Puma Run XX Nitro Performance Review

The women-specific idea behind the Puma Run XX Nitro definitely shines as this shoe hugs the foot in all the right places. There’s not too much arch support, but the Run XX Nitro is designed to fit without extra heel locks or other lacing tricks. This trainer encourages a stable ride, features great traction on a variety of surfaces, and has decent responsiveness when you pick up the pace, which is probably why it made our best Puma running shoes list as well as our Best for Women list.

Pros

Women-Specific Fit

I’m always a sucker for a sneaker I can slide into without needing an extra heel-locking lace loop or thicker socks. The Puma Run XX Nitro fits well around the heel and forefoot without skimping in the toe box. I run very forward and had no issues with sliding within the shoe or my toes hitting the end of the toebox.  

The mesh tongue is connected with elastic on the inside and stays nicely in place. The mesh upper provides decent breathability, especially in the humid (and hot!) southern temps I tested them in.

Stability

The Puma Run XX Nitro comes equipped with “RunGuide” for foot strike guidance. It does this by placing a firm density rim around the heel. The RunGuide is meant to promote alignment and centering of the foot throughout the stride. This stability feature really helped me on runs with tired legs. I found myself running more efficiently and landing with less pronation.

Traction

The PumaGrip rubber outsole provided great traction on pavement, wet pavement, old crumbly roads, and on the few gravel paths leading back to pavement. I felt confident I wasn’t going to slip and felt like I had a wide enough base and solid grip on the ground throughout the run.

Cons

Hard Ride and Response

The Puma XX Nitro claims to be the “perfect balance of durable and lightweight,” thanks to the firm NITRO foam midsole (Editor’s Note: the Nitro is firmer on the Run XX Nitro than on the Velocity Nitro 2 or the Magnify Nitro, Puma’s top of the line neutral daily running shoes). I found the shoe to ride a bit hard, meaning I could feel the ground but with not as much bounce-back response as I was expecting when running easy pace. However, when doing pick-ups, or running closer to tempo pace, the shoe seemed to respond back with a little more snap.

Puma Run XX Nitro Summary

The Puma Run XX Nitro women’s specific running shoe is a step in the right direction for realizing the difference between men’s and women’s feet and running needs. The fit, stability, and traction make it a trainer that I find myself reaching for when I need a little more stability or extra traction. You can buy the Puma XX Nitro women’s running shoe at Puma.