The Puma Deviate Pure Nitro and the Puma Deviate Nitro 4 belong to the same Deviate family and share the PEBA-based Nitro foam.
But they are not aimed at the same use: the Pure Nitro is the flexible, forgiving version, with no plate, built for training from daily runs up to the marathon. The Deviate Nitro 4 is the performance version, with its carbon plate, made for tempo and racing.
These two models have exactly the same height: 38 mm at the heel and an 8 mm drop.
The real difference is elsewhere. The Deviate Nitro 4 packs a PWRPLATE carbon plate that the Pure Nitro does not have. That leaves the Pure Nitro noticeably lighter on the scale: 210 g / 7.4 oz versus 242 g / 8.5 oz in a US 9 (EU 42).
Underfoot, the Pure Nitro relies on a full-length 100% PEBA NITROFOAM midsole, with no plate. The feel is flexible and plush, with responsiveness that surprises for a plate-free shoe: the bounce is there, the push-off is punchy, but the ride stays more forgiving and less stiff.
The Deviate Nitro 4 adds the carbon plate to that PEBA base: the feel gains stiffness and propulsion, more responsive at fast paces.
In terms of scenarios, the Pure Nitro is the ideal daily training partner: light, flexible and excellent value for money, it soaks up every easy run and stretches the distance without limit, up to the marathon. The Deviate Nitro 4 steps it up for fast workouts, tempo and racing, where the carbon plate makes the difference.
Both uppers are breathable and well fitted. The Pure Nitro goes for a very light, breathable single-layer engineered knit, with surprisingly good lockdown for its weight. The Deviate Nitro 4 gains comfort and forefoot room compared to the previous version.
Sizing note: at Puma, the forefoot runs a bit snug on both models: take your usual size, half a size up if you have wide feet.
Puma Deviate Pure Nitro or Deviate Nitro 4: Which Should You Choose?
For the vast majority of runners, the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro is the obvious choice: lighter, more flexible, more forgiving, it covers daily training and long runs up to the marathon without ever lacking pop. It earned the better score of our two reviews, and it is one of the best values around right now.
Move up to the Deviate Nitro 4 if you want the extra stiffness and propulsion of a carbon plate for fast workouts, tempo and racing, and you prefer a firmer feel. It is the faster shoe of the two at pace, but also the less versatile day to day (even if it does better than most other carbon models).
In short, the Pure Nitro for everyday runs, the Nitro 4 for chasing performance with a carbon plate.
