Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 Performance Review

Last year’s Puma ForeverRun NITRO was the first time this new iteration of Puma running delivered a stability shoe, and, in addition to being one of the better looking stability shoes on the market, it immediately earned a place on our best stability running shoes list. Can the Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 improve upon the original? Let’s find out.

What is the Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2?

According to Puma, the ForeverRun NITRO 2 is “a new era of support, guidance, and comfort for all runners. This new and improved version provides unmatched stability thanks to a wider midsole, upgraded dual-density NITROFOAM cushioning, and an improved fit with a rolled collar and engineered knit upper. Made for your everyday running and training needs, ForeverRun 2 is a shoe that will make you feel like you can run forever.”

Ok, that last line is pretty corny, and anytime a brand says it’s entering a “new era” I roll my eyes; but this description does lay out everything Puma improved. And it’s a solid list for the second iteration of a shoe that certainly addresses some of the negatives from last year.

Cushion

Drew: The Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 brings back the dual-density setup, and it’ll look familiar to anyone that frequents our basketball and cross training reviews. It’s a similar setup to the Puma All-Pro NITRO and the Puma PWR NITRO Squared but has been tweaked for running and for stability.

While the NITRO midsole is built for daily miles, it also picks up the pace nicely in small increments (though I wouldn’t want to do a workout in it). The midsole starts firmer than expected for a shoe with NITRO but softens as it breaks in. A couple days on hard, concrete city sidewalks and it’ll hit a sweet spot of squish and bounce that aligns nicely with Puma’s other daily running shoes. 

It also aligns well with many neutral daily trainers on the market in the $150-$160 price range – which is always nice because it allows those wearing stability shoes to feel like they aren’t missing out on all the fun midsole foams. The ForeverRun NITRO 2 and the Saucony Hurricane 24 are aligned in that regard, but the ForeverRun NITRO 2 looks way more sleek.

But Arune is the Hurricane 24’s biggest fan…so I’m interested to hear how he thinks the ForeverRun NITRO 2 stacks up.

Arune: Drew nailed it: this midsole feels firm when it first hits your foot, and I did not enjoy it at all. I actually wanted to tear these shoes off my feet but found the midsole softened after a few miles. It’s just jarring to need this kind of break-in of a midsole in a world with shoes like the Asics Nimbus or adidas Evo SL that feel like perfection from the jump.

Even then, I found it hard to get the energy return from the midsole that I get out of stability shoes like the Saucony Guide 18 or the aforementioned Hurricane 24 – both of which rewarded me much more with my novice running style.

There simply wasn’t any joy in the ride for me, and I may be the exception since many runners (like Drew) enjoy the unique dual-density setup that Puma has popularized. I would’ve liked a bit more pop or energy return from the midsole given how much else I think the shoe really gets right.

Support

Drew: The Runguide system (a TPU guiderail and firmer foam carrier combo) adds stability to the Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 without feeling like the shoe is taking too much control. The TPU guiderail is also better shaped this year to provide support where needed and remove excess TPU where it’s not. 

The wide base (which is wider than last year’s already pretty wide base) is also helpful. I love how the rear of the shoe has a new horse hoof shape with the lateral side slightly enlarged versus the medial side. It naturally rolls the foot back to a neutral position from wherever I landed. Because of this geometry, it accommodates a wide variety of pronators without feeling too restrictive. This isn’t a shoe where you’ll ever have problems sliding off the footbed when cornering. The ForeverRun NITRO 2 is built with security and support firmly in mind.

But support features don’t always treat people equally, how did they work for your hobbit feet Arune?

Arune: While I may not have been very positive about the cushion, there’s a lot about the Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 that works well. And the support here is excellent – so much so that I didn’t even think about it on my runs. This just felt like a daily trainer that was taking me where I wanted to go.

The geometry of the shoe also really benefits my gait because, as Drew noted, the horse hoof shape encouraged my foot to hit naturally without causing the heel striking I often get from other brands’ enlarged rears.

[Editor’s Note: We know there are many potential jokes here, but(t) we aren’t going to make them…]

This shoe fits like a glove, and taking tight corners was so natural because there’s no feeling of “excess” shoe on my foot. And that makes it easy to keep pushing through the run (even with my aforementioned issues with the midsole).

Traction

Drew: The Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 is a Puma running shoe, which means it uses PUMAGRIP – which means it uses the current top-of-the-line outsole. PUMAGRIP handles all conditions and surfaces with ease and is the best option on the market for rainy or icy conditions. The outsole of the ForeverRun NITRO 2 delivers that same elite performance. 

I’m still surprised a shoe company is making outsole rubber that outshines tire companies, but here we are.

Arune: This is my first time experiencing PUMAGRIP, and I’m now a truther right alongside Drew.

We’ll be handing out pamphlets at all the major marathons and making sure to ask if you accept PUMAGRIP as the savior of your traction needs.

It’s kind of insane to me that Puma is so far ahead of every other shoe company with its outsole grip; and it’s not even close. I don’t think I’ve ever talked this much about traction.

Upper

Drew: The engineered knit upper on the Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 takes the comfortable upper from the original and uplevels it. It conforms nicely to the foot the more you run in it. The PWRPRINT (vinyl) overlays add some support in key areas but more than anything make the shoe look faster. [Editor’s Note: Bonus. Look fast, feel fast.]

The gusseted tongue is thin and airy, but still has a nice amount of padding. The heel collar gets an internal memory foam-like pillow that wraps the ankle and helps prevent the back of the foot from feeling the TPU rails of the Runguide System. And finally, the engineered mesh collar with the integrated elasticized pull tab is soft, won’t cause hot spots, and makes the shoe way easier to get on foot.

Despite all that comfort, it’s not the most accommodating upper. But we’ll handle that in the sizing section below. Did you find the upper comfy, Arune?

Arune: I’ve been really positive about the Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2, so I feel less guilty expressing some disappointment here.

While I enjoy the lack of excess molding or material on the upper, this upper absolutely choked my Hobbit-esque feet – but not in the forefoot, like I expected. It was actually on the top of my feet, beneath the lacing – and, believe me, I tried everything. I loosened the laces, tried different socks, and even tried to stretch out the shoes.

I appreciate good lockdown, and this is not a shoe that’s ever gonna feel like it’s coming off your feet. But I also need a shoe that’s going to adapt to my foot instead of compressing it so much.

However, this shoe looks AWESOME, and I wish more running shoes had the visual personality that Puma brings to its line.

Is the Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 wide foot friendly?

Drew: No, the Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 isn’t wide-foot friendly. It’s better than the original as there’s more room in the toebox, and the engineered knit conforms better to various foot shapes… But there’s just not enough room for many wide-footers. 

Going up a half size may help, but the shoe’s low ceiling and narrower midfoot/heel may still cause issues. It’s a shame because a wider last would make the ForeverRun NITRO 2 the clear number one stability shoe on the market.

Those with narrow or normal-width feet can go true-to-size and enjoy the fit. But be sure to try it on if you have a high arch, as the interior of the shoe isn’t as tall as many running shoes. 

Arune: Not a chance in hell.

I got my foot into the shoe, but if I had a true wide foot then I don’t know if I could’ve even done that.

Is the Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 worth $150?

Drew: Yes, for $150, the Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 overdelivers in the price department. Most shoes with its set of features sit at the $160 or $165 price point. At retail price, this is a very good value.

Arune: Coming in $10 below the expected median daily trainer price isn’t something to scoff at in this economy. So often shoe reviewers forget how most folks can only get one pair of running shoes per year and every dollar matters; so it’s great to see Puma providing some added financial incentive for everyday runners to pick it over other brands.

While the performance of this shoe wasn’t for me, it was for Drew – and that tells me this is a shoe that will well be worth the dollars.

How to use the Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2

The Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 is best for runners that need unobtrusive stability in their daily running shoes but still want a shoe that can handle a lot of miles while providing all-around comfort.

Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 Summary

Drew: The Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 is one of the best stability running shoes on the market and will soon be added to our list. While I wish it were a touch wider, it’s comfortable, durable, looks good, and has just enough squish and bounce. The ForeverRun NITRO 2 goes a long way towards making stability shoes cool.

Arune: While the Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 ultimately isn’t for me, Drew’s reaction to it leads me to believe many of you will enjoy it as long as you’re not wide-footers.

And, most importantly, have you heard the good word of PUMAGRIP?

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Arune Singh (age 43, 5’11”, 210lbs): Trains daily with functional fitness programming from Deadboys Fitness, founded by Colby “Seth Rollins” Lopez and Josh Gallegos, along with logging 30-40 miles of running per week. He also has a medical history of Sleep Apnea and Myasthenia Gravis, meaning Arune’s focus is on lean muscle mass.

Disclosure

While Puma did provide pairs of the ForeverRun NITRO 2 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.