PUMA ForeverRUN NITRO Review – When Stability is Key 

Since its reintroduction to the running game in 2021, PUMA has centralised many of its running shoes around the NITRO technology. Whether you’re looking for an elite shoe or an entry-level runner, the nitrogen-injected foam has been a critical enabler for the brand. A few months back, PUMA introduced a new runner aimed at the everyday runner looking for stability. The PUMA ForeverRUN NITRO was released to cater for that specific market.

Design

For this season’s PUMA running, there is a central theme around the Sunset Glow colours. While the main lineup of shoes features the Sunset Glow aesthetic, the PUMA ForeverRUN NITRO still keeps up with the orange theme with its Ultra Orange colourway.

Overall, this bright colour stands out from the pack on the tarmac or the road. While it has no reflective detailing for nighttime running, its bright orange colourway is easily picked up under the lights. And it looks great while doing so.

Apart from the standout Ultra Orange colour palette, other notable visuals include the mesh upper and thick NITRO foam midsole. The mesh upper provides a breathable material when you’re running while adding visual appeal with its hexagonal pattern on the toe (and pops up on the heel) in the form resembling an arrow. It may not show well on digital imagery, but it adds much to the overall design.

Several other minor details are throughout, including the PWRTAPE that blends in so well it can hardly be seen, the Formstrip that features a rubber outline and the pull tab, which adds to the look. The overall design of the PUMA ForeverRUN NITRO isn’t as aggressive as many of the other runners in the NITRO series. However, there’s a reason for that, which I’ll discuss later.

A second colourway option features the Royal Sapphire and Fizzy Lime theme. While some details are more revealing in this variant, it doesn’t match the Ultra Orange boldness overall.

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Comfort

Almost all modern-day sneakers carry some level of comfort. However, for running shoes, this is a high priority. The shoe is almost a non-starter without adding sufficient comfort levels for the wearer, whether for walking or running.

As with all NITRO series running shoes, this is a high priority for the PUMA design team. The team has added several elements to make the ForeverRUN NITRO a very comfortable shoe. It includes padding around the foot, including the mesh upper, the NITRO midsole and the padded insole. All of this work together to give you a snug and protected fit.

As mentioned, the shoe has a mesh upper with a patterned finish. These patterns act as slight padding to extend the comfort from the toe to the heel of your foot. Additionally, the PWRTAPE straps around critical areas to secure your foot in place as you run. This support makes it easier to move around without worrying about slippage inside the shoe.

It is a very comfortable shoe overall. Whether out running or just using the shoes as your daily driver, it’ll work effortlessly.

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PUMA ForeverRUN NITRO Performance

When it comes to performance, it will all come down to personal preference and requirements. For example, if you’re looking for a running shoe to stabilise your gait cycle and pronation, the PUMA ForeverRUN NITRO will be ideal. However, if you’re looking for a faster-paced run and pushing for PBs, you may need to look elsewhere. But let’s get into the nitty-gritty.

Much effort has gone into the ForeverRUN NITRO to stabilise your overall approach. From the asymmetrical heel counter to the low heel-to-toe drop, it’s all about less impact and more stability. I’m overusing the word just a little, but that’s exactly what the shoe provides. Even the insole, with its padding and bump to support your arch better, adds additional buffers to create a more streamlined run.

Stability is further aided by the RUNGUIDE system. This guide rail was designed to keep your foot aligned as it hits the ground to avoid any lateral movement causing pronation.

What I picked up during my testing was that the shoe favoured slower runs with a mid or flatfoot landing. This made for less impact during your runs, so I wouldn’t pick up as many strains on my bones and joints. As such, completing a five to 10km run more frequently made it more accessible. This helps prepare those looking to increase their fitness for other activities and sports. However, it may not be the best option if you’re looking to push your personal running by improving your speed or distance.

It took some time during my testing to adjust my running style to suit the requirements. However, it was a worthwhile approach. Having been off ill for some time, I needed to recover before regaining my fitness levels. Thankfully, pushing through a few slower daily runs helped the process. Additionally, with less strain in my calf muscles, which typically take the most impact when pushing faster runs, I had zero to little strain and fully recovered by the next day.

Overall, the PUMA ForeverRUN NITRO is a running shoe designed with a specific purpose, on which it delivers. It may not be my daily runner going forward, but with all those recovery runs or fitness boosts, it will definitely be the best option.

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It’s not always easy judging overall quality after a few weeks of trialling a product. With its theme of centralising your stride with even strikes, we can deduce that there will be less wear and tear in some regions of the shoe overall.

Additionally, the materials used are premium. From previous experience, having tested two NITRO runners and using one for over 800km, the NITRO foam holds up very well over time. The NITRO midsole and rubberised outsole are still in excellent condition for the distance already covered on that unit. Having covered between 100 and 150km with the PUMA ForeverRUN NITRO, it, too, has shown very little sign of excess wear. This indicates that it would hold up for quite some time.

Is the PUMA ForeverRUN NITRO Worth It?

The PUMA ForeverRUN NITRO is a great daily running shoe. Not only is it comfortable, but it also aids in preventing injuries and strain on your body. That said, it’s a particular type of shoe. It’s not meant to push you to your next PB but instead keeps you going more frequently to increase your fitness levels. For this, it is a must-have.

It carries a retail price of R3,200, a tad steep for an everyday runner. That said, you’re all set to keep things moving for an entire year or more without effort. This makes it worth it. The shoe is currently on a seasonal promotion and can be picked up for R2,240, which is quite a steal.

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