PUMA ForeverRun NITRO 3 Review: A Comfortable Stability Daily Trainer, But Should You Buy It?

The PUMA ForeverRun NITRO has been one of my favourite mild stability running shoes over the last few years. Rather than relying on traditional medial posts or aggressive stability elements, PUMA has taken a much more subtle approach, creating a shoe that offers extra guidance without necessarily feeling like a conventional stability shoe.

Now we have the PUMA ForeverRun NITRO 3, and while it remains a very good daily trainer, the big question is whether PUMA has actually done enough to make it worth buying over the heavily discounted ForeverRun NITRO 2.

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PUMA ForeverRun NITRO 3 Specs

The ForeverRun NITRO 3 has an RRP of £140, although I have already seen it available for around £120. It uses a dual-density NITRO foam setup, combining a softer cushioned core with a firmer outer ring as part of PUMA's RUNGUIDE system. The idea is to provide cushioning and rebound underneath the foot while the firmer material around the outside helps keep everything stable and controlled.

Stack height is 38mm in the heel and 30mm in the forefoot, giving the shoe an 8mm drop. That's a change from the previous version, which had a 10mm drop. Up top there is an engineered mesh upper featuring PWRPRINT reinforcement to provide additional structure and support. There's also a plastic heel clip, a gusseted tongue and, underneath, PUMA's excellent PUMAGRIP outsole. My UK 9.5 weighs around 290g, and I found the shoe to fit true to size.

How Does the ForeverRun NITRO 3 Feel?

The thing I like about the ForeverRun is that it doesn't feel like an aggressive stability shoe. I mildly pronate and like having a supportive daily trainer in my rotation, particularly when I'm marathon training and running 50 or 60-mile weeks. On days when my legs are tired, or when I'm heading out for the second run of a double day, having that little bit of additional support can be really useful. That's exactly where the ForeverRun NITRO 3 works well.

PUMA's RUNGUIDE system provides stability without feeling like it is forcing your foot into a particular position. The softer NITRO foam through the centre gives you cushioning, while the firmer ring surrounding it helps control the foot. There's also additional support on the medial side, while the wide platform and heel clip contribute to the overall stability of the shoe.

The result is a shoe that feels naturally stable rather than intrusive. It isn't trying to push or pull your foot around; it's simply giving you a more supportive platform to run on.

SAVE ON THE FOREEVER RUN 3

Comfort and Ride

Comfort is one of the strongest parts of the ForeverRun NITRO 3. There's plenty of padding around the heel, the gusseted tongue works well and I had no problems getting a secure lockdown. The PWRPRINT elements also give the engineered mesh upper some additional structure without turning it into an overly rigid stability upper.

Underfoot, that softer central section of NITRO foam gives the shoe a nicely cushioned feel. This is very much a shoe I would use for cruising through easy miles, recovery runs and general daily training.

The downside is the weight.

At around 290g in my UK 9.5, it feels heavier on foot than some of its current rivals. That's noticeable when you try to pick up the pace. I wouldn't describe the ForeverRun NITRO 3 as particularly nimble or exciting; it's much happier ticking along comfortably than it is trying to inject some speed into a run.

PUMA ForeverRun NITRO 3 vs ASICS GT-2000

This is where things get difficult for the PUMA. The ASICS GT-2000 I've been running in comes in at around 270g compared with 290g for the PUMA, and that difference is noticeable. The ASICS feels lighter, more responsive and ultimately more versatile.

Both provide the mild stability I want from this type of shoe, but the ASICS feels more nimble and fun, whereas the ForeverRun NITRO 3 feels more like a comfortable cruiser.

In previous years I would happily have recommended the ForeverRun over the GT-2000, but based on the versions I've been running in this year, I think the ASICS currently has the edge.

Should You Buy the ForeverRun NITRO 3 or Version 2?

This is probably the biggest issue with the ForeverRun NITRO 3: there isn't enough here to make me rush out and buy it instead of version 2.

At the time of my review, I had seen the ForeverRun NITRO 2 available for around £70. When the new shoe is still costing around £120–£140, that's an enormous difference.

If you've been running in the ForeverRun NITRO 2 and absolutely love it, I'd simply buy another pair of version 2 while you can still find them at those discounted prices. Version 3 is a very good shoe, but I don't think there's enough of an upgrade to justify paying almost twice as much for it.

The ForeverRun NITRO 3 will inevitably start appearing at lower prices, and when that happens the argument in its favour becomes much stronger.

Verdict

The PUMA ForeverRun NITRO 3 is a very good mild stability daily trainer. It's comfortable, supportive and uses stability in a way that doesn't feel overly intrusive. If you mildly overpronate, want some additional guidance when your legs are tired, or simply prefer a more stable platform for your everyday miles, there's plenty to like here.

However, it's also relatively heavy and doesn't feel as responsive or versatile as some of the competition. More importantly, the ForeverRun NITRO 2 currently offers much of the same experience for considerably less money.

For me, I'd currently lean towards the lighter and more responsive ASICS alternative, or I'd save the money and grab a discounted ForeverRun NITRO 2. But once the price of version 3 starts to come down, this will become a much easier shoe to recommend. It's comfortable, dependable and stable without feeling like an old-school stability shoe – exactly what the ForeverRun has always done well. You can get discounts on your next running shoe purchase at Sportsshoes.com by either becoming an affiliated club member with FORDY RUNS Running Club where you will get 15% off or you can join the club for free and get 10% off your next purchase by getting our latest discount code from our website

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