Having followed Puma’s conversion to their Nitro running shoe line-up from 2021, it is interesting to see how each line has evolved. The Velocity range, their daily trainer, is now in its fourth iteration, with the Velocity Nitro 4 (VN4) being the most exciting yet.

Puma’s big surprise for the VN4 is its weight. As the most commonly used training shoe in the Nitro line-up, anything close to 300g per shoe (UK10) would have been acceptable, pretty much the same as the previous version. However, the VN4 pulls the scale at a skinny 248g (UK10), even lighter than the speedy Adidas Boston 13 and the more race-ready Puma Deviate Nitro.

 It is a move I did not quite anticipate for the Velocity training range, with this drop in weight perhaps more appropriate for the more expensive Deviate range. Puma notes the weight loss can be attributed to the inclusion of a full Nitro midsole and removing a layer of the upper – done so without sacrificing stack height (36mm, with a 10mm drop).

Look and Feel

The Velocity range has not always been the most exciting in Puma’s running line-up. However, there is a definite step-up in style with the VN4. It is the midsole design that should get the plaudits, with the wavy pattern around the front foot grabbing the most attention. Another interesting element is at the back of the heel – a ribbed structure, alongside a prominent heel spoiler.

Puma always adds clever design details that can be missed the first-time round. Here, the flamed logo on the back of the heel is a nice touch, with two more leaping Pumas to be found on the uppers. Finally, something that can be completely overlooked is a small little Formstrip that appears between the two topmost eyelets; all nice touches to make the VN4 more exciting.

As far as fit is concerned, like most Pumas this shoe fits true to size. However, it felt snug around the bridge of the foot, which most probably accounts for the Wide version of the shoe that is available online.

On the Run

In a sense, the full layer of Nitro foam brings the Velocity range closer to the Deviate range, and online the VN4 has received a lot of praise as a training shoe.

After a winter and a two-month illness, I have been left with a bit more flab around the waist, and at 97kg, decent support from the shoe is needed. My concern, at least for heavier runners, is that the full Nitro midsole on the Velocity Nitro 4 is perhaps a bit too squishy. Granted, 36mm of foam is a lot to work with, but in general I preferred the firmer midsole from the Deviate Nitro 3 or the Adidas Supernova Rise, both of which I ran in again just to reconfirm how they felt on the road.

However, I can understand that for those carrying less weight, the VN4 can be a great shoe. From the tempo runs and longer runs I have managed in the VN4, it felt stable and the lighter design does have an impact. The shoes even managed a kilos in a park and on trails without hassle, its squishiness helping the midsole to form around rocks and outcroppings.

The VN4 is a neutral shoe. That said, during footfall on the road it felt as if there is a small “ridge” stretching from the inside of the back of the heel towards the inside of the forefoot that kept the foot from moving too far inside, so as to keep it from overpronating. Other runners might experience this differently, and it is certainly not as pronounced as with the ForeverRun 2, which is very much the stability shoe in Puma’s line-up. As always the Pumagrip outsole is top notch, and there is very little wear on the usual areas after the month-long testing period.

To Buy?

For all intents and purposes, the VN4 is a big step up from the Velocity Nitro 3 (review). While Puma upped the stakes in the style department, the big improvement is the weight – down from 300g to a rakish 248g. While the midsole made from Nitro foam will be just what is needed for some, as a heavier runner it unfortunately lacked the firmness required to get the most out of these.

The Puma Velocity Nitro 4 is available online for R3 100. If you are a heavier runner, Puma’s Deviate Nitro 3, at about R700 more, might just be the better pick.

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