Of course, not every run is about daily miles. When it comes to chasing personal bests on race day, Puma’s boldest entry is the Fast-R Nitro Elite 3.
Puma’s third version of the Fast-R finally feels like more than just a statement piece. The earlier models looked futuristic but never really earned trust on the start line—heavy builds, stiff plates, and athletes who opted out of racing in them. The Fast-R 3 changes that. Puma stripped away the bulk, refined the geometry, and kept just enough of the decoupled heel/forefoot design to maintain the shoe’s character without making it gimmicky. The result is a race shoe that feels light, fast, and, for the first time, truly competitive.
At 6 ounces for a men’s size 9, it’s one of the lightest plated racers around, rivaling the Vaporfly. The updated TPU-based foam is softer but still resilient, paired with a thinner, more flexible carbon plate that runs through the midsole and even extends slightly past the toes for added pop. Step-in comfort is surprisingly good for such a stripped-down racer, and the minimal Ultraweave upper holds the foot securely without weighing anything down. Add PumaGrip outsole coverage, and it grips better than just about any other super shoe when the roads turn slick.
The question is always whether the speed on paper matches the feel on the run. Puma seems to have answered that with both lab data and anecdotal results. Independent testing showed running economy improvements over the Alphafly 3 and Adios Pro Evo 1—a claim few thought possible at this point in the super shoe arms race. Out on the road, the shoe delivers quick turnover, a lively snap off the plate, and enough cushioning to keep workouts fast without beating up the legs. Stability is still a trade-off, especially on turns, and the $300 price tag stings, but Puma may finally have a podium-ready racer in the Fast-R 3.
