Over the years, I’ve laced up shoes from just about every brand worth its salt — from Nike’s speedy racers to Adidas’s marathon legends, Saucony’s workhorses, and ASICS’s rock-solid staples. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned pounding thousands of kilometres on the road — finding a complete shoe stack that works seamlessly from daily training to race day is still rare. Especially here in India.

Most brands nail one or two parts of the puzzle but leave gaps you end up patching with mismatched shoes. Let’s break that down.

Nike?

Unbeatable on race day — the Vaporfly and Alphafly have rewritten what’s possible on the pace side. But look for a true super trainer to bridge daily miles and fast efforts, and there’s really nothing that hits the mark. The Pegasus, once the king of daily trainers, has lost some of its shine for runners chasing that locked-in feel every time they lace up.

Adidas?

The Adios Pro is a marathon monster — no argument. But the Boston series, while solid, feels like it’s from another family altogether. There’s still no carbon-plated super trainer to fill that crucial gap. Daily trainers are scattered too — Ultraboost, Solarboost, you name it — but nothing ties it together in a neat, runner-friendly progression.

Saucony?

This comes closer. The Endorphin Pro is a trusted racer, and the Endorphin Speed is a beloved “super trainer” for many — but it doesn’t pack a carbon plate, so that snappy, propulsive feel can be missing when you’re pushing pace. And here in India, just finding your size can be a training plan in itself — patchy availability, rare half sizes, delayed launches.

ASICS?

A long-time favourite for daily miles — the Gel-Kayano, Nimbus, Cumulus, GT series… they’re built to last. In the Metaspeed series ASICS has a world-class carbon-plated racer. But that key middle piece — a true, aggressive, carbon-plated super trainer — still doesn’t exist in the same family. You’re left stitching together a rotation across series or brands.

Where Puma’s NITRO stack nails it

This is where Puma’s NITRO series just gets it right. I’ve been on the NITRO stack for over four years now, logging over 2,000 km every year — from early-morning tempo runs on Bengaluru’s roads to marathons in Indian cities like Mumbai and Delhi. I’ve been with this series since its first version — and every single one of my race PBs, from 10K to full marathon and even ultras, has come while wearing NITROs from Puma.

Puma’s approach is beautifully straightforward:

– Velocity NITRO series is built to cover the daily grind — comfy enough for recovery jogs, durable enough for 200+ km months.

– Deviate NITRO series is a super trainer designed for speed work — carbon-plated, peppy, and with that satisfying pop when you shift gears to sub 5 and below paces.

– Deviate NITRO ELITE 3 is the race-day rocket — light, aggressive, and genuinely built for chasing PBs when the start line nerves kick in.

Why it works so well

• One family, zero confusion: No mixing random models — just a clear, plug-and-play stack that makes sense.
• Sizing you can trust: A UK 9 is a UK 9 across the stack. When your goal race is tomorrow, that confidence matters.
• Upgrades stay in sync: It’s version 3 for all three — Velocity 3, Deviate NITRO 3, Elite 3 — so the feel evolves together every year.
• Fair price ladder: You know exactly what you’re paying for — everyday miles, carbon-plated speed work, or race-day top gear.
• Always available: You actually find your size here in India — even half sizes. It sounds small, but ask any runner who’s hunted for stock mid-season — it matters.
• Each shoe genuinely delivers: The Velocity 3 ranks among the best daily trainers; the Deviate NITRO 3 is arguably the best super trainer for Indian roads right now; and the Elite 3 is a race-day shoe that deserves its spot on any start line.

One honest watch-out

Is Puma’s stack perfect? Not quite yet. Each shoe is right up there in its category — but they’re still fighting for the absolute top spot worldwide. That’s the next step for Puma, and the way they’ve improved with every version gives me hope they’ll get there soon.

If you’re a runner in India looking for a shoe stack that’s consistent, proven, and built to grow with you year after year — take it from someone who’s done the miles: the Puma NITRO series should be on your radar.

If you’re already on the NITRO train, drop your PB story in the comments — I’d love to hear where your pair has taken you!

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