Puma PUMA Quick-R Nitro Elite 3 Introduction
The primary and second variations of the Quick-R Elite weren’t the market shakers that PUMA hoped they might be. The Quick-R is meant to be PUMA’s tip of the long-distance racing spear, their model of the Nike Alphafly or the Saucony Endorphin Elite, however not many elite PUMA athletes used V1 or V2 to race marathons in. Most of them most popular the cheaper PUMA racer, the Deviate Elite.
After I reviewed the Quick-R 2 final 12 months, I stated that it felt extra like a coaching shoe than a racer. It was too heavy and it didn’t really feel as quick as different marathon racers. I additionally felt that it transitioned slowly from heel to forefoot as a result of there was no midfoot part within the sole. I didn’t use it for any races and I additionally most popular the a lot lighter, a lot smoother, Deviate Elite 3.
The Quick-R 3 prices $40 greater than its predecessor, which is an insane enhance. Normally, the value enhance for trainers from iteration to iteration is within the area of $5-$15. It now prices greater than the Nike Alphafly, Saucony Endorphin Elite and the On Cloudboom Strike.
To make sure that folks nonetheless purchase the shoe, PUMA employed Dr. Wouter Hoogkamer to conduct a examine to show that the Quick-R is “extra environment friendly” than rivals. He and his workforce additionally performed the examine of the Nike Vaporfly 4% that garnered the title.
He managed to show that on common, the Quick-R 3 improved operating financial system by 3.5% in comparison with rivals. This examine needs to be taken with a grain of salt although as a result of it has not been printed in a peer-reviewed journal, and the total methodology and knowledge haven’t been publicly disclosed. The pattern measurement was additionally a small one, consisting of solely 15 athletes.
The Quick-R 3 weighs 6 oz (170 g) for a males’s US 9. That is 2.8 oz (80 g) lighter than its predecessor. It has the identical midsole stack heights, 40 mm/32 mm and it prices $300.
Puma PUMA Quick-R Nitro Elite 3 First Impressions
My first run within the Quick-R 3 was an all out half marathon. This model felt way more like a racer, in contrast to V2. The lighter construct may very well be felt instantly and transitions felt sooner. I additionally seen that it felt much less secure than V2.
It rained flippantly for a lot of the race however the Quick-R 3’s traction was excellent. The higher was much more snug than its predecessor and it match me like a glove. It didn’t soak up a lot liquid.
I completed the race in 1 hour 33 minutes which wasn’t a PB for me however the route had a number of elevation. The Quick-R 3 was good but it surely didn’t blow me away with its velocity help. It jogged my memory of the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 however with a extra secure experience. It’s additionally a lot lighter than the Cielo X1.
Puma PUMA Quick-R Nitro Elite 3 Higher
The Quick-R 3 has a brand new Ultraweave engineered mesh that feels so much thinner, lighter and extra foot-conforming than the earlier model. It now not has a bootie development so the collar and tongue aren’t knitted. This makes the shoe really feel cooler and extra appropriate for racing.
The tongue is paper-thin and never gusseted so you need to flatten it when placing it on in order that it doesn’t fold. They’ve eliminated the annoying, onerous fin on the heel counter; heel lockdown continues to be glorious.
The Quick-R matches true to measurement for me but it surely runs a bit longer than common. It has a spacious inside for a racer so I’d advocate it for large footed runners. There aren’t any reflective parts on this model.
Puma PUMA Quick-R Nitro Elite 3 Sole Unit
There are a pair important adjustments they’ve made to get the Quick-3 to really feel sooner than its predecessor. The most important change is that they’ve added a midfoot part to the midsole- there was beforehand a spot between the rearfoot and the forefoot. This hole made transitions really feel sluggish for those who had been a heel striker, like myself.
The crammed in midsole now makes transitions really feel smoother. The heel and the forefoot nonetheless really feel like 2 separate components however heel to toe transitions are faster. If you happen to’re a heel striker, you’ll be capable to discover this instantly.
The Nitro Elite foam within the midsole continues to be aliphatic TPU, but it surely’s been reformulated to be barely softer than V2. Power return is respectable but it surely’s not fairly as explosive as another top-tier foams available on the market. It has quantity of compression once you load it but it surely doesn’t spring again as quick as some PEBA foams which might be at present out there.
The Quick-R 3 feels higher the sooner you go. If you’re doing quick paces (threshold or sooner) and also you’re touchdown additional ahead, it feels most effective. That’s why it’s extra suited to midfoot/forefoot strikers than heel strikers. When doing my marathon tempo or slower, I can really feel the decoupled heel compress first earlier than the forefoot and there’s a slight delay.
The carbon PWRPLATE is extra versatile than within the final 2 variations of the shoe. I really feel like this variation makes it much less aggressive as a result of the rocker isn’t as distinguished. It doesn’t really feel as punchy with a carbon plate that bends throughout transitions. I additionally skilled this within the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 and I hope they return to an excellent stiff plate within the subsequent model.
The Quick-R 2 was a really secure tremendous shoe however the Quick-R 3 is kind of the other. With much less torsional rigidity by way of the midfoot part (due to the versatile plate and softer foam), the Quick-R 3 feels unstable when cornering and when operating on uneven surfaces. I really feel that it doesn’t present sufficient stability for me to make use of it for a marathon.
The longest run I did within the Quick-R 3 was 32 kilometres and that’s essentially the most my legs might deal with. By the top of that run, my ankles, shins and calves felt overworked.
The outsole is the place they’ve managed to avoid wasting a number of weight. The outsole rubber is way thinner and smoother than earlier variations so it’s now not a racer that you should utilize for coaching too. It ought to solely be used on race days. My pair is exhibiting important put on within the centre of the rearfoot the place there is no such thing as a rubber safety. Traction is outstanding, even in moist climate.
With regards to construct high quality, the Quick-R 3 is a degree beneath the flagship marathon racers from different manufacturers. On my pair, after simply 86 kilometres, there’s an extended cavity/groove forming on the forefoot of the outsole rubber. It’s as if the froth is caving in on itself. I reached out to somebody at PUMA about it and he stated that it’s not regular for this to occur.
On the toe cap, the rubber can be separating from the froth, exposing the carbon plate on the one shoe. Not what you need to see from a shoe that prices $300 earlier than tax.
Puma PUMA Quick-R Nitro Elite 3 Conclusions
If you happen to’re going to be charging $300, that you must have one thing that seems like a game-changer and is so much sooner than the competitors. For me, the Quick-R Elite 3 just isn’t a top-tier marathon racer (by way of velocity help) and I feel for many runners, it is going to be too unstable to make use of for a full marathon. It is advisable have actually strong operating kind to have the ability to run in it for over 2 hours at a quick tempo.
The Deviate Elite 3 is the higher, extra secure PUMA marathon racer in my view and most runners who’re 3 hour marathoners or slower will desire the Deviate Elite. The Deviate Elite 3 is $70 cheaper than the Quick-R 3, has a smoother experience and it’s simpler to buy- there’s loads of inventory at present out there.
The Quick-R 3 is lighter and it’s sooner than the Quick-R 2 for half marathons or shorter however for a marathon, I might choose the Quick-R 2. The Quick-R 2 is much more secure and can help you higher when your kind breaks down within the last quarter of the marathon.
I feel they might have widened the bottom of the Quick-R 3 extra and sacrificed a few of the weight saving. That may have made it stabler and extra interesting for a wider vary of runners. I additionally most popular the stiffer plates of V1 and V2 that supplied extra velocity help.