Puma Velocity Nitro 4 Review: A Do-It-All Running Shoe for All Runners
Puma’s highly anticipated Velocity Nitro 4 running shoe has finally arrived. After a few weeks of running in this shoe, I’ve fallen in love with its versatility. There’s no doubt the Puma Velocity Nitro 4 is one of the best running shoes for daily training; it’s comfortable, responsive, and has an excellent outsole. South African runners will love the shoe’s ability to adjust to unpredictable weather conditions and changing terrain, without a second thought.
Since the original launched in 2021, I’ve tested every generation of Puma’s Velocity Nitro shoe, and it’s always rated very highly in my books. It was hard to beat the Velocity Nitro 3 for me; it’s one of my favourite Puma running shoes of all time, but with the Velocity Nitro 4, Puma has created some serious magic. This fourth iteration is the big cat’s best daily runner yet, thanks to the new midsole, which is made entirely from Puma’s famous NitroFoam. Packing some impressive foam action, the Velocity Nitro 4 is lighter and springier than its predecessors, making it oodles of fun to run in.
If the Deviate Nitro 3 and the Velocity Nitro 3 fell in love and produced an heir, it would be the Velocity Nitro 4. To create this shoe, Puma has taken the best bits of both shoes and added a dash of new technology and experience to create something truly remarkable. The Velocity Nitro 4 feels as responsive and bouncy as the Deviate Nitro 3 (with no carbon plate in sight) and boasts a similar upper to create that incredible lockdown that many love about the Deviate. But, even though the shoe borrows from Puma’s speed shoe, it still leans heavily on the heritage of the Velocity Nitro 3 in terms of comfort and versatility.
Next-gen tech for faster runs
Weighing in at approximately 250g (depending on the size), the Velocity Nitro 4 is 14g lighter than the Velocity Nitro 3. Looking at stack height, the shoe boasts a 36mm heel and 26mm forefoot height with a 10mm drop. The upper is made from a lightweight engineered mesh with PWRTAPE overlays, while the outsole features PumaGrip on the forefoot and heel. I also love the laces on these new versions; the laces are long enough to do a runner’s knot with ease, which is often overlooked in a lot of shoes.
The upper offers a good amount of room in my normal running shoe size (4.5 UK), but it can feel quite narrow through the midfoot in particular. Overall, the fit of the Velocity Nitro 4 is wider than the previous version, even with the tapered toe box, so it should be ideal for a narrow to normal fit. The snug-fit upper may be a tad tight for some, especially if you have wider feet, so I’d advise going up a half-size from your usual running shoe size for a sure fit. Even with its snug fit, the upper offers runners plenty of movement and flexibility, especially in the heel area. The generous padding on the heel is another winner for added comfort at the heel without restricting movement.
My biggest takeaway from this next-gen Velocity is that it’s lighter and far more fun to run in than the previous models. From the first run, it was hard to ignore that the Velocity Nitro 4 has a lot more pep in its step than previous versions of the daily runner. This is all thanks to the lighter, more dynamic midsole, which is 100% NitroFoam rather than the dual-density NitroFoam/ProFoam Lite setup on the Velocity Nitro 3. Thanks to the new foam formula, the shoe is a lot squishier than previous versions, making it a brilliantly nimble shoe that is even better-suited for up-tempo running.
The Velocity Nitro 4 pops like nothing else and is comfortable at slow paces and energetic at faster speeds. I’ve been loving it so much, I’ve hardly been leaning on my shoe rotation to switch out shoes for longer runs and interval runs because this shoe can do it all. It’s hard to find a shoe that is capable of handling tempo and interval runs as well as easy outings, making the Velocity Nitro 4 one of the more versatile daily trainers out there.
Puma’s careful design considerations have ensured this shoe is a shining star in its category. What may seem like shortcomings are instrumental in the overall performance of the Velocity Nitro 4. While the shoe’s stack height of 36mm may seem lacking compared to other daily trainers on the market that offer closer to 40mm of foam at the heel, the Velocity Nitro 4 feels as comfortable as ever on long runs.
Helping the shoe tackle every terrain and weather is PumaGrip. The rubber outsole is surprisingly thick, given the light weight of the shoe, which allows it to grip well in all conditions. Puma’s generosity with the rubber outsole makes the Velocity Nitro 4 great for exploring light trails and even a great HYROX race day shoe.
But, with great versatility comes some sacrifice. The Velocity Nitro 4’s nippy design and soft midsole foam do make for quite a narrow shoe, so those who favour stability and a wider base may want to look elsewhere, like the Puma Forever Run. Similarly, the chunky 10mm drop may not be to everyone’s taste when compared to the more conservative 6mm – 8mm drops in competitors’ everyday training shoes. Overall, Velocity Nitro 4 offers a traditional, flat and snappy ride that is quite different from the smooth rockers found on many shoes these days. I love how exciting it feels to run in this shoe, but that may not be for everyone.
Is the Puma Velocity Nitro 4 right for you?
Both new runners and seasoned runners will find plenty to adore in this daily runner. If your budget doesn’t allow for a shoe rotation to rival the depth of Rassie Erasmus’ Springbok lineup, then Puma’s Velocity Nitro 4 is a great bet.
It’s a good shoe to invest in if you’re looking for a running shoe that can serve as a comfortable daily trainer with enough range for faster efforts. The Velocity Nitro 4 is one of the best cushioned running shoes you can get if you don’t want to max out the amount of foam underfoot and lose out on speed as a result.
Puma Velocity Nitro 4 is available from Puma South Africa at R3,099.
