Puma MagMax Nitro Performance Review

The Puma MagMax Nitro is Puma’s first entry into the emerging super trainer category, a running shoe market segment built on putting lots of foam underfoot but still maintaining some versatility in terms of picking up the pace. Some tried to include the Puma Deviate Nitro line as a super trainer but the Deviate Nitro is a shoe built for speedy uptempo days. In my mind, it doesn’t have enough midsole foam to qualify (though it is versatile and can go long). The Deviate Nitro has been a very good shoe line right from the beginning, it’s just not super max.

I thought the product and design team at Puma likely had something else up their sleeve in terms of a super trainer and I was glad to be proven correct. In hand, the Puma MagMax Nitro is thick and quite in line with today’s beefily-midsoled sneaker fashion trends. 

And so, getting aesthetics out of the way early, the MagMax Nitro can easily hold its own as a casual shoe and its underfoot feel allows it to easily pass the theme park test (wearable all day at the theme park of your choice without causing soreness). Plus, it’ll increase your height by a good 1.5 to 2 inches so you can ride all the best rides. 

So the Puma MagMax Nitro has lifestyle and casual wear handled, but it’s first and foremost a running shoe. How does the MagMax Nitro perform on the roads? Let’s find out…

Performance

The Puma MagMax Nitro, in all its high stack glory, appears, at least in part, inspired by the Asics Superblast. And with the Asics Superblast 2 being one of the best shoes of 2024, that’s not a bad thing. The Superblast franchise is arguably, ok, definitely, the best current super trainer, so taking some cues from it is a smart idea. But Puma also pumps in a significant amount of its own DNA.

Let’s start at the bottom, where PumaGrip, my current favorite outsole rubber in terms of traction and durability, is plentiful. The pattern is thick and offers full coverage. It also handles water, mildew, or any other slick surface without an issue.

Which takes us to the midsole. It packs 46mm of Nitro foam in the heel and 38mm in the forefoot. That’s a lot of cushy and protective foam. The midsole extends beyond the foot on both sides of the forefoot and heel for increased stability to go along with the foot sitting slightly below the top of the midsole. I could take corners as fast as I wanted and my foot stayed on the footbed. I also felt like it was easy to gain speed around corners where some bigger stack shoes (and race day shoes in particular) make that quite hard.

But in addition to all that, the midsole is bouncy. Not Fast-R 2 bouncy (or aggressive) but plenty bouncy to get in a nice groove during a long run and to keep a solid pace. I took the Puma MagMax Nitro immediately out of the box for a 16 mile long run and, in addition to not getting any hot spots (more on the upper in a minute), I felt the MagMax Nitro working for me. The rocker shape, the plush cushion, and the bounce all worked in tandem so I could lock in my desired pace and stay there without much effort. That’s a hard thing to achieve when balancing so much foam underfoot, but Puma nailed it.

The upper (with the exception of the tongue) is a pretty standard engineered mesh upper that’s similar to Puma’s other offerings. It fits well with a narrower midfoot and better than average room in the forefoot. The tongue though, is a big winner. Puma calls it a “rolled collar reinforced with foam”, and though that’s not a super spiffy marketing name, the tongue feels great. It’s more like another layer of sock than it is a running shoe tongue. Most importantly, it delivers insane comfort. It feels similar to the fantastic tongue on the Asics Nimbus 25 and 26.

The only negative thing I can say about the Puma MagMax Nitro is that it’s on the heavier side. But that’s the trade off for getting such a big max cushion, max comfort shoe. I think it’s a worthy trade.

Pros

• Thick, plush, and bouncy midsole
• Impressive stability given the stack height
• Durable and grippy outsole
• Luxurious tongue

Cons

• Weight

Is the Puma MagMax Nitro wide foot friendly?

Puma running shoes aren’t quite as narrow as Nike but they’re still on the narrower side. The Puma MagMax Nitro feels roomier than other Puma running shoes but still fits tight through the midfoot. The forefoot and heel width are pretty good so some wide footers will be fine while others may have to pass. I’d encourage buying from somewhere with a good return policy so you can check the fit before having to make a final decision.

Is the Puma MagMax Nitro worth $180?

Yes, the Puma MagMax Nitro is worth $180. It’s a justifiable price given the shoe’s build and quantity of midsole foam. It’s actually on the lower end of the super trainer price continuum as it starts at $180 and goes all the way up to $220. 

While $180 will seem expensive to people who have been buying shoes for a long time, the durability will likely extend the MagMax Nitro’s lifespan to the point where the $180 price tag doesn’t feel onerous.

Puma MagMax Nitro Summary

The Puma MagMax Nitro is a fantastic running shoe and is ready to compete with the Asics Superblast line while being priced $20 less than the Superblast 2. For me, it’s one of, if not my favorite long run shoe. It’s also getting worn when my legs need to be babied the day after a hard workout. It’s protective with plenty of cushion but also makes my stride feel fairly effortless.

This may be the first iteration of the Puma MagMax Nitro but it’s a powerhouse running shoe and will take a place on many of our best running shoes lists.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 42, 6’6″ 195lbs): 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.

Disclosure

While Puma did send a pair of the Puma MagMax Nitro 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.