Deviate Nitro Elite 4

Yes, for most runners it fits true to size, so start with your usual Puma running size. The fit is snug and race-focused, with a secure midfoot and a foot-hugging toe box rather than a roomy one. If you have wider feet or race ultra distances where your feet swell, consider going up a half size and try them on first if you can. Getting the size right matters here because the minimal upper offers little stretch.

Yes, the marathon is exactly what it is built for. The carbon plate and firmer ATPU midsole give you an efficient, propulsive ride that holds up as fatigue sets in, and the stable platform helps when your form starts to slip late in a race. The firm feel means some runners, especially heavier ones, may find it a touch harsh over 26.2 miles, so if you love a soft landing weigh that up. For runners who like a direct, planted ride, it is a strong marathon racer.

It can work for a newer runner targeting a first race, but it is not the ideal everyday starter shoe. It is a firm, stiff, neutral carbon racer with a minimal upper, built for speed rather than easy comfort, and at £215 it is a big outlay. Most beginners are better served logging their training miles in a cushioned daily trainer and saving a shoe like this for race day, if at all. Build the mileage first, then add a super shoe when you are chasing a specific time.

Both are elite road racers at a similar price, but they feel different. The Vaporfly 4 leans soft, bouncy and light, a classic float-and-roll super shoe. The Deviate Nitro Elite 4 is firmer and more planted, trading some of that soft bounce for stability and outstanding wet grip from its PUMAGRIP outsole. If you want the softest, springiest ride, lean Nike. If you want a controlled, grippy, propulsive racer that stays composed when you tire, the Puma is the pick.

As a carbon race shoe it is built for race day and sharp sessions, not high training mileage, so treat it accordingly. The PUMAGRIP outsole is a durability strong point and holds up well, but the thin racing upper and plated midsole are not meant to soak up hundreds of easy miles. Rotate it in for races, tempo runs and key workouts, and keep your everyday training in a daily trainer. Used that way it should last you a good stretch of race-day use.