7 Best PUMA Running Shoes in 2026

How we test PUMA running shoes

We love to go through the nooks and crannies of each PUMA shoe we try and to do so, we keenly and thoroughly carry out the following: 

• Purchase the PUMA shoes we test with our own money to avoid brand bias and loyalty
• We run in each shoe in various terrains and conditions. 
• In our lab, we cut each shoe open with our saw, and measure all parts of it with our callipers, durometers, scales, etc., to give you concrete data. We also place these data in comparison with the average values, to make the results more contextual and easier to describe.

Kering no longer has a controlling stake in PUMA, but we all remember PUMA being part of the same group together with Gucci and other luxury brands. No wonder they struggled to get a seat at a (performance running shoe) table. But here they are, fighting their way to prove they deserve it. With the premium NITRO foam and oddly shaped max-stacked race shoes that managed to be legal (<40 mm at the heel), they are surely getting the spotlight. Let's hope the cat is here to stay!

PUMA running shoe foams

Looking at the PUMA running shoes available on their website, all of them feature NITRO in the name. So, one may think it’s all the same foam. And one would be very wrong. What they do have in common is being nitrogen-infused (therefore, NITRO). We’re here to get into the details compounds. 

The topic of foams is covered in the most comprehensive way (on the whole Internet, and we’re not kidding) in our Ultimate guide on foams. If foams and midsoles are your passion or an excuse to procrastinate, you are in for a treat. 

Foams PUMA is using in their running shoes: 

1. [standard foam] PUMA Nitro (TPEE): older Nitro formulation found in more affordable models. It’s less lively than its premium counterparts. 
2. [standard foam] PUMA Profoam / Profoam Lite (EVA): not nitrogen-infused like the rest, but it’s durable and affordable. It’s also firmer and therefore more stable than the Nitro TPEE. 
3. [premium foam] PUMA Nitro (PEBA / A-TPU): surprisingly high energy return, especially when found in a daily trainer. Works great solo, no need for dual-density midsoles.
4. [premium foam] PUMA Nitro Elite (A-TPU): sky-high energy return found in premium race-day models.

It’s often impossible to tell the type of foam just by looking at it, even when shoes are cut in half. We can see this clearly in the image above.

Energy return and shock absorption of Puma running shoes

Now that we’ve covered the type of foam used in Puma running shoes, we should find out how that choice translates into runs. For that, we look at the lab data on energy return and shock absorption. 

In our lab, we test energy return and shock absorption at the same time. This test follows ASTM F1976-13 methodology, which means we detach the upper from the midsole, lock the shoe in place, drop an 8.5 kg mass from a 50 mm height, and we do that 30 times, both at the heel and the forefoot. The first 25 drops mimic the natural break-in, while the last 5 are averaged out to give us 1 data point. 

What these 2 features tell us: 

• Energy return tells us how responsive the ride is in PUMA running shoes, while the shock absorption tells us how protective the midsole is (how much of the impact forces it is capable of dampening).
• The highest energy return and shock absorption are found in premium foams and competition shoes. These foams are more expensive than standard foams with (often) moderate energy return and shock absorption, but they are more durable and stable. 
• Of course, the higher the results on this test, the better. It means the shoes can do more, so your legs don’t have to overwork. When energy return and shock absorption are low, it may put too much stress on your legs, which results in premature fatigue. 
• If you’re looking for a PUMA daily trainer, there’s no need to overspend on a model with premium foam immediately. Standard foams found in daily trainers may not have the highest energy return and that’s OK because daily trainers are not about record-breaking but logging miles or doing recovery runs at a significantly slower pace than the race pace.

When it comes to energy return, we focus on the forefoot because we all propel forward by stepping on the forefoot and rolling forward. This does not mean we don’t measure the energy return at the heel, though! 

If you land on the forefoot, you may want to prioritise the shock absorption at the forefoot. Keep in mind that the ranges (130+ for high shock absorption, and 110-130 SA for moderate) do not apply here because shock absorption is by default lower at the forefoot across all shoes. You can simply look for a higher test result. 

Best daily trainers from PUMA

Now we can look at the best PUMA’s options for daily runs and understand what they have to offer, responsiveness- and protectiveness-wise. For overprponators, there are also stability options thanks to the plastic heel cup that stabilises the heel. 

Best PUMA tempo shoes

Best race shoes from PUMA

PUMA’s competition running shoes have a unique design and it’s difficult not to notice them or not to memorise them. 

This radical heel design also makes the PUMA race shoes not heel-strike-friendly. The study that analysed 4 supershoes (Nike Alphafly 3, Adidas Adios Pro Evo 1, PUMA Fast-R 2 and the prototype of the PUMA Fast-R 3) found that the PUMA prototype is 3.15% to 3.62% more economical than the other supershoes tested. 

Running in the rain: TRACTION lab data

We usually don’t worry about the grip when the weather is great. But with the first few showers, we may end up debating in our heads whether it's safe enough to go for a run. To avoid these situations, we put the PUMA outsoles to the test. SATRA TM144 test, to be specific. 

We perform this test on wet concrete to simulate the real-life conditions of running in the rain. Also, the shoe is pressed using a 500N force at a 7-degree angle. 

Concrete slabs are poured fresh regularly to ensure consistency in testing, along with other factors that make our testing standardised. We also keep the temperature and humidity at constant levels in the lab 

The result of this test is a dynamic coefficient of friction and the higher it is, the better! If you want to be on the safe side, which means you run in wet weather regularly, especially on slicker surfaces like tiles or cobblestone, look for outsoles that scored at least 0.45 on the traction test. Those with a dynamic coefficient of friction in the 0.25-0.45 are safe on dry surfaces but may slip on wet ones, especially if they are slick.

What makes PUMA running shoes score so high on the traction test? PUMAGRIP. The brand claims it’s an all-surface compound optimised for wet surfaces and our traction test confirms it performs exceptionally well. 

Durability of PUMA running shoes

In our shoe lab, we test the durability of running shoes in 3 places: the toebox, the outsole, and behind the heel. In all 3 cases, we use a Dremel to intentionally damage the material. These tests are standardised, meaning we always use the same RPMs, force, and time duration. 

Starting with the durability of the toebox. Once the Dremel is done, we look at the damage and assign it a 1-5 rating, where 5/5 is used for the most durable toeboxes, where the damage is minimal, cosmetic, or barely noticeable. 

We perform the same assessment when the test is done on the padding behind the heel. 1/5 is assigned only to those shoes whose paddings end up with a large and/or deep hole in them. 

The outsole is usually covered with rubber, which means we get to use the tyre tread gauge. It allows us to measure the depth of the dent with 0.1 mm precision. Then, the deeper the dent, the less durable the outsole. The outsole shown in the video above ended up with a 1.4 mm-deep hole.

PUMA running shoes for summer

Figuring out which season the shoe is best for is not a demanding task when you can look at the lab data for breathability. We get this data based on 3 tests: we pump the smoke into the shoe to see where it comes out and at what pace, we look at the upper against the light to notice different stitchings and overlays, and finally, we look at the upper under the microscope to carefully examine the material and the ventilation holes (if there are any). 

When performing the smoke-machine test, we assign each PUMA shoe a 1-5 rating, where 5 out of 5 is reserved for the most breathable uppers. 

The light and the microscope tests usually just confirm our assessments and help us elaborate them further. 

Lab data on shoe width, toebox width, and toebox height 

PUMA running shoes offer some variation when it comes to fit. It’s a good opportunity to highlight the difference between 2 end ranges. In toebox height, the lowest one we’ve measured so far was 24.6 mm and the highest 29.3 mm! In shoe width, the difference between the narrowest and the widest (always measured in Men’s US 9, regular width) is 5.6 mm! Not too shabby, PUMA!

All of these data points are at our disposal thanks to the lab team, which creates gel moulds of all the shoes’ interiors. When the gel mould is ready, we take it out of the shoe and measure the shoe width, toebox width, and toebox height. 

When the toebox width is below average, if you don’t have narrow feet, you should expect your toes to get cramped. This is especially important for runners with a wider forefoot and who love to splay their toes. 

Toebox height varies a lot in PUMA running shoes, with up to almost 5 mm difference. Choose wisely if you tend to get black or bleeding toenails.

If you're struggling with sizing, check out the Puma size chart.