PUMA’s fastest shoe ever is here – meet the Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3

Science says it could actually help you smash your PB. PUMA has just dropped the Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3, and, let’s just say, this isn’t your average running shoe. It’s light, it’s fast, and according to science (yes, real science), it could help you shave serious time off your next race. We’re talking minutes, not seconds.

Unveiled at the Boston Marathon, the Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3 is PUMA’s most advanced racing shoe yet, and it’s been biomechanically tested to prove it. A study by the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that it improves running economy by a whopping 3.15%. Translation? If you’re clocking a 3-hour marathon, you could be running over 4.5 minutes faster in these bad boys.

Wouter Hoogkamer, the running biomechanics expert behind the study, said, “The most striking result was the consistency. Every single participant ran more efficiently in the Fast-R 3. That’s pretty remarkable.”

So, what’s under the hood (or should we say, sole)?
PUMA reworked the whole shoe from the ground up – literally. Weighing just 170g, the Fast-R 3 is a whole 95g lighter than its predecessor. The new NITROFOAM™ ELITE midsole serves up plush cushioning and serious bounce, while the reimagined PWRPLATE delivers propulsive power with every stride.

You’ll also spot its now-signature forefoot extension, the futuristic design tweak first seen in the Fast-R 2, giving you a visual edge to match the performance one.

Up top, the ultra-light ULTRAWEAVE upper keeps things breathable and race-day comfy, and of course, PUMAGRIP handles the traction so you can glide across multiple surfaces without stress.

Romain Girard, VP of Innovation at PUMA, said, “We went fully digital in creating this shoe, and the result is proof that PUMA isn’t just in the running game – we’re setting the pace.”

And what do the pros think?
Canadian Olympian Rory Linkletter, who’s racing in Boston, is already sold. “Make no mistake, Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3 is the most radical ride I’ve ever experienced – and I’ve got the Strava receipts to back it up.”

The shoe isn’t just for elites, either. Two hundred PUMA Project3 runners will be racing in Fast-R 3s at the Boston and London Marathons, each chasing their personal bests, and a cool $3 000.

Want in?
The Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3 lands on 4 May 2025 in limited numbers at PUMA.com, PUMA V&A Waterfront and PUMA Sandton, priced at R7 999.