When unboxing the PUMA Fast-Trac Nitro, I was intrigued by the bold colourway. The grey and orange wouldn’t have been my first choice but PUMA has created a different aesthetic for the range. With seven colourways, there are four for women and three for men. The toe box is quite a bit more narrow and shallow than other trail shoes. There was a fair amount of discomfort on my toes as I descended the trail. I would steer runners away from these shoes if they live in areas with a lot of elevation. The shoe could be a toenail destroyer if you use them on the wrong trails. Jeremy: As I stated before, the first run in the shoes was really not enjoyable: I felt lots of pressure around both pinky toes, and, being my first GTX shoe, my feet were overheating, despite the ~6-7°C (42-45F) temperatures.

Puma Voyage Nitro trail running shoes - TechSmart Review: Puma Voyage Nitro trail running shoes - TechSmart

As Jacob states, I find the wet traction of the Endorphin Trail suffers a lot from the comparison with the Voyage. The Saucony would get the edge with light mud thanks to the more prominent lugs but that’s all - and I clearly lean more towards the Puma for its more versatile and efficient grip. All applicable customs and import duties and any other charges are the responsibility of the customer. The two loops, one on the tongue and the other one on the heel are helpful to pull them on, but the loop at the base of the heel is still a mystery to me. The lacing is secure, stays tied and does not create pressure points on the top of the foot.

Internationak Delivery

The upper felt rigid, and my feet must be close to the same as Mike’s, as I experienced the exact same issue with a creasing on the top that pushes against my feet. After some more miles, be it running or walking, the upper gained some stretch, and although still existing, this crease was not an issue anymore on following runs. Substantially lighter than the previous version, Puma dropped the weight of the Voyage NITRO from 10.8 oz to 9.6 oz in the most recent model. Weight was a major complaint of reviewers in the 2nd edition so it’s refreshing to see Puma improve in this area.

Puma Voyage Nitro 2 GORE-TEX Mens Trail Running Shoes - Black Puma Voyage Nitro 2 GORE-TEX Mens Trail Running Shoes - Black

Mike P (10.0): (Xodus 10) Xodus are surprisingly slightly heavier but run much better and are especially adept in more technical terrain. Puma may have a slight edge in forefoot protection, but that’s about it. I didn’t notice it at first but after a while taking them out, I noticed how similar the upper was in design to the Deviate Nitro. From the toe, the toe box angle, lateral and medial, heel shape and even the basis of the lacing all have the same design ethos. It’s not a copy-paste, but rather a similar approach. Jeremy: This is my go-to deep winter running shoe, when snow covers the trails, or when I go running at a ski area. It is more of an all-uses mountain shoe, clearly performance oriented, but not is specifically for running. The fit is really nice (actually there’s a Sense S/Lab upper inside the external cover), it rides a lot firmer than the Puma, and it gets an equally efficient traction and is maybe a bit more effective in snow thanks to its deeper lugs. With the Voyage Nitro, Puma has managed to create a really great trail experience, while offering decent protection against the elements. The shoe is not perfect, but it sure creates one hell of a start to their Nitro trail range.

Puma Voyage Nitro 3 Conclusions

The laces would seem the only section of the sneaker that may be a bit on the frail side. However, it too is protected around the sides lace loops that don’t expose the edges. This means that even with some friction, it should easily wear and snap in those areas. There aren’t any separated eye stays either. The loops are built into the upper without the additional stitching to integrate. I have nothing special to say about the lacing, which is efficient and pressure-free thanks to a nicely padded “tongue” (actually, the part of the inner boot construction that serves as a tongue) and ensures a good foothold.

Puma Voyage Nitro 3 Mens Trail Running Shoes - Blue Puma Voyage Nitro 3 Mens Trail Running Shoes - Blue

Understanding this, I wanted to focus on the ride. I was intrigued by the use of Puma’s Nitro foam, a supercritical nitrogen processed foam which is in a number of Puma outstanding new road shoes including the Deviate Elite worn to great success by Molly Seidel.

Puma Voyage Nitro 3 Durability

However, there’s one part of the outsole that raises concern - right in the centre of the heel of the foot the midsole is left exposed by an absence of outsole, only midsole. Even though the surrounding Pumagrip raises this part off the ground, I would have preferred it covered. Being a trail shoe, I’ve already covered most of the important aspects of what would make it good. The cushioning, the padding, the premium materials and the durable build are all key aspects of designing an outdoor-compatible shoe. However, there is one small aspect that would take it from an average trail shoe to a good one, perhaps even great – its performance. The PUMAGrip ATR rubber is an enhanced version of the standard PUMAGrip material. It’s more robust and grippier overall. This means that you get better traction, as well as robustness when hitting the ground.