Now in its fourth iteration, the Puma Velocity Nitro 4 continues to anchor the brand’s daily training lineup. As a versatile all-rounder, it balances comfort, efficiency, and durability, making it suitable for a wide range of runs.
Coach Laura has been a fan of Puma running shoes for a number of years and was very excited to unbox the new Puma Velocity Nitro 4 which is listed as a “best seller” on their website. Right away, she liked the softness of the shoe and how it was very light and flexible (in fact she immediately took it on a trip because it felt so good!).
While it retains the core characteristics that have made the series popular, this update brings subtle refinements in the upper and midsole that improve the overall fit and ride.
Let’s what our two testers think of these changes and how they affect performance across key areas like cushioning, support, durability, and outsole grip.
Who Is It Good For?
- Wide feet: Nope. The very narrow midfoot is not accommodating at all. There is a wide option though.
- Heavier Runners: Very durable outsole and good cushioning.
- Long runs: Great daily trainer up to 10 or 15 miles.
- Front of the Pack: While not a speedy shoe, these would be good for some daily training miles.
If you have a narrow foot and are looking for your do-it-all daily trainer, look no further than the Puma Velocity Nitro.
Puma Velocity Nitro 4 Overview
Puma dubs the Velocity Nitro 4 “Your perfect training partner” aiming to make your miles more fun, no matter the pace or distance.
Cushioned and light weight. Even though they lack a rocker style base, the NitroFoam™ is bouncy enough to keep things easy. Those looking for a more traditional base are really going to love these.
It’s not a super soft max cushioned trainer, but instead a lighter weight daily trainer that’s going to last for many miles and allow you to vary between easy miles and picking it up to a tempo run.
Building on the previous success of the Velocity they introduce some significant upgrades. Puma’s NitroFoam™ remains the highlight, offering a lightweight, responsive feel underfoot.
Like many shoes on the market lately, they ditched layered foam. The NitroFoam™ (nitrogen infused foam tech) now runs the full length of the midsole and feels so nice and responsive underfoot.
This is a true daily trainer, at a price point that we’re pretty happy about.
Coach Laura – I tested these shoes out while traveling so I did more miles than usual on concrete sidewalks and asphalt paths and my feet felt really good the whole time.
PumaGrip rubber is really impressive with how grippy it felt. The traction holds up well in both wet and dry conditions, giving confidence across varied surfaces. After multiple runs, the outsole shows minimal wear, making me think I will get high total mileage out of these.
I used these shoes for runs up to 10 miles in length and did one speed workout at the track. They felt good on my feet and so responsive on every run. At the track, the stack height was a little higher than what I usually use but they felt great running fast at a 5K pace.
Puma Velocity Nitro 4 Specifications
- Weight: 8.6 oz men’s, 7.2 oz women’s
- Heel toe drop: 10 mm
- Stack Height: 36 mm
- Available in 8 colors
- Available in wide (1 color)
- Available from us.puma for $140
The shoe style and color way looks great and I wore them on long travel days and through airports so I would not have to pack them. They were comfortable the entire day and looked great paired with my athleisure.
Quick Take
- Lightweight cushioning
- Amazing traction
- Versatile for many types of runs
- Very narrow mid foot
- Long tongue
- Not a rocker shape (may be a pro for some)
Puma Velocity Nitro 4 Fit
The Velocity Nitro is definitely a narrow shoe. This is nothing new when it comes to brand fit or previous models of the Velocity. I found the toebox to be more accommodating than the midsole which actually surprised me. All in all, they fit true to size length-wise so I’m not sure sizing up would help with the width.
The heel area held my foot nice and securely with the well padded heel collar. I was nervous about how high the tongue came up in the front, and how much it smooshed down while putting them on. However, everything stayed in place and didn’t seem to bother the fronts of my ankles.
Coach Laura – This shoe is great for runners who do well with a neutral fitting shoe, however the PWRTAPE™ offered just enough support for my feet and I do tend to overpronate just a bit.
After a couple of weeks of heavy usage they showed no wear and tear and felt just as responsive as day one.
The Velocity 4 has a nice, somewhat snug fit around the midfoot. In fact, there is some elastic that comes down from the tongue and attaches under the insole. I accidentally got this folded over as I put the shoes on before a run. It did require taking the shoe off to fix it but it did not ever happen again.
If you like a lot of support around your midfoot and arch or have a narrow foot type, this might be a nice added feature for you.
Puma Velocity Nitro 4 Feel
While researching these shoes for this review, I couldn’t help but notice the amount of people commenting on the traction of the PumaGrip outsole. And for good reason. True I had notice the pattern of almost tire-like tread on the bottom with the cool Puma logo.
My first run in these was shortly after it had rained and wow. I can see what the hype is about. I felt like I had little grippers on my feet! I would definitely feel comfortable taking these from road to and easy trail or gravel.
Coach Laura – The cushioning felt so responsive and comfortable while running even on hard surfaces that I never thought about my feet, which is a great sign that the shoe has a great fit and feel. I was never in a hurry to slip out of these shoes post run, either.
The Puma Velocity Nitro 4 shoes do not feel rigid, as they are soft and flexible all around. If you need more support, this shoe may not be the right pair for you. I don’t normally run in a 10mm drop shoe but the overall fit and feel just felt right.
Similar Shoes to the Puma Velocity Nitro 4
- Nike Pegasus 41 – Similar weight and drop and price point.
- Brooks Ghost 17 – Traditional daily trainer with similar weight and drop, but maybe not as fast feeling.
Our Verdict
The Puma Velocity Nitro 4 doesn’t reinvent the formula they’ve nailed on previous models, but it refines it in meaningful ways. With its balance of comfort, versatility, and durability, it remains a dependable daily trainer that can handle most types of runs. For runners with more narrow feet looking for a reliable workhorse with standout outsole performance, this shoe continues to be a strong option in the daily trainer category.
What to read next?
- Checkout all of our Best Shoes for Narrow Feet
- Best Marathon Shoes for Beginners
- 10 Of the Most Beautiful Marathons in the World
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