Pegasus Premium 1 vs Deviate Pure Nitro 1

Nike built the Pegasus Premium around bounce, and on that one point reviewers agree it delivers. The full-length Air Zoom unit in its triple-layer midsole gives a springy, trampoline-like ride that most testers enjoyed. The trouble is everything around it. At 308g it's heavy for a super trainer, the fit is narrow, and several reviewers found the tall platform unstable. RunRepeat rated it great and another tester would tell you to try it, but Doctors of Running were far harsher, and one of their testers couldn't run in it at all because the tapered toe box pressed on the big toe.

At £190 RRP that is a lot of compromise. We see it as a fun shoe for easy and steady runs if you're a neutral runner with narrow to medium feet, not a versatile super trainer. If you want Nike bounce in a lighter package, the Zoom Fly 6 is easier to live with, and the Vomero 18 makes more sense for plain easy mileage.

The Deviate Pure Nitro is Puma's plateless super trainer, and it sits in a clever spot: most of the bounce of a race shoe, without the plate telling your legs what to do. It runs on a full PEBA Nitrofoam midsole with a 38mm heel and 30mm forefoot, an 8mm drop, and a listed 220g, so it is light for how much shoe you get underfoot. This is a fast everyday trainer rather than a marathon racer. It shines on tempo runs, progression runs and honest daily miles where you want a lively, energetic ride but still want your foot to do the steering. Because there is no carbon plate, it feels more natural and forgiving than a plated super trainer like the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4, which makes it easier to run slow in. If you want one bouncy running shoe that covers most of your week, this is a strong pick.