Puma Enlarge Nitro 3 Introduction
The Puma Enlarge NITRO™ is taken into account a “max cushioning” each day coach, with a stack peak of 40 mm. and drop of 10 mm. This was Puma’s most cushioned shoe till the model launched the MagMax NITRO™ (46 mm. drop) in August 2024.
The Enlarge NITRO™ is a extremely cushioned and comfy shoe in a line of different NITRO™ choices for particular functions. The associated fee is up $10 to $160 USD, which is a $25 enhance in whole over the previous two fashions however in step with comparable sneakers. Puma continues to replace the midsole with their newest foams to enhance responsiveness and decrease weight.
The Foreverrun NITRO™ brings comparable cushion however extra assist and stability. I’ve run in each of those sneakers, and so they provide an analogous life-giving bounce into toe-off and a lightweight experience.
The Velocity NITRO™ has a decrease stack for pace exercises. Quick-R Nitro Elite fashions ($300 USD) are tailor-made to each long- and short-distance racing, whereas the Deviate NITRO™ Elite features as a lower-cost racing/coaching shoe ($230 USD).
The Brooks Glycerin is a comparable shoe that additionally has a nitrogen-infused midsole. ASICS Gel-Nimbus and Saucony Triumph are additionally comparable sneakers.
TESTING DETAILS
These are the runs I did to check these sneakers:
- 6 miles at 8:15/mi
- 2 miles at 8:55 /mi
- 9 miles at 8:22/mi
- 4 miles at 9:40/mi
- 3 miles at 7:05/mi
- 8 miles at 8:45/mi
- 10 miles at 8:20 mi
- 3 miles at 9:15/mi
- 4 miles, together with 6 x 400 at 6:10/mi tempo
- 9 miles at 8:45/mi
- 7 miles at 8:15/mi
Puma Enlarge Nitro 3 First Impressions
Once I first opened the field, the shoe appeared clean and welcoming. The wave of midsole made me need to attempt it out straight away!
Strolling round in Enlarge jogged my memory quite a lot of Puma’s Foreverrun NITRO™ as a result of each have a really mild and springy really feel.
The heel has a big “squishy” really feel when strolling, however I didn’t discover this whereas working, even once I purposefully did a robust heel strike.
I nearly despatched this shoe again for a half dimension greater, simply because the forefoot felt a bit comfortable, however I loosened the toe-end laces and thought I’d give it a attempt. (It labored!)
Puma Enlarge Nitro 3 Higher
The higher of the Puma Enlarge NITRO™ 3 combines a mix of artificial and pure supplies for consolation and assist.
Woven mesh brings quantity of stretch to the to the forefoot, which is complemented by a stronger strip of PWRTAPE on the within and emblem on the lateral aspect to convey some stability.
The laces are skinny and never my favourite, however lace holes are effectively supported. The additional-wide tongue is totally gusseted to remain in place, that means it’s hooked up to the midsole on either side, and it (largely) protects my ft from scorching spots. I needed to loosen and re-tie a pair instances, but it surely does a fairly good job.
I actually like this tongue’s really feel and performance. It’s calmly padded with breathable holes and a really easy-to-use loop. The loop is good and broad and helps me slip the shoe on and pull the tongue the place I need it with a fast yank.
My least favourite a part of this shoe is the heel. It’s just a bit broad, for me, and has a small heel counter, that means it doesn’t counter extra heel movement as a lot as I’d like. I’ve a really slight heel ache after carrying this shoe for lengthy runs.
I in contrast Enlarge’s sockliner to 1 from Brooks and ASICS. Puma’s was extra agency than that from ASICS, whereas Brooks’ had an analogous really feel however extra thickness. I feel that Puma’s sturdy sockliner provides a agency contact to maintain the midsole from feeling too squishy, in Magnity.
Match is barely lengthy however true to dimension total. My foot has some reasonable bunions on either side, and the forefoot width nearly made me dimension up. It’s on the slender aspect, however not as slender because the Brooks Glycerin and ASICS GT-2000.
What saved me from sizing up is that the size is true to dimension, and the heel match is nearer to a medium width. Since my heel is narrower than my forefoot, I didn’t need to dimension up and have the heel and size be too massive. Tying laces with heel lock loops within the high holes helps safe my foot a bit higher.
Loosening the laces in the direction of the toe finish of the shoe is simply sufficient to permit me to put on the smaller of the 2 half sizes I range between, however this shoe is out there in broad width from some retailers, if you happen to want it.
Puma Enlarge Nitro 3 Sole Unit
The midsole of Enlarge NITRO™ has modified once more, with the final model utilizing a TPU-base infused with nitrogen and the brand new midsole (probably) a PEBA base with nitrogen.
A good friend of mine who’s an engineer identified to me that the air we breathe is 78% nitrogen, so this can be a elaborate option to say that they’ve air bubbles within the sole! Whether or not it’s pure nitrogen or simply air, which is usually nitrogen, the newest nitrogen foams in Puma NITRO™ sneakers – additionally Brooks Glycerin, Ghost, and Hyperion – provide a fantastic mixture of cushion and bouncy responsiveness with out feeling too tender.
The heel midsole is squishy when strolling round, particularly below the heel, but it surely does NOT really feel like this whereas working, even once I purposefully land with arduous heel strikes.
After 65 miles on the shoe, the midsole is beginning to present compression strains, which makes me suppose it can final for a typical low to common lifespan of about 300 miles. The outsole reveals little or no put on after 65 miles, however the exterior heel has worn the grip line down some.
The Pumagrip outsole grip makes the shoe really feel “linked” and sturdy once I make a sudden flip, like it can reply to no matter I throw at it. It handles effectively on moist pavement.
Puma Enlarge Nitro 3 Conclusions
Enlarge NITRO™ 3 feels comfy and buoyant on foot. It is a nice all-around shoe for impartial runners, with a midsole that appears tender at first however feels extra agency whereas working. Put on it for many runs, however it’s your decision one thing thinner and firmer for quick intervals.