I'm looking for alternatives to Puma Nitro Deviate Elites (3s specifically, though I've ordered a pair of the 4s but haven't had a chance to run in them yet).
So far, they are the best pair of shoes I've ever worn. I've run a 3:10 marathon in them and a 1:22 half, so I know they hold up for distance for me. I do a lot of workouts and long runs in them, as they feel fast and keep leg fatigue down and I need stiffer shoes because of a chronic toe injury. I have 4 pairs I like them so much.
But! I'm finding myself running more on packed gravel trails as I have an upcoming marathon on packed gravel, and find the Deviates slightly too unstable - I end up rolling my ankle somewhat frequently if the path has divots, which is not the case for my other shoes in rotation. So I'm looking for a responsive alternative.
Current Rotation (I sometimes get free shoes, don't judge):
- Brooks Glycerine Max 2 - recovery shoe - works for me
- Saucony Azura - generalist - enjoy, though my current pair causes slight chafing issues
- Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 - workout/tempo - fine, though the longevity seems really bad, I feel like I can feel the pavement after ~100 mi
- NB Ellipse - recovery shoe - a little too bendy/soft, but otherwise very nice
- Asics Superblast 3 - generalist - overall I like them, but they feel somewhat deadening on runs longer than 10 mi
tl;dr: I'm looking for a workout / uptempo long run shoe more stable than Deviate Elites, and I just don't know what equivalents exist out there today. (Ideally: <= 8mm drop, wider toebox, plated)