Last year saw the release of Puma’s first ForeverRun Nitro (review), offering a stability shoe more aligned to the general running community in South Africa. It’s a shoe that you can comfortably put miles on during the week and then also lace up for a race over the weekend.

The new ForeverRun NITRO 2 (FN2) builds on the concept, adding more midsole and refining the ForeverRun System, ultimately providing a more rounded running experience.

Take and give

To start, the bad news is the ForeverRun NITRO 2 (FN2) is 23 g heavier, tipping the scales on 329 g for the UK10. This is partly due to 2 mm of added midsole, with the FN2 coming across as a larger shoe in general.

You still receive a generous helping of width here - the sole stands at 12.50mm across. While it’s only 10 mm wider than Puma’s Deviate Nitro 3 and Velocity Nitro 3, the extra centimetre contributes a lot to the shoe’s stability underneath the foot.

When wearing the FN2 the foot never feels restricted, partly due to the generous toe box and the new upper made from stretchable knit material. There really is lots of room here, although those with thinner feet might be wondering how tight the laces can go.

The rolled heel collar is now more refined, while the pull tab also helps when putting these on. One complaint is about the FN2’s tongue, which runs up quite high from the laces. When running with hidden socks, the tongue chafed me, so longer socks are recommended.

Runguide gets refined

Like its predecessor, the FN2 makes use of Puma’s Runguide System, which refers to the technology in place to offer better foot alignment while running, especially using the midsole. With a soft midsole core and a firmer rim around it, the ForeverRun NITRO 2 is strict on how it wants the foot to behave, more so than the previous model.

Puma recommends the shoe for overpronators, meaning runners whose feet tend to lean inward during the gait cycle, and it’s easy to see why. While running you can feel the midsole starting to cradle the heel during impact, and then, during midstance and propulsion, preventing the foot from moving inwards thanks to a restrictive midsole “barrier” around the forefoot. This added forefoot control around the inside of the foot is one of the major changes to the FN2 compared to the previous model.

The Runguide System allows for a more neutral style of running, while also offering a thick (but not soft) layer of Puma’s nitrogen injected Nitrofoam for support and a decent amount of bounce (although far off the pace of my favourite, the Deviate Nitro 3). With a relatively high drop of 10 mm between heel and toe, the 38 mm of midsole definitely caters to heel strikers and to slightly heavier runners, amongst I count myself (I stand at 92 kg currently).

It's always worth mentioning that Puma’s Pumagrip outsole is one of the best in the business and grippier than a gecko with feet dipped in honey.

In the end

It goes without saying that the FN2 is not a speedy shoe, but it’s also not meant to be. This is the type of shoe that allows you to comfortably manage your daily training, work those long runs over the weekend, to eventually lace them up on race day. 

Compared to the previous version of the shoe, the Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 feels more refined but in a sense also more complex and it took me a few runs before settling in. It's heavier but offers more support than before, alongside what felt like more restriction around the inside of the forefoot meant for overpronators.

 If you are looking to lace up a pair, the ForeverRun NITRO 2 retails for R3 400 here and at selected retail stores.

DISCLAIMER: Shoes were received from Puma South Africa and not returned.