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Puma Quick-R Nitro Elite Introduction
As a working model, Puma has improved in leaps and bounds over the previous 2 years. Puma now has a extremely strong lineup of coaching footwear with no main weaknesses. The Deviate Nitro 2 was my favorite carbon-plated coach of final 12 months, nonetheless relating to marathon racers, the Puma tremendous shoe has been good however not spectacular.
Once I reviewed the Deviate Elite 2 (and the unique model), I discovered each of them to be actually sturdy, decently steady and really versatile tremendous footwear, nonetheless they lacked propulsion- I didn’t discover them aggressive sufficient. I craved extra velocity help and extra punchy toe-offs.
The Quick-R Nitro is Puma’s second tremendous shoe and it’s priced above the Deviate Elite. It has a extremely radical design with a decoupled heel and an uncovered carbon plate.
The Quick-R Nitro Elite isn’t a brand new shoe. It was launched in very restricted portions early final 12 months however since then, it has been one of many hardest tremendous footwear to accumulate resulting from Puma’s manufacturing points.
I lastly managed to get a pair on the Singapore Marathon Expo in December. This can be a restricted version model that has the Singapore Marathon emblem printed on its insole. This model has plenty of variations from the early model that was seeded to reviewers early final 12 months.
This manufacturing model weighs 7.9 oz (224 g) in comparison with the preproduction model which weighed 7 oz (198 g) for a males’s US 9. The outsole of this model can also be completely different. It has flatter outsole rubber on the rearfoot and forefoot in comparison with the preproduction model. It prices $250 which is $30 greater than the Deviate Elite 2 it and has an 8 mm drop.
Puma Quick-R Nitro Elite First Impressions
My first run was a 9 km exercise consisting of a heat up and seven x 1 km repeats. My first thought after the primary couple of strides was that it felt not like every other shoe I’ve tried. The agency heel mixed with the tremendous comfortable forefoot felt distinctive and attention-grabbing.
It felt as if there was a small, spherical rock wedged beneath my heels. This was the decoupled EVA heel. It took some time to get used to and by the top of the exercise, the feeling didn’t appear so outstanding anymore.
The higher felt noticeably slim, particularly within the midfoot nevertheless it wasn’t uncomfortable. Heel lockdown was superb and I used to be shocked how performance-oriented the semi-bootie development felt.
I used to be impressed with how briskly transitions felt. Transitions weren’t easy due to the contrasting densities of the midsole however the shoe felt actually aggressive and it was straightforward to extend my velocity. The typical tempo of the exercise was quicker than I used to be anticipating it to be.
Apparently, the shoe that jogged my memory most was the Mizuno Wave Rider 25 from 2021 as a result of that shoe additionally had a extremely agency heel with an excellent comfortable forefoot.
Puma Quick-R Nitro Elite Higher
The higher of the Quick-R has a design which is simply as attention-grabbing as its sole. It’s constituted of mono-mesh (not like the Deviate Elite 2) which is engineered mesh. Mono-mesh is thinner and extra breathable than engineered mesh nevertheless it feels tougher and doesn’t conform to the foot as nicely.
It has a semi-bootie development with stretchy, knitted materials forming the collar, tongue and inside gusset. Usually I’m not a fan of bootie-constructions due to the sub-par lockdown however the Quick-R has no foot lockdown points. The tongue additionally stays in place throughout runs due to the knitted gusset.
There’s a tough TPU heel fin which is there to offer exterior heel counter assist. I’m not a fan of the heel fin as a result of it will get in my manner after I’m taking the footwear off. I discover heel lockdown to be wonderful though I do have to make use of a runner’s knot.
The Quick-R matches true to dimension with a slim heel, midfoot, and toe-box. If in case you have flat toes, you may really feel the slim midfoot cradle your arch nevertheless it’s not painful, simply noticeable. It’s undoubtedly not a shoe designed for large toes.
Puma Quick-R Nitro Elite Sole Unit
The journey of the Quick-R Elite is among the most attention-grabbing that I’ve felt in a very long time. I’ve to offer Puma credit score for the design as a result of it has potential gimmick written throughout it however after attempting it, I admit that it’s an extremely distinctive design which truly works (at sure speeds).
The Quick-R Elite has a dual-density midsole with agency(ish) EVA foam within the rearfoot and comfortable, NITRO Elite nitrogen-infused PEBA foam within the forefoot. A inflexible, carbon PWRPLATE connects the rearfoot to the forefoot and there’s no foam within the midfoot part.
It feels as in case your foot is sitting on a steep downward slope and despite the fact that it’s solely an 8 mm drop, it seems like far more than 8 mm as a result of massive distinction in density between the heel and forefoot.
This setup is designed to stabilise your heel whenever you land after which to rapidly roll you thru transitions out of your heel to your forefoot. In actuality, the shoe does precisely that. The transition from heel to forefoot doesn’t really feel pure or easy nevertheless it’s very efficient at permitting and inspiring you to extend your velocity and cadence.
The Quick-R is most pleasing and best at brief, threshold runs and quick bursts. The longest run I did in it was 30 kilometres and it didn’t really feel nice at these slower paces above 5 minutes per kilometre. The slower you run, the extra outstanding the agency EVA heel feels and through my long term, the heel felt form of harsh and I didn’t get pleasure from it as a lot as different tremendous footwear.
At gradual paces above 5 minutes per km, the midfoot hole additionally turns into extra noticeable so the Quick-R isn’t as versatile because the Deviate Elite 2 which might deal with slower paces higher. The Quick-R is a shoe designed for quick working solely. At quicker paces, transitions are extra seamless and it feels extra particular.
One thing that the Quick-R geometry is lacking is the high-toe spring. The next toe would make the shoe really feel extra fluid at toe-offs and extra environment friendly. It at the moment feels very flat in comparison with the quickest tremendous footwear.
The carbon plate is a novel one which has clear sides and longitudinal grooves. Similar to the plate within the Deviate Elite 2, the PWRPLATE within the Quick-R is extra versatile than most carbon plates so the Quick-R isn’t very inflexible. It’s attention-grabbing that the plate comes with a breakage warning connected to it. The center of it isn’t surrounded by foam so it’s extra prone to snapping than different carbon plates.
The Quick-R makes use of PUMAGRIP-LT outsole rubber which is lighter however much less sturdy than common PUMAGRIP. All the forefoot is roofed with rubber and a lot of the rearfoot. The rearfoot EVA wedge has 3 thick flex grooves which permit the outsole rubber to wrap across the rounded heel unit.
The Quick-R Elite isn’t as sturdy as the opposite footwear within the Nitro vary. The chunk of EVA foam within the heel of the Quick-R isn’t as immune to scuffs and chips as Puma’s supercritical Nitro/Nitro Elite foams so it wears down quicker. My Quick-R pair is exhibiting noticeable put on on the outer lateral heel, in between the flex grooves the place I naturally strike the bottom.
Traction is respectable however nowhere close to as grippy because the Deviate Elite 2 and the Deviate Nitro 2 which each have forefoot lugs which protrude outwards. The Quick-R outsole rubber has a flatter design.
Puma Quick-R Nitro Elite Conclusions
I don’t suppose the Quick-R Elite turned out to be the flagship, long-distance marathon racer that they designed it to be. The truth that Puma-sponsored marathon runners resembling Molly Seidel and Rory Linkletter are nonetheless selecting the Deviate Nitro Elite 2 over the Quick-R to compete in is proof of this.
I’d personally additionally select the Deviate Nitro Elite 2 over the Quick-R for racing a marathon in. It feels extra environment friendly over lengthy distances and it’s extra comfy due to its smoother journey transitions. The Deviate Elite 2 can also be far more sturdy so that you don’t have to fret about carrying it out throughout coaching runs.
The Quick-R is nonetheless quicker for brief distances. Intervals, brief threshold runs and brief races are what the Quick-R excels in. The aggressive sole setup makes it really feel propulsive and the Nitro Elite forefoot foam makes it really feel energetic. I’ll nonetheless proceed utilizing the Quick-R for exercises as a result of it’s such a enjoyable shoe.
Then there’s the worth. At $250, the Quick-R is a extremely onerous promote and I wouldn’t suggest you spend your hard-earned money on it at its full retail worth. It’s not an S-tier marathon racer and its lack of long-distance consolation limits its versatility. For a similar worth, you may get a extra cushioned, smoother, extra environment friendly, first-class marathon racing shoe.
You would get the Quick-R and use it for 5K/10K/half marathon races however at 7.9 oz (224 g), it’s on the heavy aspect and also you’ll be paying the worth of a full marathon racer.
As a way to enhance the Quick-R, Puma wants to alter the EVA heel to a extra forgiving, softer foam (resembling Nitro foam) and they should smoothen transitions by means of the midfoot for higher long-distance consolation.
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