger mascot, our cross country team, combined with neighboring towns, playfully embraced the identity of cheetahs—embodying the agility and speed of these feline creatures!
PUMA ForeverRun Nitro Conclusions
This shoe incorporates a range of technologies, including the wide, thinly padded, and gusseted tongue. It features a guidance system that begins with a midsole shaped around the heel, and a dual-density hypercritical nitrogen midsole. The shoe’s base reveals its softer layer, shielded by protective rubber with grip.
The combination of materials and the effective yet comfortable design rank this among my preferred daily trainers. I suggest it for cross country runners, extending up to half marathoners this autumn—I’m even recommending it to my tenth grader!
This venture into stability for their NITRO line lands solidly in the “light stability” category. Those looking for more structure than a neutral shoe will find it here. Those looking for a traditional stability shoe will find it lacking.