PUMA Men Voyage Nitro Gore-Tex Running Shoes

Product Information

Puma isn’t a stranger to trail running, but with the launch of the new Nitro cushioning tech, the company has taken a renewed interest in all things running. This means the trail shoes also get a makeover, with the Puma Voyage Nitro their first big trail release in a while, also the first to feature Nitro in the midsole.

Nitro Running Trainers | PUMA

I really like the bootie construction, it is soft and comfortable, and if the temperatures allow it, it is a shoe I can wear all day. It is clearly more an all-day winter shoe kind of comfort than a trail runner one, but...it's comfy anyways. I often struggle with cold feet and I can clearly see this shoe becoming my go-to shoe for the coldest days of upcoming winter. The toe box is quite a bit more narrow and shallow than other trail shoes. There was a fair amount of discomfort on my toes as I descended the trail. I would steer runners away from these shoes if they live in areas with a lot of elevation. The shoe could be a toenail destroyer if you use them on the wrong trails. Allows the lugs to move independently with the ground for best traction on multi-terrain and in multiple weather conditions The one aspect I wasn’t able to test was traversing those same terrains in rainy weather. While it rained quite often, it was usually overnight, which dried out significantly enough by the morning when attempting the trails. With only a few damp spots, it managed it with ease.

Jacob : have been following along with Puma’s recent excellence in the road running shoe realm (such as the Deviate Nitro Elite), but had not tried any Puma Nitro shoe myself. The Voyage Nitro GTX is a Gore-Tex waterproof high-cushion trail shoe which uses Puma’s modern, low density, high-rebound Nitro midsole foam which is cradled by a firmer material called PFlite. It is rare that the first shoe I run in from a brand is a heavy waterproof trail shoe. However, due to where I live in Maine, I have been using a Gore-Tex waterproof shoe for daily wear for the past few weeks and from this time of year (mid fall) all through winter every year. Through fall, winter, and spring, I wear a waterproof trail shoe while out of the house for walking my dog, going to the store, exploring, and other similar things to keep my feet warmer and dry. Thus the Voyage Nitro GTX came in for testing at a great time. However, there’s one part of the outsole that raises concern - right in the centre of the heel of the foot the midsole is left exposed by an absence of outsole, only midsole. Even though the surrounding Pumagrip raises this part off the ground, I would have preferred it covered. Puma provides a nice chunk of curled up outsole for the toe cap to protect the front toe area, with extra plastic here around the toes on the uppers. Jeremy: The Xodus was a very pleasant surprise from Saucony - and I actually liked it more than the Endorphin Trail. The shoe runs way lighter than its actual weight, cushioning is nice, responsive and covers a wide range of paces, from easy ones to tempo, where the Puma lags behind due to its weight and a heel-loaded feeling. The upper does not include any modern bells and whistles but just works, and the traction is second to none. It won’t be as cold-protective as the Voyage GTX, of course, but save from that specific case, I find it to better match my taste. Another important stabilizing element is the lacing. Not only is it based on anatomic OPTIFIT technology, but also has the advantage of flat laces which will not come undone at the most inopportune moment and over tighten the foot.

Puma Voyage Nitro 2 GORE-TEX Mens Trail Running Shoes - Black Puma Voyage Nitro 2 GORE-TEX Mens Trail Running Shoes - Black

There’s a lot to like about the build quality of the PUMA Fast-Trac Nitro. The only aspect I’d be concerned about would be the elastic pull tab on the heel. It doesn’t quite work as a pull tab and is quite stiff for elastic, which I feel may pull out over time if used often. Understanding this, I wanted to focus on the ride. I was intrigued by the use of Puma’s Nitro foam, a supercritical nitrogen processed foam which is in a number of Puma outstanding new road shoes including the Deviate Elite worn to great success by Molly Seidel. From time to time carriers may deliver earlier or later, or on non working days however this is cannot be guaranteed nor should it be expected. Yes, we are at 12 oz in the GTX which adds a solid ounce to the shoe. Puma tells us the non GTX Voyage will weigh about 10.7 oz, about the same as a Speedgoat 4. Note that this behavior of the outsole became more evident after the first run, where it felt way more rigid.I have nothing special to say about the lacing, which is efficient and pressure-free thanks to a nicely padded “tongue” (actually, the part of the inner boot construction that serves as a tongue) and ensures a good foothold. Mike P: I took them out for a run - and the whole run I thought the toebox definitely was shallow. Then I noticed when flexing the toe - the bottom of the lace eyelets and the tops of the toe bumper combine to form a crease that presses down right across the top of my toes. I think the pointy shape of the toe box really pushes that crease down. It didn’t cause blisters, but it was definitely uncomfortable. Trail shoes by nature are heavier than their road-running brothers. In the case of the Voyage Nitro perhaps less so. Standing at 344 g for the size 10, it’s only slightly heavier than the UA Hovr Machina (330g) and the Puma Magnify Nitro (324g). Granted, both these are on the heavier side of the road running spectrum. Jeremy: As I stated before, the first run in the shoes was really not enjoyable: I felt lots of pressure around both pinky toes, and, being my first GTX shoe, my feet were overheating, despite the ~6-7°C (42-45F) temperatures. This resulted in restricted movement and caused some serious discomfort on downhill trails. My toes took a pounding and felt like they were jammed into the toebox.

Puma Voyage Nitro 3 Mens Trail Running Shoes - Blue Puma Voyage Nitro 3 Mens Trail Running Shoes - Blue

Starting from the ground up, PUMAGRIP ATR is the outsole rubber compound which thrives in poor conditions like ice, snow and mud. Another feature of the outsole is the lug design called PWRADAPT. I was unsure about whether it would hold up long term, but they have withstood all of the different terrains and obstacles that I’ve encountered. Being a trail shoe, I’ve already covered most of the important aspects of what would make it good. The cushioning, the padding, the premium materials and the durable build are all key aspects of designing an outdoor-compatible shoe. However, there is one small aspect that would take it from an average trail shoe to a good one, perhaps even great – its performance. But after some miles, the upper gained a bit of stretch (and I think the GTX layer might be the cause for the initial rigidity) and I did not feel excessive pressure point up front. The fit around the heel, ankle and midfoot is very nice with the integrated bootie construction, but just as Mike, I found the front very pointy, whereas the shoe being the perfect length in my usual 10.5US. I miss some room exactly in the same place as Mike did, around the pinky toe.Jeremy: I must confess that it was far from love at first sight with the Voyage GTX. The turquoise colorway is quite bold, but not in a way that I like for running shoes. Being an outdoor trail shoe, you shouldn’t expect lesser quality when it comes to materials or builds. PUMA has not taken any shortcuts in this regard, with a solid, rugged shoe.