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The Puma evoSPEED Long Distance Nitro Elite 2 is a purpose-built track racing spike for the longer end of the programme, the 5000m and 10000m, where you want propulsion that lasts and a plate that stays snappy lap after lap. This is not a road shoe you can jog to the start line in. It is a lightweight, aggressive distance spike with Nitro foam underfoot and a full-length Pebax plate driving you onto your toes. In our view Puma has aimed this squarely at the club and elite track runner who has moved past pure middle-distance and needs a spike that rewards a smooth, sustained turnover rather than a raw 800m kick. If you race the track regularly and want a genuine alternative to the usual Nike Dragonfly and adidas options, it belongs on your shortlist. For road racing or any training mileage, look elsewhere: this is a race-day spike and nothing else.
Distance spikes run tight by design, and the evoSPEED Long Distance is no exception. Expect a locked-down, race-day fit that wraps the foot closely with very little dead space, which is exactly what you want when you are cornering hard at pace. Most runners will find it true to size, but the fit is narrow, so if you have a wider foot or you race in thicker socks you may want to try before you commit or size up a half. The heel hold is secure and the midfoot lockdown is snug, keeping the foot planted over the plate. Because a spike is worn for a race and a warm-up, not for hours, a slightly snug feel is normal and preferable to any slippage. If you are between sizes and plan to wear thin racing socks, stay true to size. If you are unsure, the safer move is to try it on before race day rather than discover the fit mid-heat.
On the track this spike feels quick and direct. The Nitro foam gives a touch more give than a bare traditional distance spike, so the ride is firm and responsive without being punishing over 25 laps of a 10000m. The full-length Pebax plate is the star: it holds its snap and rolls you through toe-off cleanly, rewarding a runner who can hold form deep into a race. Get on your toes and settle into rhythm and it comes alive. Drop your cadence or heel-strike and you lose most of what it offers. It is not a spike that flatters a tiring, sloppy stride, but for a runner grinding out an even, sustained effort it keeps returning energy where you need it.
By spike standards there is a meaningful amount of protection here, which is the whole point of a long-distance model over a bare middle-distance plate. The Nitro foam takes enough sting out of the track to keep your legs fresher through the closing laps of a 5000m or 10000m without adding bulk or blunting the response. Do not mistake this for a cushioned shoe in any everyday sense. It is minimal, firm and race-focused, with just enough underfoot to let you sustain pace over the longer distances rather than protect you on a training run. Judged as a distance spike, the balance of protection and speed is well pitched.
This is a neutral racing spike with no added support features, and that is correct for the category. Stability on the track comes from the spike plate and pins biting the surface, plus the snug upper holding your foot centred over the platform, rather than from any medial post. The low, close-to-track feel keeps you connected and confident through bends. It suits an efficient, neutral runner with the strength and form to race on a firm, aggressive platform. If you need genuine motion control or you are prone to overpronation under fatigue, a spike like this will not correct it, and no distance spike really will. Come to it with track-ready mechanics.
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The upper is a thin, race-first affair built to save weight and lock the foot down rather than to pamper it. It wraps snugly, holds through corners and breathes well for hard efforts on a warm track. As with any spike, there is little padding, so comfort comes from the precise fit rather than from cushioning around the ankle or tongue. Worn with thin racing socks for a warm-up and a race it is comfortable enough for its job. It is not built for long wear, and it does not need to be.
| Category | Race |
| Surface | Track |
| Weight | 150g |
| Carbon Plated | No |
| Stability | No |