NEWS SPONSORED BY rAge EXPO:

It’s been a long wait but finally it’s confirmed that Puma’s Deviate Nitro 2 running shoe is heading to South Africa.

Last year’s Deviate Nitro (review) was our favourite from Puma’s range of Nitro foam enabled running shoes. In fact, it was the best we’ve ever tested from the brand.

Hopefully the Deviate Nitro 2 packs more of the same goodness. And there’s no reason to believe otherwise, with Puma noting the shoe is more responsive than its older brother, thanks to a full-length layer of premium Nitro Elite foam at the midsole for “supreme cushioning and peak propulsion”.

The Deviate Nitro 2 shaves four grams off the weight, now coming in at 262 grams per shoe. With a drop of 8mm, you’ll find the heel measuring 38mm, with Puma’s excellent Pumagrip doing duty on the outsole.

The carbon composite plate, called the PWRPLATE, has been reworked, coming with an platform design which acts as a lever for maximum energy transfer at toe-off. Finally, the breathable mesh upper offers extra padding and grip around the ankle to prevent heel slip, according to Puma.

While the women’s Deviate Nitro 2 is already available at retail stores, you would have to wait close to Xmas to get the men’s version, being released on 22 December 2022. They come with an RRP of R3 600. If you can’t stay patient that long, have a look at the Deviate Nitro Elite, which was released earlier this year.