In this video I’m putting the PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4 under the microscope, but I’m not doing it in isolation. I line it up against a handful of properly interesting plated racers that are doing the rounds in 2026: the PUMA Fast-R 3, the Deviate Nitro Elite 3, the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, and the Mizuno Hyperwarp Elite. I kick off with the key stats, then go shoe-by-shoe so you can see where each model makes sense (and where it really doesn’t) before you go spending your hard-earned. The whole point here is an in-depth comparison across the bits that actually matter: upper comfort and lockdown, midsole feel and how the plate is being used, outsole grip and durability, and then the big one—value. I bought the Deviate Nitro Elite 4 and the Hyperwarp Elite myself; the other pairs were sent in for review, but nobody is paying me or vetting my views. If you’re trying to work out which plated shoe suits your racing, your budget, and your preferences, this one should save you a few mistakes.