Puma running has taken off the last few years, particularly with some speedy shoes with carbon plates. But the Puma MagMax Nitro is finally speaking to the middle and back of the pack that wants some cushion for long hours on the feet.
While I’ve enjoyed other Puma’s, it was an immediately new feel to pull on the MagMax and that’s obvious just from looking at this behemoth. It’s a big stack for a lot of cushion and they even dropped some of the intensely bright colors of their faster shoes.
Chatting with Puma recently, they told me “we want to be a shoe for every runner”. And my initial thought was that a lot of things really focused on the faster runner, but now we see the tides turning. This cushioned shoe is going to work for a lot of runners for easy days, recovery days and long runs.
As you know I’m always honest in my running shoe reviews with what I like, dislike and what might work for you that wasn’t a fit for me!
There isn’t a single ideal running shoe that suits every runner, so I’d like to share my discoveries. However, I strongly recommend visiting a running store and trying them on yourself! Take a run around the shop and gauge your thoughts.
Puma MagMax Nitro Overview
It’s no secret that I have come to love a good cushioned running shoe. In fact, I’ve started really calling out brands with max shoes that just feel firm because it’s confusing. Most previous Puma’s that have labeled themselves as cushioned I agreed…they had some, but never a max cushion.
The Puma MagMax Nitro changes that.
Puma loves to throw in little details, like this hidden message under the flap or the puma on the outsole. And it’s just part of making the shoes feel fun, which I love.
With a massive 46mm stack height, I was impressed to find that the shoe felt really stable during runs. I have had them out for up to 8 miles right now and felt good the whole way. This is largely due to having a more Hoka like base that’s wider and with a slightly extended heel.
NITROFOAM is their own blend, which I talk more about below, but in the past I always called it a moderate cushion, even at 39mm. But with 7mm more, now we’re talking real cushion feel. I wouldn’t expect much speed out of the weight of this shoe, but again could still be a really great half marathon and marathon race shoe!
Back in the old days, we just had one type of shoe we used for everything! And we set plenty of PR’s, so if you aren’t interested in a carbon plated shoe, then you should feel confident this will get you through big miles.
We don’t always spend a lot of time thinking about the outsole, but particularly heading in to winter, I notice it!
The PumaGrip rubber flows along the entire way, which is really good for ensuring grip. You should not have any issue with wet roads. Without big lugs or gaps, there’s no where for rocks to get stuck which is fabulous not just for roads, but taking it on the gravel.
Puma MagMax Nitro Specifications
All right, let’s get in to the nitty gritty of this easy trainer:
- Heel toe drop: 8 mm
- Stack: 46 mm
- Weight: 10.2 oz Unisex
- Style: Max cushion neutral running shoe
- Usage: Easy or long run trainer
- 1 colorway women, 2 men (hoping more as it’s out longer)
- Not available in wide
- Available at puma.com for $180
In terms of style, it’s a very traditional running shoe look. Not the more stylish feel of an On and perhaps in the women’s bright blue not the shoe you want to wear all day casually…but you can and it would feel great.
Puma Deviate Nitro 3 Fit
With every other Puma I have noted that they run a bit narrow, but this shoe is Unisex and that might just be why I don’t find it narrow. It’s a very average width and depth. The toebox doesn’t even feel as shallow as I noted in the Puma Deviate Nitro 3.
Women who usually like a wide in Puma, might be just fine. Gentlemen, if you want a wide, I don’t think this shoe is the winner.
I’ve consistently found that male runners find Puma running shoes to fit pretty normal for width and females consistently say it feels more narrow, potentially short.
The gusseted tongue is always a pleasure to not worry about things moving around. It’s very lightly padded, so no issues with digging in to the ankle. In trying to find the words to describe it…the tongue is almost the thickness of a cushioned sock.
For those who choose to run without socks, this is not going to be a good option. I took them out for a walk and the tongue is just rough on the skin directly. Nothing you notice in a sock at all.
Laces are short…which meant I wasn’t able to do my normal heel lock lacing comfortably. But I also didn’t really notice that I needed it, the shoes felt very secure on the foot and weren’t moving around.
Feel
As noted, there were two immediate stand outs that make this possibly one of my favorite Puma’s. It does not feel narrow and it actually felt like a good cushion underfoot.
The upper is your standard breathable mesh. I know they have a lot of fancy terms to go with it, but on the whole it’s a thicker upper than you’ll find with any speed shoe and it’s very similar to what you’ll find in all your daily trainers.
Over longer runs, I didn’t notice any issues with sinking too far in to the shoe. A really plush cushion can actually throw you off and this still maintains enough firmness and bounce that you keep good alignment. And that little bit of bounce definitely makes you feel a bit lighter for a weighty shoe. 
Similar Shoes to MagMax Nitro
If you’d like a good cushioned shoe for easy runs and long days, here are some others we have tested that would be in the same genre:
- Saucony Triumph 22
- Saucony Hurricane (the stability shoe version)
- Hoka Skyflow (maybe feels a little bouncier)
- On Cloudeclipse (the Cloudmonster will be slightly firmer, but I like both)
Why is it $180?
Good question, why is a shoe that we’re talking about as an easy run or recovery shoe more expensive? The answer lies mostly in the foam that’s described below.
While I think they are trying to get this shoe somewhere in the Super Trainer category, I don’t think it lines up just yet, particularly compared to what other brands are doing with the Hoka Mach X2, Asics Superblast, On Cloudmonster Hyper…the list continues.
So you’re paying for that additional really high quality foam. The bounce. The lightness of that foam to get in so much without really weighing down the shoe.
I haven’t been able to use these for a full year or anything, but it does seem like this foam is durable so you should get a very good lifespan from the shoes!
What is Puma Nitro Foam?
You might have wondered about the Nitro in the name of their shoes lately and that’s specifically because of the foam they use. Like all brands, Puma has come up with their own proprietary foam.
NITRO foam is used throughout Puma’s lineup of road running shoes. Infused with a mixture of nitrogen gas, this specialized foam undergoes a process that heightens its springiness and bounce.
The nitrogen infusion, a distinctive trait of Puma’s road shoes, contributes to the expansion of the midsoles, amplifying comfort and ensuring optimal responsiveness and propulsion with every stride. Notably, this achievement is attained without compromising the lightweight nature of Puma’s running shoes, a feat that underscores the brand’s commitment to delivering high-performance footwear.
Nitrofoam elite is what you’ll find in the next level up of running shoe, like the Deviate Elite mentioned earlier.
In the past we always said it didn’t feel on par with max cushion like the Hoka Skyflow, but now that they have dialed up the volume, it does.
Who Will Like the MagMax Nitro?
So is this the shoe for you? I actually think it’s going to be a winner for a lot of folks who enjoy a good cushion.
- You’ll be on your feet for long periods (standing or longer run days)
- Will be great for heavier runners that want more cushion with stability
- Recovery running shoe for faster runners
- Can handle a marathon for those not focused on speed
- Not ideal if you want a lighter weight racing shoe
All right there you have it! Our review of the MagMax Nitro!
As always, we love your feedback. If you’ve run in this or other Puma shoes, drop a comment below. It absolutely helps other runners who are trying to decide what shoe to try next.
Looking for other running shoes??
- Best Cushioned Running Shoes
- Best Marathon Training Shoes
- Should You Forefoot Strike?
- Best HOKA Running Shoes
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