PUMA Deviate NITRO 4 vs Fast-R NITRO Elite 3: Which Running Shoe Is Better?

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Tested using Methodology v0.12

Updated Oct 09, 2026 07:18 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Oct 22, 2026 08:04 PM

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PUMA

Heel Stack Height 35.2 mm

Weight 244.4 g (8.62 oz)

Heel-To-Toe Drop 7.0 mm

Plate 3/4-Length Plastic Plate

Heel Stack Height 39.3 mm

Weight 173.3 g (6.11 oz)

Heel-To-Toe Drop 8.9 mm

Plate Carbon Fiber

Recommended in 1 article:
Marathon

Our Verdict

PUMA Deviate NITRO 4

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3

The PUMA Deviate NITRO 4 and PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 occupy very different places in PUMA's lineup. The Fast-R is substantially lighter and far more race-focused, with considerably better rebound and a more aggressive transition through toe-off. The Deviate NITRO 4 is more stable and much better suited to regular training while still handling faster workouts well. Get the Fast-R for racing; get the Deviate NITRO 4 if you want one plated shoe for training and faster efforts.

Variants

Deviate NITRO 4 (Apple Spritz/Lux Lime - (Men - US 9))
Deviate NITRO 4 (Black/White/Silver - (Men - US 9))

Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 (Mint Melt/Speed Blue - (Men - US 9))
Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 (Mint Melt/Speed Blue - (Women - US 7))

Review

See PUMA Deviate NITRO 4 Review

See PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Review

Check Price

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Notice: Two or more of the products being compared have been tested with different test methodologies. Some of the results aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our running shoes test methodology.

Half/Full Marathon Racing

6.8

8.4

5K/10K Racing

7.5

8.1

Long Run

6.8

7.2

Daily Training

6.8

5.9

Design

Energy Return

7.4

8.9

Stability

7.8

4.3

Cushioning

6.5

8.4

Traction

5.1

Outsole Durability

4.4

Wet & Warm Weather

9.3

Bounciness

7.7

7.8

Snappiness

7.6

Roll

8.3

True To Size

9.0

9.4

Design

Weight

6.6

8.9

Right Shoe Weight Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo

Compare High-Res

Weight

244.4 g (8.62 oz)

173.3 g (6.11 oz)

Stack Heights

Stack Height Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height

35.2 mm

39.3 mm

Forefoot Stack Height

28.2 mm

30.4 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop

7.0 mm

8.9 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop

8.0 mm

External Shape

3D Model Full Shoe

Preview 3D

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width

86 mm (3.4")

82 mm (3.2")

Outsole Arch Width

67 mm (2.6")

25 mm (1.0")

Outsole Forefoot Width

107 mm (4.2")

113 mm (4.4")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio

2.44

2.09

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio

3.79

3.72

Internal Shape

3D Model Internal

Preview 3D

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 3D Model Internal

Internal Length

274 mm (10.8")

273 mm (10.7")

Internal Heel Width

67 mm (2.6")

60 mm (2.4")

Internal Forefoot Width

91 mm (3.6")

93 mm (3.7")

Wide Sizing Available

Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width

9.6

9.4

Forefoot Width Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation

0.2 mm (0.009")

-1.0 mm (-0.039")

Toe TTS Deviation

-2.0 mm (-0.078")

-2.3 mm (-0.091")

Forefoot Fit: Height

6.4

6.9

Forefoot Height Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation

-4.4 mm (-0.171")

-3.7 mm (-0.146")

Arch Fit: Width

6.6

8.8

Arch Fit Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation

-5.1 mm (-0.201")

-2.2 mm (-0.087")

Length Fit

Toe Clearance Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry

5.1

8.4

Heel Rocker Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring

12 mm (0.5")

30 mm (1.2")

Heel Apex Position

18.5%

22.2%

Heel Rocker Angle

13.0°

24.8°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry

5.9

7.8

Forefoot Rocker Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring

40 mm (1.6")

55 mm (2.2")

Toe Apex Position

60.9%

59.0%

Forefoot Rocker Angle

20.0°

24.6°

Foam

Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name

Nitrofoam Elite

Primary Foam Type

A-TPU

Secondary Foam Name

No Secondary Foam

Secondary Foam Type

No Secondary Foam

Laces

Laces Picture

Lace Type

Flat

Width

6.0 mm (0.2")

Thickness

2.1 mm (0.1")

Stretch

15.0%

Breathability

9.0

Breathability Video

Upper Breathability

Upper Microscope Photo

Time-To-Dry

9.5

Time-To-Dry Timelapse

Time-To-Dry Graph

Preview Graph

Time To 30% Dry

3.5 hrs

Time To 70% Dry

8.6 hrs

Time To Dry

13.1 hrs

Water Absorption

9.6

Dry Weight Photo

Wet Weight Photo

Water Absorbed

22.8%

Other Features

Other Features Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type

Semi-gusseted

Non-gusseted

Plate

3/4-Length Plastic Plate

Carbon Fiber

Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return

6.8

8.8

Heel Compression Video

Heel Energy Return

Preview Graph

Heel Energy Return

75.5%

86.1%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return

7.7

8.9

Forefoot Compression Video

Forefoot Energy Return

Preview Graph

Forefoot Energy Return

79.3%

86.7%

Heel Cushioning

6.6

8.1

Heel Cushioning Picture

Compare High-Res

Heel Cushioning

Preview Graph

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N

3.21 J

4.30 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N

8.29 J

9.78 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N

13.66 J

15.43 J

Forefoot Cushioning

6.4

8.7

Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Compare High-Res

Forefoot Cushioning

Preview Graph

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N

4.09 J

5.56 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N

6.83 J

9.67 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N

9.84 J

14.13 J

Heel Firmness

8.5

5.9

Heel Firmness Graph

Preview Graph

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N

45.6 N/mm

32.8 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N

59.4 N/mm

46.2 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N

85.4 N/mm

68.5 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness

8.9

6.0

Forefoot Firmness Graph

Preview Graph

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N

63.0 N/mm

49.5 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N

84.5 N/mm

64.5 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N

119 N/mm

89 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

5.7

8.0

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Preview Graph

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km

6.30 J

8.81 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km

6.11 J

8.60 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km

5.98 J

8.47 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km

5.89 J

8.39 J

Rocker Stiffness

8.2

8.5

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Preview Graph

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker

129 N

144 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

7.7

8.9

Forefoot Bending Video

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Preview Graph

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

69.5%

80.2%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness

8.8

8.3

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Compare High-Res

Forefoot Bending Resistance

Preview Graph

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness

28.7 N/mm

23.0 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force

379 N

322 N

Forefoot Compression Depth

6.9

Forefoot Compression Graph

Preview Graph

Forefoot Compression At 800N

16.2 mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N

20.2 mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N

22.9 mm

Heel Compression Depth

7.2

Heel Compression Graph

Preview Graph

Heel Compression At 550N

Sliding Force

59.2 N (13.3 lbf)

Coefficient Of Friction

0.36

Exposed Foam

6.0

Outsole Photo

Heel Exposed Foam

4.0

Forefoot Exposed Foam

8.0

Outsole Abrasion Wear

4.0

Outsole Durability Video

Outsole Durability Photo

Heel Abrasion Wear

4.0

Forefoot Abrasion Wear

4.0

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PUMA Deviate NITRO 4

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3

Comments

Comparison

• Posted 7 months ago

PUMA Deviate NITRO 4 vs PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3: Main Discussion

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PUMA Deviate NITRO 4 vs Fast-R NITRO Elite 3

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Our Verdict

Variants

Review

Check Price

Main Differences for Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold

Half/Full Marathon Racing

Weight See Details

Heel Stack Height See Details

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning See Details

Forefoot Stack Height See Details

Outsole Arch Width See Details

Forefoot Compression Energy Return See Details

Forefoot Bending Energy Return See Details

Full Comparison

Half/Full Marathon Racing

5K/10K Racing

Long Run

Daily Training

Design

Design

Energy Return

Stability

Cushioning

Traction

Outsole Durability

Wet & Warm Weather

Bounciness

Snappiness

Roll

True To Size

Weight

Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight

Stack Heights

Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height

Forefoot Stack Height

Heel-To-Toe Drop

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop

External Shape

3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width

Outsole Arch Width

Outsole Forefoot Width

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio

Internal Shape

3D Model Internal

Internal Length

Internal Heel Width

Internal Forefoot Width

Wide Sizing Available

Forefoot Fit: Width

Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation

Toe TTS Deviation

Forefoot Fit: Height

Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation

Arch Fit: Width

Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation

Length Fit

Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry

Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring

Heel Apex Position

Heel Rocker Angle

Forefoot Rocker Geometry

Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring

Toe Apex Position

Forefoot Rocker Angle

Foam

Main Differences for

Half/Full Marathon Racing

Weight

Heel Stack Height

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Forefoot Stack Height

Outsole Arch Width

Forefoot Compression Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return