The daily trainer stable got a bit more interesting on Tuesday as Puma unveiled the Velocity Nitro 4, the latest iteration that arrives next week with a major makeover and upgrades that might land into a contender spot among workhorses.
And the changes are immediately apparent as a reworked midsole, retooled upper and a ton of grip are the major features of from this noticeably stylish package.
According to Puma, the Velocity Nitro 4 is “built for all runners,” which technically can be true but in an age of having multiple shoes for many tasks on the run, this latest iteration of the Velocity should hope to get one of those coveted slots in a weekly rotation.
OVERVIEW
The original Velocity Nitro debuted in 2021, Puma was already in a revamp of it’s running shoe offerings which were anchored by its highly touted Nitro technology, a nitrogen-infused midsole. This gave the first Velocity shoe the stability and comfort that an adaptable daily trainer needed.
And this formula stuck around for the second and third versions of the Velocity. This time, Puma has shaken up the formula and gone for a wholesale set of changes that gives the Velocity Nitro 4 serious visual curb appeal — and the actual performance pedigree to get a seat at the table with daily trainer stalwarts like the Asics Novablast 5, Nike Pegasus 41 and Hoka Clifton 10.
CHANGES
The changes the Velocity Nitro 4 bring to the table all check the boxes of that will push the shoe into a more visible profile on running store shelves. The mesh upper is retooled with eye-catching styling to match the color gradient design of the mid sole — which remind us of the look of Puma’s original MB.01 basketball shoe from 2021.
The Velocity Nitro 4 is 250 grams — 14 less than the previous mode, has a 36mm stack and 26mm at the toe (10mm drop) and Puma says the shoe will last 500 miles (800 kilometers). The PUMAGRIP outsole promises industry-leading traction.
IMPRESSIONS
And on first view, the Velocity Nitro 4 brings the experience of its prior versions to the table with enough cache to stand firm next to the Novablast 5, Nike Pegasus 41 and Clifton. At $140, it’s competitively priced and is only said on July 17 just in time to insert itself in the roster of fall marathon training season or simply be a purchase that strays away from offerings from New Balance or Nike.
Puma Velocity Nitro 4 is on sale July 17 for $140 at Puma.com
