PUMA Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 Reviews

About 250 km in it, two half marathons plus my track sessions. Lightest shoe I've owned and the bounce at 10k pace is something else. Ran 1:21 for a half, almost two minutes off my PR. At easy pace it feels clumsy so I don't warm up in it. Calves were wrecked for two days after each race. Midfoot is snug and the thin tongue folds over if you're not careful lacing up. The outsole has small dents from gravel but nothing is wearing through yet.

Great energy return in a half marathon; felt like free seconds every kilometre after 10K.

About 200 miles across three pairs, including a rainy 20-mile long run with marathon-pace reps in the pair that reached 100 miles, plus two marathons and a half-marathon PR. They love the bounce and how easily it puts them on the forefoot, call it the best sub-3 marathon racer, and found 100-mile wear fairly good. Downsides: it feels choppy and tiring at easy paces, is not a comfortable training shoe, and only feels good when run fast.

About 50 km of running, including a 12K race, in a true-to-size pair. They found it explosive and efficient, best from half-marathon pace and faster, with a breathable stripped-down upper and a snug, narrow fit that runs long in the toe. It is fast rather than comfortable, dictates the stride, has only average stability (better for forefoot strikers), and the outsole showed slight fraying by 50 km.

Between them, the two testers ran roughly 80 to 100 km, including the London Marathon, a fast 10-miler, a parkrun 5K and track work. They found it light, snappy and springy at marathon pace and faster, with a breathable upper that coped with heat and rain and a snug, narrow fit that runs long. Downsides: high price, middling durability, little stability, an unnatural-feeling rocker, and less enjoyment on 400m reps. It suits fast runners, not slower marathoners.

His new favourite marathon racer: he hardly thought about his feet during his PR, and it turned over quickly when he pushed late. Top tier, though not for everyone.

A wild design with an incredible ride that stands out in the super-shoe market, and he can't wait to race in it again. Forefoot rubber shows wear after 50 miles, and Puma rates its life at only 200 miles.