PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4 vs Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4

+ Praised

Fast, smooth and more natural than Puma's aggressive Fast-R, with a softer, springier midsole than the v3; it is less rockered and bouncy than some rivals, and the stiff forefoot suits rearfoot strikers best.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

+ Praised

An exceptionally soft and bouncy race ride that becomes more responsive as the pace rises; it feels vague at easy paces and unstable in tight turns.

PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4

+ Praised

A protective, marathon-ready stack that stays comfortable deep into long races without feeling mushy, with lab shock absorption among the best in the category.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

+ Praised

The dual-layer IncrediRun foam and near-legal maximum stack deliver outstanding impact protection and energy return for long races.

PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4

± Divisive

The breathable Ultraweave upper and roomier forefoot are comfortable and secure, but the paper-thin tongue, minimal padding and barely structured heel counter irritate some testers.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

+ Praised

The light, stretchy mesh is comfortable and secure with no heel counter, but the toe box is tapered and many runners need a half size up.

PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4

± Divisive

Pumagrip rubber and the foam hold up better than the v3 in lab tests, but reduced outsole coverage and the removed medial heel patch worry heel strikers and testers who have already torn a heel pad.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

± Divisive

Outsole rubber wears slowly, but the thin toe box scores poorly in abrasion tests and some testers see early foam wear.

PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4

+ Praised

Pumagrip provides confident traction on dry and wet pavement, even at race pace, though the thin coverage is best kept on roads.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

+ Praised

PWRTRAC rubber provides dependable dry and wet road grip, though it is noisy and not for gravel.

PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4

+ Praised

More stable and forgiving than most carbon racers thanks to a wider midfoot platform and controlled geometry, though the narrow rear and minimal heel counter still demand decent mechanics.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

− Criticised

More stable than the previous version thanks to a wider heel and sidewalls, but the soft foam still makes cornering unpredictable.

PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4

+ Praised

At $250 it undercuts most top-tier super shoes while matching their weight and energy return, making it one of the better-value racers available.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

± Divisive

The $290 price is high and the shoe is heavier than rivals, but reviewers see the unique foam and race performance as justifying it.