PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 vs Nike Alphafly 3: Which Running Shoe Is Better?

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Products

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Oct 22, 2026 05:14 PM

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Amazon

Tested using Methodology v0.12

Updated Oct 23, 2026 06:14 PM

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Amazon

Heel Stack Height 39.8 mm

Weight 200.7 g (7.08 oz)

Heel-To-Toe Drop 6.4 mm

Plate Carbon Fiber

Heel Stack Height 39.2 mm

Weight 199.9 g (7.05 oz)

Heel-To-Toe Drop 10.1 mm

Plate Carbon Fiber

Our Verdict

Nike Alphafly 3

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3

The PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 and Nike Alphafly 3 are both versatile carbon-plated racers, but the Alphafly is the more marathon-focused shoe. The PUMA has a more accommodating fit and a less aggressive setup, while the Alphafly provides a more forceful forefoot response at race pace. Get the PUMA if you want a racer that's easier to use across different distances; get the Alphafly if the marathon is the priority.

Variants

Alphafly 3 (Black/Olive Aura/Metallic Silver - (Men - US 9))
Alphafly 3 (Bright Crimson/Lime Blast/Mint Foam/Cave Purple - (Men - US 9))

Deviate NITRO Elite 3 (Glowing Red/Black - (Men - US 9))
Deviate NITRO Elite 3 (Glowing Red/Black - (Women - US 7))

Review

See Nike Alphafly 3 Review

See PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Review

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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.

Threshold

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing

8.2

7.9

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

7.8

6.3

Forefoot Stack Height

33.4 mm

29.1 mm

Full Comparison

Half/Full Marathon Racing

8.2

7.9

5K/10K Racing

8.1

8.3

Long Run

7.6

7.2

Daily Training

6.3

6.2

Design

Energy Return

8.2

8.4

Stability

6.9

5.9

Cushioning

7.8

8.0

Traction

4.6

Outsole Durability

6.0

Wet & Warm Weather

8.0

Bounciness

7.0

8.4

Snappiness

8.2

Roll

7.9

True To Size

9.0

9.8

Design

Weight

8.1

8.2

Right Shoe Weight Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo

Compare High-Res

Weight

200.7 g (7.08 oz)

199.9 g (7.05 oz)

Stack Heights

Stack Height Photo

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PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height

39.8 mm

39.2 mm

Forefoot Stack Height

33.4 mm

29.1 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop

6.4 mm

10.1 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop

8.0 mm

External Shape

3D Model Full Shoe

Preview 3D

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width

91 mm (3.6")

81 mm (3.2")

Outsole Arch Width

68 mm (2.7")

55 mm (2.2")

Outsole Forefoot Width

116 mm (4.6")

103 mm (4.1")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio

2.29

2.07

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio

3.47

3.54

Internal Shape

3D Model Internal

Preview 3D

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 3D Model Internal

Internal Length

273 mm (10.7")

275 mm (10.8")

Internal Heel Width

59 mm (2.3")

58 mm (2.3")

Internal Forefoot Width

90 mm (3.5")

90 mm (3.6")

Wide Sizing Available

Forefoot Fit: Width

9.4

9.3

Forefoot Width Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation

-0.8 mm (-0.032")

1.9 mm (0.074")

Toe TTS Deviation

-2.2 mm (-0.087")

6.1 mm (0.238")

Forefoot Fit: Height

9.7

Forefoot Height Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation

-0.8 mm (-0.030")

0.5 mm (0.019")

Arch Fit: Width

6.2

9.9

Arch Fit Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation

-5.6 mm (-0.219")

-0.5 mm (-0.019")

Length Fit

Toe Clearance Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry

6.6

7.5

Heel Rocker Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring

16 mm (0.6")

23 mm (0.9")

Heel Apex Position

15.3%

25.0%

Heel Rocker Angle

21.3°

18.2°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry

6.7

8.2

Forefoot Rocker Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring

45 mm (1.8")

59 mm (2.3")

Toe Apex Position

66.4%

60.7%

Forefoot Rocker Angle

26.6°

28.2°

Foam

Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name

ZoomX

Primary Foam Type

PEBA

Secondary Foam Name

No Secondary Foam

Secondary Foam Type

No Secondary Foam

Laces

Laces Picture

Lace Type

Sawtooth

Width

6.0 mm (0.2")

Thickness

1.2 mm (0.0")

Stretch

10.5%

Breathability

7.5

Breathability Video

Upper Breathability

Upper Microscope Photo

Time-To-Dry

8.1

Time-To-Dry Timelapse

Time-To-Dry Graph

Preview Graph

Time To 30% Dry

5.1 hrs

Time To 70% Dry

14.9 hrs

Time To Dry

24.3 hrs

Water Absorption

8.4

Dry Weight Photo

Wet Weight Photo

Water Absorbed

35.6%

Other Features

Other Features Photo

Compare High-Res

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type

Non-gusseted

Plate

Carbon Fiber

Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return

8.2

8.6

Heel Compression Video

Heel Energy Return

Preview Graph

Heel Energy Return

82.0%

84.8%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return

8.2

8.3

Forefoot Compression Video

Forefoot Energy Return

Preview Graph

Forefoot Energy Return

82.2%

82.4%

Heel Cushioning

7.6

8.0

Heel Cushioning Picture

Compare High-Res

Heel Cushioning

Preview Graph

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N

3.82 J

3.43 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N

9.18 J

10.00 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N

14.96 J

17.40 J

Forefoot Cushioning

8.0

Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Compare High-Res

Forefoot Cushioning

Preview Graph

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N

4.68 J

4.84 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N

8.55 J

8.68 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N

13.10 J

12.94 J

Heel Firmness

7.4

7.6

Heel Firmness Graph

Preview Graph

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N

38.8 N/mm

43.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N

52.3 N/mm

52.4 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N

75.9 N/mm

72.7 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness

7.9

8.2

Forefoot Firmness Graph

Preview Graph

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N

57.0 N/mm

59.4 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N

73.1 N/mm

75.4 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N

99 N/mm

103 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

7.8

6.3

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Preview Graph

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km

8.41 J

6.88 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km

8.33 J

6.73 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km

8.27 J

6.64 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km

8.24 J

6.58 J

Rocker Stiffness

7.9

8.8

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Preview Graph

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker

117 N

156 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

8.0

Forefoot Bending Video

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Preview Graph

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

71.3%

71.5%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness

9.5

8.7

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Compare High-Res

Forefoot Bending Resistance

Preview Graph

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness

41.6 N/mm

24.0 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force

484 N

429 N

Forefoot Compression Depth

6.1

Forefoot Compression Graph

Preview Graph

Forefoot Compression At 800N

14.0 mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N

17.8 mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N

20.6 mm

Heel Compression Depth

6.3

Heel Compression Graph

Preview Graph

Heel Compression At 550N

Sliding Force

60.0 N (13.5 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

6.0

Outsole Durability Video

Outsole Durability Photo

Heel Abrasion Wear

4.0

Forefoot Abrasion Wear

8.0

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Nike Alphafly 3

PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3

Comments

Comparison

• Posted 1 year ago

Nike Alphafly 3 vs PUMA Deviate NITRO Elite 3: Main Discussion

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Nike Alphafly 3 vs PUMA Deviate 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

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning See Details

Forefoot Stack Height 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

Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name

Primary Foam Type

Secondary Foam Name

Main Differences for

Half/Full Marathon Racing

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Forefoot Stack Height