Race Day · Puma

Fast-R Nitro Elite 3

Name: Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3
Brand: Puma
Price: 300 USD

A split-sole carbon plate and Nitro Elite foam, cut away wherever weight could go.

8.3 Strong

Runsletter Score out of 10. Excellent, with a trade-off or two worth knowing.

Buy it if

Extremely light for its stack height
Aggressive, propulsive ride at race pace
Grippy outsole on wet roads

Skip it if

Joint-priciest racer on the shelf
Unstable and awkward at slower paces
Decoupled midsole won't suit every stride

$300

List price; often discounted in seasonal sales

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Weight: 180 g
Stack: 40 mm
Drop: 8 mm

The verdict

The Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 looks like it was designed by removing everything that wasn't strictly necessary. A carbon PWRPLATE runs through a partly decoupled Nitrofoam Elite midsole, and a large cutout underfoot saves weight and leaves the plate on show. The ride is lively and aggressive, almost pitching you forward at pace.

It suits fast, efficient runners racing anything from 10K to the marathon, particularly those who stay on the midfoot. At easy paces it can feel awkward and unsupported, so keep it for the days that count.

It is more radical than the Rocket X 3 or Hyperion Elite 4, and closer in spirit to the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo: light, fast and demanding. At $300 it also shares the top price on the shelf with the Cloudboom Strike. The fit is snug and race-specific, with a thin upper that wraps the foot closely.

“Wild-looking, frighteningly quick, and not for slow days.”

Specs

Weight	180 g
Stack height	40 mm
Drop	8 mm
Cushion	3 / 5
Plate	carbon
Support	Neutral
Surface	road
Best for	race
Midsole	Nitrofoam Elite foam
Plate detail	Carbon PWRPLATE that extends into the forefoot, visible through a midsole cutout
Upper	Thin, minimal race upper
Outsole	Grippy rubber on the forefoot and heel pads
Fit	Snug, race-specific; true to size
Widths	Standard only