In this video I’m getting my first run in the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 and asking the big question: is this the best racing shoe of 2026? I take you through how I tested it, the key tech changes, and—most importantly—how it actually feels once you’re up to speed. The headline is that it’s a very different shoe to the previous version, and the big talking point is the weight drop. But as always, lighter doesn’t automatically mean faster for everyone, so I wanted to be honest about what that change might mean out on the road. I break down my first impressions from the run—fit, feel, and that initial sense of whether it’s a shoe I’d trust on race day. I also chat through the potential trade-offs you can get when a brand chases grams: does it still feel stable enough, does it still feel protective enough, and has the performance changed for better or worse? By the end, you’ll know who I think the Deviate Nitro Elite 4 is for, what I’d use it for in a marathon build, and the questions I still want answered with more miles.