Deviate Nitro 4 vs Velocity Nitro 4

Puma cut the Deviate Nitro 4's RRP to £150, £10 under version 3, and made it a friendlier shoe while it was at it. Reviewers agree it's the best-fitting Deviate so far: the upper has more give, and the midsole feels softer on easy runs yet still picks up when you push. Think of it as a carbon-plated daily training shoe and tempo shoe rather than a marathon racer. It sits lower than most super trainers, and on paper its 7mm drop is lower than the old model's too. What it lacks is a bit of excitement. One UK review panel liked it but felt rivals such as the Adizero EVO SL are springier, and lab testing found the heel much less lively than the forefoot. We rate it a very good all-rounder, a step behind the best in its class.

The Velocity Nitro 4 is Puma at its most sensible: a do-everything daily training shoe built to soak up mile after mile without asking much of your legs or your wallet. At 245g with a 9.7mm drop it sits in the sweet spot for a road workhorse, light enough to pick up the pace but cushioned enough for a two-hour long run. Nitro foam gives it a lively, slightly springy feel that flatters easy running, and at an RRP of £110 it undercuts most of the daily trainers it competes with. This is not a carbon racer and it does not pretend to be. It is the shoe you reach for on ordinary days, the one that quietly logs most of your weekly volume. If you want a single, honest running shoe that handles easy runs, steady miles and the occasional tempo without fuss, the Velocity Nitro 4 is one of the safest picks in its class. Runners who want the extra pop of a plate should look at the Deviate Nitro 4 instead.