Hot on the heels of Puma’s Puma ForeverRun Nitro stability shoes comes a new colourway for Puma’s Deviate Nitro 2. The Runphoria version is now available – part of Puma's broader Runphoria running range – and arrives in the “Ultra Blue-Fire Orchid-PUMA Black” version for men (basically black), and a “Fire Orchid-PUMA Black-Icy Blue” version for women (basically pink).

If you don’t know Puma’s Deviate Nitro 2 running shoe, it’s a great trainer that can more than double as your race-day shoe. In our review of the shoe, we said, “The Deviate Nitro 2 is a pacy shoe and performs best when you up the speed. It’s here where it feels like the carbon composite plate (Puma calls it the Pwrplate) is doing its best work.”

The Deviate Nitro 2 is best for neutral pronators and shaves four grams off the weight of its 2021 predecessor (review), now coming in at 277 g per shoe (Men’s UK10). With a drop of 8 mm, you’ll find the heel measuring 38 mm, with Puma’s excellent Pumagrip doing duty on the outsole.

Puma notes the shoe is more responsive than the first version, thanks to a full-length layer of premium Nitro Elite foam in the midsole for “supreme cushioning and peak propulsion”. This combines with Puma’s regular nitrogen infused Nitro foam for a more responsive run.

Interesting is the inclusion of the carbon composite plate, which acts as a lever for maximum energy transfer at toe-off, adding that bit of kick during threshold/pacier runs. Finally, the breathable mesh upper provides extra padding and grip around the ankle to prevent heel slip, after critique by some about this in the first version.

The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 Runphoria shoe is now available for R3 599 as part of a broader Runphoria apparel offering for Puma's running range. Find this at PUMA.com, PUMA Retail, Totalsports and SportSA Online.