Puma All Pro Nitro review

After running some lab tests and playing ball while wearing it, we have concluded that the PUMA All Pro Nitro is suitable for the following:

• athletes and enthusiasts who play outdoor basketball occasionally
• players who are on the lookout for shoes that are durable and have the potential to last long
• ballers who like hoop shoes that are quite flexible and light to the feet
• basketball players who want shoes that are big on stability and support
• wearers who value comfort, especially since this shoe is breathable and offers a lot of impact protection

Upon wearing it, we immediately noticed that the PUMA All Pro Nitro tapers quite sharply toward the toe. Because of this observation, we absolutely cannot recommend this shoe for wide-footers. We believe they are better off with shoes like the PUMA MB.02, which have more forgiving toeboxes.

Don't get us wrong, the whole cushioning system worked just fine during our games. We are confident to say that this part of the shoe is safe. But 'safe' might not be enough for players who want a more pronounced court feel. They may go for guard-oriented picks such as the DON Issue 4 from Adidas. 

When it comes to cushioning, the All Pro Nitro from PUMA kept it moderate and average. The moment we put it on, we already felt that it was roughly the same height as the typical basketball shoe.

True enough, we learned that the heel is just as thick as the average at 30.5 mm.

The forefoot stack height is also just around the average. Our calliper readings pegged it at 22.6 mm.

Now, are we complaining? Definitely not! The average thickness of this shoe's cushioning system afforded us a balance of court feel and impact protection. Many in our team appreciated this setup, especially those whose playing roles and styles in the game switch widely.

There was not a lot to rave or complain about the drop of the All Pro Nitro. It was just around the average at 7.9 mm.

We loved how soft the cushioning felt underfoot. When we assessed its softness using our HA durometer in the lab, we were pleased to see that it was indeed softer than average. It got a rating of 22.0.

During our test games, this softness helped us be free from pain and discomfort. We did not mind wearing it for long periods.

Because the built-in foam was already soft and comfortable, we did not feel the need for a removable insole. But the PUMA All Pro Nitro came in with one, anyway, and it was as thick as the average at 4.4 mm.

The fit of the PUMA All Pro Nitro was like many of the basketball shoes that we've tried. At its widest, the toebox is 100.2 mm wide as per our calliper.

If you have medium-sized feet, then there won't be much issue with the fit.

The toebox was not in any way spacious. There were even times we felt that it was too constricting, especially before we had broken in the shoe. Our calliper measured the big toe to be only 72.3 mm wide. This number is significantly lower than average.

We never felt any issues with lateral stability. The side walls did their jobs well. The heel counter also did its job well (more on this below). Our feet were able to stay in place even when we were moving wildly to and from the basket. No serious complaints here.

Sudden twists are not only disorienting, but they can also be so painful as well. Good thing this PUMA basketball shoe truly felt stable and firm no matter which direction we went.

When we did some manual twists on it in the lab, we realised that we needed to break some sweat before we could make the shoe relent to our manoeuvres. We were left with no other choice but to give it a perfect 5 for torsional rigidity.

Not only was the heel counter comfortable and durable, but it was notably stiff as well. In fact, it got a perfect 5 from us for its stiffness when we gave it a good squeeze in the lab. 

We never felt any unnecessary movements in the rearfoot because of how securely the heel counter was clasping our feet.

The forefoot part of the midsole is of average width. Our calliper measured it to be 114.2 mm wide.

We felt that the platform had a little more width at the heel part. When we measured it using our calliper, it was indeed wider (just a little, though) than average at 94.4 mm. 

The additional width helped us maintain our balance and stability, especially when we made more aggressive and shiftier movements.

The PUMA All Pro Nitro was indeed a flexible shoe. We didn't have problems making it 'follow' with our movements because it just bent with our feet whenever it needed to. 

We performed our standard flexibility test on this PUMA hoop shoe, and we saw that it only needed 34.0N of force to bend at a 90-degree angle. This number is significantly lower than average.

The PUMA All Pro Nitro is lighter than average at 13.2 ounces or 373 grams.  We never felt this shoe weighing us down during our test games. We were able to run fast and jump high as needed.

Oh boy! The Puma All Pro Nitro was just so airy! We never felt damp, and we were so happy not to deal with wet socks after our games. 

As can be seen in the video above, the smoke that we pumped into the shoe escaped through the Puma All Pro Nitro's upper quite easily. The Reebok Shaq Attaq's upper, which only garnered a breathability score of 1 out of 5, barely allowed smoke to pass through. Smoke could only escape through its tongue. Hence, the 4 out of 5 that the Puma All Pro Nitro got from us is pretty well-deserved.

We also performed a light test on the upper. In the video above, the porousness of the upper is made clear. Light was able to pass through the many ventilation holes.

We also put the upper under the microscope, and it gave us a good glimpse of the air vents that made the PUMA All Pro Nitro such a well-ventilated basketball shoe.

The toebox displayed moderate durability. With proper care, we felt that this shoe can last as long as it's needed.

After performing the Dremel test on it, we saw that there was still a sturdy second layer that could protect the foot even after the topmost skin had been worn off. It's truly worth the 3 out of 5 for toebox durability that it got from us.

Yet, we have to take note here that wearers who are habitual toe-draggers might still need to look for another basketball shoe model. The Dame Certified from Adidas might be a better pick for them.

The heel padding surely looks smooth and soft, but we were so glad when we discovered in the lab that it's actually a very tough act!

We pressed the Dremel into it, and the damage that it left is not even worth mentioning. We gave it a 4 out of 5 for heel padding durability.

Because of our initial observation and subsequent lab results, we dare say that new wearers need not worry about this shoe falling apart after aggressive rubbing and ankle movements during intense games.

The outsole performed as expected during our test games. It was not too hard, and it was not too flimsy either. It delivered just the right amount of toughness for effective occasional outdoor usage. When assessed in the lab, our HC durometer gave it a hardness rating of 80.0, a figure that does not fall from the average.

But if you are a frequent outdoor player, the PUMA All Pro Nitro might seem lacking. The outsole of the Adidas Trae Young 3 is harder and fairly resistant to abrasion.

Just like the hardness of the outsole, its durability is just around the average as well. 

We performed the Dremel test on it, and our high-pressure drilling left as much damage as it would in an average shoe: a dent that is 1.0 mm deep.

Our calliper showed that the outsole of the All Pro Nitro is slightly thicker than average at 4.6 mm. So even if its outsole is only as durable as the typical basketball shoe, we expect this shoe to last longer simply because it has more material to burn.

Traction was not a problem for us. This shoe's bite was excellent, especially on cleaner courts. The grooves are wide enough, so we did not have problems with dust getting in between them and dulling the shoe's grip.

The toebox was not in any way spacious. There were even times we felt that it was too constricting, especially before we had broken in the shoe. Our calliper measured the big toe to be only 72.3 mm wide. This number is significantly lower than average.

The tongue is moderately padded, and it is 10.0 mm thick as per the calliper readings in the lab. This much material in the tongue helped fasten the fit. The padding also contributed a lot to the comfort that we enjoyed, and it dulled down the impact of when other players stepped on our feet.

The tongue has a full-gusseted design. Upon wearing this PUMA hoop shoe, we immediately noticed that this design helped in securing its clasp around the foot.

The PUMA All Pro Nitro doesn't have a heel tab, so it has a streamlined look at the rearfoot.

The insole is removable, and it was quite easy to get rid of when we needed to use inserts or just wanted a more forgiving fit.