u/Cultural-Brick

Hey everyyyyoneeee.

So this is my review after I did a half marathon race event on Sunday (27/09/2026)

The Half marathon started from Ridge, Shimla to HIPA,Shimla(Mashobra) and then back.

The road was 80% tarmac, and 20% rough patch, dusty and muddy.

I have ran 21ks earlier also, in my adidas and puma deviate nitro 3, and with the Novablast I did my PR, by almost 25mins.

What I liked about Novablast 6 in the run :-

1. Grip : Even though the outsole coverage is minimal, compared to puma or adidas, its almost nothing. I expected the grip to be bad, like I thought I would slip in between the bad patches, especially dusty ones. But it was opposite. They got better grip than Puma deviates/velocity 😭😭 , How did asics achieve this level of traction in so less outsole coverage.

In tarmac, they grip very good, on dusty 60-70% of grip is there, and on wet tarmac, 200% of grip. The outsole grip is veryyyyy good. Best I have experienced.

2. Midsole performance: When I started my run, till 5-6 km, I was taking myself very easy, 7-8" pace/km. After that the track went from bad to tarmac, a bit flat. I increases my pace to 5-6 " km. These shoes gave me steady performance, optimal energy return, great stability. The midsole is just a gem, the overall performance is still better than many fast paced shoes, and more stable than many shoes. Amazing work done by asics.

3. Upper : the upper felt very stable, my feet were all fine, locked in while the whole 21k. Breathable mesh with amazing durability. The upper are almost no signs of usage till now. It seems like indestructible. Good enough, but not the best, can be improved.

Conssss

1. Stiffness - I really don't know, if its my feet or the shoe, but after 16-17 km, my forefoot started to hurt like crazy. I could not even walk, let alone run. Even though I have issues with my left knee, surprisingly no complaints from my knee, but forefoot, I remember stopping and sitting on a bench, put my feet on the air so that the pain may get relieved.

2. Sloppy slow performance: at slow speeds, they feel choppy. At certain speed, they do come out to be lively, but at slow speeds, they feel lazy, you have to put more effort in slow speeds than in steady paces. Even walking on them feels sloppy and choppy. Mainly because of that big slop of midsole.

Overall, best purchase ever. Costed me ₹13k, worth every penny. I am hoping they may last 700-800km, rest let's see how they do.. in the hilly terrain especially.

Thanks ☺️, feel free to ask anything.

My strava - Check out on Strava

https://strava.app.link/AkryAplmQ6b

Just received them,

First time feels - Soft, squishy, grip is amazing. I can feel the pod, in fore-foot. Fit is to the point, bit tight on width, but it will take the size of my feet with time.

Will run a 10k on Sunday and will give you guys the review accordingly.

I was thinking to buy a daily trainer that would help me in my daily mileage coverage. Also, I only had one shoe, Puma deviate nitro 3, and they are speed workout shoe.

Thereby, I just ordered them, will run atleast 50km on them and then tell you guys how they feel.

They costed me ₹13,500 after card discount.

Heyyyy

I am 22 year old, livin in hills of Shimla, Himachal.

I started running in 2024 and have been running since then. Started with adidas solarglide, then nike vomero 17, now running in Puma deviate nitro 3

After 160km, I am here giving my long term review after using them for almost 7 months.

Pros :

1. Grip : Grip has been absolutely amazing. It sticks to the ground and gives me confidence in every situation, downhill rain in tarmac, running in pebble stone road, etc. Never failed in any situation

2. Durability: These shoes has been smothered in hard rain, then in hot weather, then in humid weather. They are still perfect, no major signs that these have been used while running in almost every situation.

I have ran 600mts to 700mts of elevation from downhill to uphill, they don't give up

3. Upper : breathable upper, so much better thsn anything that I have used. The upper's Durability is remarkable, amazing for me.

4. Speeeeed : This shoe is a speed shoe. If you try to run slow on them, your feet will hurt. The more fast you run, the easy they make you feel. Extremely stable on high speed, and proper feedback when you land. Amazing for speed workouts or 5 to 4 " km pace.

Cons :

1. Stiff : they are Extremely stiff shoe. Even walking feels uncomfortable because of there stiffness. Slow running almost impossible because the rocker makes you run fast and shoe gets lively only when you run fast.

2. Outsole durability: As you can see on the photos, the outsole durability of this shoe is kinda bad. After 160km, the heel side of outsole has started to shown worn off signs, and from the forefoot, the outsole has started to peel off. I am thinking they may only last 500km atmost.

3. Long run = Impossible : I have ran multiple 5ks and 10ks on them. I did one 24k on them and I had to remove them twice because how harsh they felt while running. For 10ks, fast pace, these are fine. But for long, steady runs, not recommended. They make your feet hurt, a lot.

I would say, for 5ks and 10ks fast runs, these are amazing shoes. But for long runs, maybe Evo Sl is better. But these got better grip, better durability and better upper than evo sl.

Recommended for speed workouts.

Did a 24km today for my 24th run. For the first 12km, I ran alone then I joined the running club of my city, amazing experience.

Shoe - Puma deviate nitro 3

City - Shimla, India

It was an amazing morning in the city ( Shimla). Ran almost 10k (9.6k) with my fellow runners. I had to take responsibility for the first half of the run, making sure everyone was together, then after that, roles got changed and then I ran faster than usual.

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Took my pace efforts to 70% and ran good enough. Amazing run, completed 96km in my pumas.

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Still learning a lot about pacing and recovery.

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I surely need a shoe to run slow with, these shoes are very harsh when you keep your pace under 7 to 8km.

Thinking to buy Novablast 6 or Puma Nitro pure, or maybe evo sls.

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I'm open to any suggestions 🙏.

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(Shoe - Puma Deviate Nitro 3)

(Tracking Device - Samsung watch 4 classic)

Did my first ever marathon (Mini-Marathon) of 10k

I ran in Puma deviate nitro 3.

I really loved the grip as usual but this time I hated how hard they are actually. The stiffness really kicks you when you run uphill on slow paces. At that time, they make your feet and ankles hurt.

Other than that, when I had to pace myself, when I had to pick the pace up, Oh mah god, they helped me actually.

Pacing in these pairs gives a support system. They feel planked and stable while giving energy return.

For 10k PBs, and 5k PBs, you will enjoy running fast in them. Other than that, slow paces will eat your feet and ankles and possibly your knees.

Happy running peeps ☺️.

I am medium distance runner ( 5 to 15km ) living in Shimla City. I have been running since last 1 year. I have done multiple 10ks and countless 5ks and did twice 25ks.

I started my running by the mid of 2023. I used to run 5ks almost twice a month and then I decided to do running more seriously. By 2024, I researched and purchased Nike vomero 17. They cost me around 11,000 rs.

I first ran 5ks on them and slowly went from 7ks to now 10ks. I also used Adidas Solarglide 5 as slow pace shoe. Now after almost 3 years, and almost 400-500kms done on these shoes, I can review them all around.

I have ran and used Nike vomero 17 for almost 3+ years and 400-500km, and by that point I can fairly review this unit on my own personal terms.

PROS OF THE SHOES :-

1. Versatility - As I mentioned above, I have used this shoe almost everywhere. From trekking, to gym, to going out for a coffee, then to going to college, everywhere. By that standards, it has performed great. And on running point of view, it has a vast pace chart. It can make you run 4-5" pace for your PBs, and when you want to slow things down, it can help you run at 7-8" pace with ease. Amazing versatility.

2. ZOOMX (Midsole) - Nike has mastered this midsole technology. Nike vomero 17 is made of 2 different types of soles, the lower one is a stiff one and the upper one is ZOOMX. This combination makes this shoes amazing for whats its made for. The midsole provides amazing plushiness and softness like you get in Asics Gel nimbus series or New balance 980s or 1080s, while providing amazing energy return.

3. Soft and energetic - The midsole provides a magical output. For me, I used to thought that either a shoe can be soft and comfortable or stiff and full of energy. Giving both in a pair is not possible. But Nike vomero series provides both of them in a package. It is soft and comforting when you run at slow speeds, but if you want to pick up the pace, it can provide you with bouncy return, like a trampoline. It sometimes can make you feet tickle if you push them too hard, because of that bounce ( it sounds childish, but trust me that thing makes me tickle when I pick my pace). Amazing shoe.

CONS OF THE SHOES :-

1. Grip - the only thing that makes this whole vomero series step own from its rivals is the grip. It is very clunky feeling. It doesn't feels engaging and feels disconnect from the surface your running on. The grip should be rubbery but it feels plastiky.

2. Upper - The upper is not bad for what it is, the mesh is very durable and feels quality. Its just its not breathable enough. Its good for normal things, like walking and going out for a coffee type of activities, but running and other things, it makes you sweat a lot, even though air goes out easily. I cannot understand whats the issue.

3. Midsole durability and stability - even though the midsole is very good and very responsive, it is not the most durable and it feels clunky. By clunky I mean it makes a lot of clunky sounds and takes time to adapt to the pace. It got very bad stability. You can feel you foot not being stable when you just wear them and stand of them. when you got that pace, you don't notice but on slow pace, man sometimes it scares you. Maybe the terrain I run in or walk in also requires extra stable shoe, but it is still very unstable compared to other shoes. even though the stack height is not that big, it got stability issues.

CONCLUSION-

The shoe is amazing for what it advertises itself to. Midsole performance is great. The shoe got that classic nike look, it got reflectors and other stuff, but it ain't the best. The grip is not the worst but could be better considering the competition. I would suggest go with Vomero 18 if you want the all around shoe, which does everything for you. Just try them on and feel how stable they are, how much grip it can give. Other than that, ZOOMX is amazing technology used by Nike. Must recommended for just the midsole performance.

Keep on running peeps 😊.

My Strava ID - https://strava.app.link/AeZ3ofMyj3b

I am a medium distance runner ( 5 to 15km) living in Shimla City. I have been running since last 1 year. I have multiple 10ks and countless 5ks and did only twice of 25ks.

I have started my running from Adidas shoes, then I bought the Nike vomero 17, and on November 29, 2025 I bought Puma Nitro 3. I bought them from Puma showroom in Shimla itself, they costed me 16k.

I have Ran 60+km on them since then.

Reason for Purchasing:

1. Grip - I used to run on Adidas solarglide and they provided the best grip I've ever experienced, the continental rubber. Then I shifted to Nike vomero 17, and they feel so off. The terrain on which I run is very uneven from elevations upto 600mts in just 15k. Thereby Nike provided me with one the worst grips, they made me felt very under confident. When I worst tried Puma Nitro 3 in the showroom itself, I could feel the grip. It almost feels like it grips like a claw of carnivore bird. So grippy, it made sounds of clunks like it's gripping something. Gave me so confidence that I once ran on heavy rain, downhill, on stone pavements, in the hills itself. Extremely grippy.

2. Arch and midsole - Even though, the nitro 3 doesn't have the best energy return, ( the Nike vomero 17 have more noticeable return than Nitro 3) The arch is so aggressive, it makes your foot automatically go forward, like a rocking chair. Extremely stiff shoes, so when you run fast it provides extreme quality.

3. Upper - I have used adidas solarglide and Nike vomero 17 for almost 3 to 4 years, and both them have weird uppers. Very heavy for adidas, and Nike feels very artificial. Not good enough. Whereas Puma, it almost feels like they are transparent. Sometimes when I wear neon coloured socks, you can see my socks inside the shoe itself. They may give you a hesitation of being less durable, but trust me, I've ran these shoes on tarmac, rain, rocks, mud, everything. They hold themselves amazingly.

Cons,

Price - They cost a lot, like a lot. Even after sale they cost around 12-13k. Good for proper running, but costly assff.

Energy return - They don't have that bouncy energy return that Nike gives. They are very basic on that, very meh meh. They provide stability and arch, midsole is very stiff.

I would recommend these to someone who is looking for running at bad road conditions and need a tempo running shoe.