Puma MagMax Nitro Review
By Andrea Myers and Matthew Klein
Puma MagMax NitroPrice: $180 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 10.3 oz, 292 g (men's size 9), 8.8 oz, 249 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 47 mm / 39 mm
Drop: 8 mm
Shoe Purpose: Super Maximal Daily Training Shoe
Pros: Excellent upper fit, nice balance between compliance and resilience, geometry works well for midfoot and forefoot strikers
Cons: Geometry may not work well for rearfoot strikers
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Puma MagMax Nitro has an incredibly high 47mm/39mm Nitro midsole and a protective, mildly bouncy ride. Unlike other super trainers whose weight limits them to slower recovery runs, the bounce and relatively lighter weight of the MagMax Nitro makes it a potentially more versatile trainer. This shoe could be a go-to easy run shoe for some, and could also be an uptempo long run shoe for others. Its unique geometry puts it squarely in the stable neutral category, particularly for midfoot and forefoot strikers.
SIMILAR SHOES: New Balance SC Trainer v1, Mizuno Neo Vista
PAST MODEL: N/A
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Puma MagMax Nitro fits me true to size in my normal Men's US size 10. Initially, the volume at the forefoot was extremely low and I was unsure if this shoe would fit a half size short because of this. The mesh upper quickly broke in and I would encourage most people to stay true to size unless you need more volume. The width is normal-to-slightly wide when things break in. The toe box is slightly tapered but the stretchy mesh offsets this. The forefoot is normal to slightly wide in width. The midfoot is also slightly wide but low volume (low instep) with a strongly gusseted tongue. I did have to tighten the laces but that was more for a close fit rather than any insecurity. The heel fits normal in width with a moderate amount of heel collar padding. There is a mildly flexible heel counter that did not bother me due to additional padding at the rear portion behind the calcaneus. Those sensitive to heel counters should still approach with caution. The security is fairly good thanks to the strong tongue gusset and the lower volume. I did experience a little slippage in the heel, but this was easily solved by tightening down the laces and I did not have to lace lock the shoe. I would encourage the use of socks with this shoe as the tongue and gusset are extremely rough against bare skin but fine with socks. So expect to tighten the laces a little, wait for the upper to break in and wear socks with this upper.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: Saucony Guide 17, ASICS Kayano 30, Hoka Gaviota 5, Saucony Endorphin Elite, Nike Ultrafly
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Saucony Kinvara 14
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Altra Timp 5
Andrea: The Puma MagMax Nitro fits true to size in my usual women's 9.5. While I sometimes find Puma shoes a little narrow in the toe box, the MagMax has sufficient width and volume that I did not experience any discomfort at my 1st or 5th MTPs, or any pressure on the dorsum of my toes. I have a little less than a full thumb's width from the front of the shoe to the end of my big toe. The engineered mesh upper and nicely integrated tongue provide a secure and comfortable fit without any hot spots or discomfort. The thin, stretchy tongue is so well integrated that the upper almost feels like a one piece upper, but in fact the tongue is gusseted and held further in place by a lace loop. The rearfoot has a small, rigid counter in the inferior half and a flexible superior half. The heel collar has a moderate amount of padding that further adds to the secure fit. This is a shoe that I felt completely comfortable in from the first time I tried it on. It was easy to achieve a secure lockdown with the flat laces without many on the run adjustments.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: New Balance Beacon v3, Brooks Hyperion Max, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, Altra Via Olympus 2
Shoes that have fit snug: Saucony Kinvara 14 (length and toe box width), Altra FWD Experience (length and width), Hoka Cielo Road (toe box width), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-3 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Okay
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Okay
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: No
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Maybe
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Puma MagMax Nitro is a super stack height maximal daily training shoe. The stack height is 47 mm and 39mm, making it one of the tallest shoes we have tested (thus far) alongside the Superblast 2 and the Prime X Strung 2. The Nitro foam provides a highly cushioned ride that feels soft but not mushy. The foam is best for easier and longer efforts but the larger size does not make this shoe optimal for faster runs. Despite its large size, the weight is only 10.3 oz (men's size 9) which further makes it feel great for daily training miles. There is a large heel bevel but due to a decent amount of posterior heel flare, the heel is a clunky at first. The landings are a little abrupt but transition into a smooth midfoot and forefoot. There is little to no flexibility in this shoe despite there not being a plate (to my knowledge) thanks to how thick the midsole is.
The forefoot features a large rocker that rolls forward easily, so those that want a stiff forefoot if you have toe mobility issues may do well here. Those who land a little farther forward will likely do best in this shoe (like Andrea) while those who are heavier heel strikers will need to break in the heel. I have almost 40 miles on my pair and the heel is breaking in a little. It still makes for an abrupt transition but is slowly getting smoother. This has caused me to land farther forward, which feels excellent on both easy and longer runs. The amount of foam does not respond fast enough for anything faster than easier efforts but makes it easy to lock into paces for a while.
There is a ton of outsole rubber on the outsole in high wear areas that has stay mostly intact over my mileage. The forefoot design creates some decent traction, although I would keep this shoe to the road as rocks can get stuck in the gaps and exposed midsole. The MagMax Nitro is best as a road shoe for easy to longer mileage especially if you land a tiny bit more forward.
Andrea: I knew I loved the Puma MagMax Nitro after my first run in it, which was a 4 mile recovery run after a long week of training. The extremely high stack of Nitro foam provides exceptional underfoot protection and just the right balance of compliance and resilience. Those who are familiar with my reviews and shoe preferences know that I dislike marshmallow soft shoes, and the MagMax is definitely not a marshmallow. My favorite super trainer is the New Balance SC Trainer v1, and the MagMax reminds me of the underfoot protection of that shoe, but with a lower weight and a little more bounce. While I could really only use the SC Trainer v1 for slow recovery runs, I have no problem using MagMax Nitro for normal easy runs when my legs aren't dead from a workout the day before. If I were marathon training, I wouldn't hesitate to take MagMax on an easy long run. Because I am focusing on 5k/10k right now, my long runs are 12-14 uptempo (45-60" slower than marathon pace) miles, and I did not use the shoe for any of these runs because it definitely feels like too much shoe for me, although others may certainly use it for this purpose.
The shoe feels like its stated 8mm drop, but the well-positioned heel bevel kept the rearfoot completely out of the way for me, even when running at recovery paces. One of the features that I most appreciate in the shoe is the large amount of forefoot sole flaring, which makes the shoe feel quite stable for me as a lateral midfoot striker. The forefoot sole flaring is nicely balanced medially and laterally, which contributed to a centered ride for me from initial contact to push off. The later forefoot rocker and minimal toe spring also create a mild rolling sensation that never felt aggressive. The near full coverage rubber outsole provided decent traction on wet roads. I have 25 miles on my pair and the rubber shows almost no wear, although a small rock got embedded in the exposed midsole, which resulted in a hole when I removed it. Those who tend to have high wear on the medial rearfoot and midfoot of their shoes may find lower durability due to the exposed midsole in this area.
Find a comparison of the Magmax Nitro vs. Brooks Glycerin Max here.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Puma MagMax is surprisingly stable neutral. There are several elements that add stability, including sidewalls, sole flaring, additional upper overlays and rigidity. The heel and posterior midfoot feature large sidewalls on both sides of the foot. This is noticeable, which keeps the foot centered during transitions through that area. The sole is also flared extensively in the heel and forefoot with a wider midfoot. This provides a solid amount of resistance to side to side motion despite the softer foam. The PWRTAPE overlays lock the foot on the platform without being overbearing. The stiff ride and good forefoot rocker provide a nice transition forward up front. The only challenges with this shoe is the extra large heel and the fact that the lateral heel flare is greater than the medial flare. This creates some mild medial bias until the midsole breaks in at the heel that is corrected by the medial sidewall. This abrupt transition can be awkward at first, but does break in after a few miles nicely. This makes for a stable but slightly clunky heel, a stable neutral midfoot and a stable neutral forefoot.
Andrea: The Puma MagMax Nitro runs as a stable neutral shoe for my mechanics. The large, balanced forefoot sole flare and later forefoot rocker make this shoe particularly stable for midfoot and forefoot strikers. The overall wide base and secure upper further contribute to a centered foot. Puma also did a nice job with the PWRTAPE overlays on the upper, which also help to stabilize the foot in the shoe. I will note that the large posterior sole flare in addition to the wide medial and lateral rearfoot sole flare may result in early initial contact for rearfoot strikers, potentially making the shoe less stable neutral for those runners.
Thoughts as a DPT: Stability in a Tall Package
By Andrea Myers
The Puma MagMax Nitro is one of the tallest shoes on the market, with a stack height of 47mm in the heel and 39mm in the forefoot. As running shoe technology has progressed since the introduction of the original Vaporfly, we have seen shoe manufacturers use different strategies to stabilize increasingly higher midsole heights. Many shoes use a plate, which functions as a stiffening agent (among other functions), to provide structure to a tall, often soft, midsole material. However, not all high stack shoes utilize or need a plate to provide sufficient structure. The Puma MagMax is a great example of an extremely tall shoe that does not need a plate to stabilize the midsole. Rather, it utilizes a wide base, a near full coverage rubber outsole to provide increased longitudinal bending stiffness, moderate rocker geometry, and wide sole flare in the rearfoot and forefoot to stabilize the large amount of supercritical Nitro midsole foam. We also know that companies are able to "tune" midsole foams for a particular shoe. This is one of the reasons the same midsole foam can feel different across different shoe models.
I feel the Puma MagMax Nitro is most similar to the New Balance SC Trainer v1, although a lighter and somewhat softer version. We can compare the design of both shoes to gain insights into why this may be. The New Balance SC Trainer v1 has the same 47mm/39mm stack height as the MagMax, with the stated weight of the SC Trainer v1 being 11 oz for a men's size 10 and the MagMax 10.3 oz for a men's 9. The SC Trainer v1 has a carbon plate, which may account for the main difference in weight between the two shoes, as well as the difference in compliance. Both shoes have a central cutout, although the one in the SC Trainer v1 is deeper and longer. The forefoot rocker on the SC Trainer v1 starts earlier as compared to the MagMax, which is necessary to help with forward progression in a stiff, heavier shoe. There is much less sole flaring throughout SC Trainer v1, which again may not be as necessary for stability in a shoe that has a plate as a stiffening agent. You could say that the tall stack height of SC Trainer v1 is primarily stabilized by the plate and rocker geometry, whereas the same tall midsole of MagMax Nitro is primarily stabilized by its wide base, stiffer rubber outsole, and extensive sole flaring. It is interesting to see how different companies utilize shoe design to achieve similar goals.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The Puma MagMax Nitro is a solid shoe from the anterior heel forward. I am impressed with how Puma kept the weight at a moderate level for such a massive shoe. The relatively stable neutral design is great and balances the shoe well. My only major suggest (outside of potentially providing a little more volume in the upper) is to either increase the size and length of the heel bevel or to reduce the posterior flare. In a shoe this large with a 47mm stack height in the heel (men's size 9) and no flexibility, appropriate rockers and geometry is even more important. The posterior heel flare causes an early and abrupt landing that is awkward but at least transitions to something smoother. I would suggest reducing this, which will also reduce the weight of the shoe a little more. I've talked about posterior heel flare before and the challenges it brings, so hopefully the Puma team can review those and move forward on an already solid product.
Andrea: Puma MagMax Nitro has been a really fun shoe to run in and it has definitely entered my easy day shoe rotation when I need a lot of underfoot protection. There is really nothing I would advise Puma to change about the shoe with regards to my experience in it. However, as the vast majority of runners are heel strikers, I would recommend that Puma reduce the amount of posterior flare to make the shoe potentially work better for rearfoot strikers (I will let Matt comment further on his experience with this).
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Puma MagMax Nitro is a super stack height daily training shoe. It is best for those with lower volume feet who may want some extra width and a somewhat stretchy/adaptive upper. The sole is best for those who want as much cushioning as possible and those who are either extremely mild heel strikers or those who land farther forward. The MagMax works best for easy miles and long runs. It will pair well as a super cushioned training companion to shoes like the Deviate Nitro 3 and the Deviate Nitro Elite 3. The heel is a bit too clunky for me, but I am still impressed with what Puma has put out for $180. This is a solid shoe that will do well among the other super stack training shoes and provides a unique product within that space.
Andrea: Puma MagMax Nitro is a super trainer with one of the highest stack heights on the market today. Unlike other super trainers that are too soft, too heavy, or have poor fitting uppers, the Puma MagMax Nitro provides the right amount of cushion and responsiveness in an extremely well-fitting upper and a weight that is not light but also does not feel heavy on foot. The shoe's geometry and well fitting upper makes it a stable neutral shoe, particularly for those who land further forward. The shoe is a good value at $180 and could be a nice replacement option for those who loved the underfoot protection of SC Trainer v1 but wanted something a little lighter and versatile. I can comfortably say this is the best Puma shoe I have tested, and will certainly be putting more miles on it in the coming months.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B+/A- (Lower volume fit with slightly wider fit in forefoot/midfoot. Thick tongue gusset secures foot but still need to tie laces down a bit)
Performance: B (Highly cushioned, smooth ride from the midfoot forward for easy/long miles. Heel clunky despite large bevel)
Stability: B+/A- [Stable Neutral] (Solid sidewalls, sole flare and forefoot rocker geometry create stable neutral ride when heel breaks in. Extra lateral heel flare for those with lateral ankle instabilities)
Value: B+/A- (Solid, competitive value among super stack training shoes)
Personal: B (Great shoe from midfoot forward but heel is a bit too clunky for me. )
Overall Design: B+
Andrea
Fit: A+ (Zero complaints about fit, and I usually have at least one :) )
Performance: A- (Nice balance between compliance and resilience, rolling ride without being aggressive, and works best for easy pace)
Stability: [stable neutral] B+A- (Well balanced forefoot sole flare and later forefoot rocker make this a stable neutral shoe, particularly for midfoot/forefoot strikers. Rearfoot strikers may not get along with the posterior flare.)
Value: A- ($180 is a normal price for a super trainer like this, and its exceptional fit and performance make it a good value.)
Personal: A (My favorite Puma so far. Great easy day shoe that is light enough that I can do more than recovery runs in it.)
Overall Design: A
SHOP | SUPPORT DORPuma Magmax NitroPrice: $180 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING
The Ultraboost sees some more responsive foam changes.
A rare mild stability trainer.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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