Our verdict
Pros
- Fits true to size
- Incredible price point
- Excellent all-rounder
- Perfect lockdown
- Plush feel
- Budget friendly
- Incredible grip
Cons
- Not very fast
- A little heavy
Audience verdict
- Top 21% in road running shoes
- Top 20% in running shoes for supination
Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
PUMA Velocity Nitro review and lab test
The PUMA Velocity Nitro is a budget-friendly runner from a shoe giant that’s been sleeping for the past few years. It’s great to see PUMA wake up with a shoe that’s getting all the basics right and even stretching to a few things we’d usually expect from a higher-priced shoe.
Who the shoe is for
The PUMA Velocity is a super-capable, neutral daily runner that I can suggest for consumers who want a shoe that they can just slip on and take out on a run whether it’s a 5km or a marathon! It’s a versatile shoe that will serve practically anyone.
Who the PUMA Velocity Nitro is not for
The Velocity Nitro might not be for you if you:
- Want a faster shoe aimed at tempo runs, the PUMA Deviate Nitro
- Need a stability shoe, the Velocity is a neutral runner, unlike the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22.
A tried and tested design
In a UK Mens 9/US Mens 10 the PUMA Velocity Nitro comes in at 10oz (283g) is definitely not the lightest shoe out there. There are a few obvious reasons for this which I’ll address later, but the most glaring is the TPU version of a carbon plate and the chunky outsole.
To be fair, at this price point I wouldn't have expected a shoe to even have these features, so I can forgive the weight. Otherwise the shoe is built well and fits true to size. With an engineered mesh upper that stretches enough to accommodate wider feet, there’s little to complain about from the top.
Excellent lockdown
When I find a more budget-friendly running shoe, I almost always see price savings in the lacing. Both in the eyelet design and more than anything in the laces themselves.
The PUMA Velocity Nitro excelled in both of these. With thin eyelets that lock easily to keep consistent tension (similar to the Nike Pegasus 38) paired with a nice, rounded heel cup I felt easily secure once into the shoe.
The laces are also perfect, in length and in the material. Taking 41.2N in the lace-slip test, these are up there with some of the best laces we’ve tested!
The PUMA Velocity Nitro has a dual-density midsole
PUMA somehow managed to squeeze a dual-density midsole into the Velocity Nitro. The softer section- which runs the length of the shoe-has a Durometer of 39.5HA is pretty soft and results in a really comfy, plush ride.
Under the heel PUMA has added a firmer section of foam, probably to stabilize all of that plushy foam throughout, this has a Durometer of 43.5HA which isn’t really that hard as well. I probably would have preferred an even stiff foam because I found the Velocity Nitro to be a little unstable at high speeds.
It’s possibly a weight-saving measure for it not to be overly firm (soft foam tends to be less dense and therefore lighter), but with a firmer heel, the PUMA would be even more capable.
The PUMA Velocity Nitro looks speedy…but
The Velocity Nitro looks like it’s put a TPU shank running through the entire shoe, which would help with energy return. Being cynical, I think this is what they want you to think looking at the shoe.
In reality, the soft plastic goes about 10mm into the heel, and in PUMA’s words is for increased “proprioception”, which is jargon for knowing where your foot is. I really didn’t notice this at all, but that’s probably because I already knew where my foot is.
The Velocity Nitro has very little else to suggest it’s a fast shoe and I don’t think that’s a problem. Thanks to the padding, it’\s a comfortable, soft shoe and is stable. It does provide some energy return, with a flexibility score of 35.1N there’s something there to push back, but nothing close to what you’d expect from a shoe is TPU in the midsole.
I think it’s most important to view these things in the context of their price point, the shoe is marketed at recreational runners, and while you can run a marathon in these, you wouldn't want to do a sub-3-hour marathon in them.
The PUMA Velocity Nitro looks a bit dull
Definitely a popular shoe, I could only get hold of the Black/Green “Glare” colorway. I’ve got to say it looks a lot like a bad kids shoe that’s been enlarged. The plastic shank looks cheap and the color contrast is a bit off. I’ve seen other colorways that are definitely an improvement on this one, but the overall look is a bit lackluster.
The PUMA grip is claw-like
This is where I was really impressed with the PUMA Velocity Nitro, the grip was absolutely incredible. With 3.5mm of rubber, there’s quite a large chunk of it too so I trust it to last. I trusted it around corners on wet concrete and even a bit of dirt and gravel seemed fine!
Conclusion
The PUMA Velocity Nitro is a seriously impressive daily runner for the sub £100 price tag. There are obvious trade-offs, notably the weight, but I don’t think they’re enough to not pique most users' interests. Bottom line is that the shoe is versatile, comfortable, durable, and fun!
