Who should buy the Puma Magnify Nitro 2 ?
Any runner of any ability would do well with this shoe as a daily trainer. I really recommend the Magnify Nitro 2 to anyone who wants a comfortable shoe for long runs.
It will also help those who like to pick up the pace on some runs while still getting that cushioned support underneath.
Finally, if you happen to live in an area that gets a lot of rain, the traction underneath will keep you upright at any speed.
Who should not buy the Puma Magnify Nitro 2 ?
Don’t buy this shoe if you’re looking for a soft, plush feel in a max cushioned shoe.
This shoe doesn’t exactly make you feel like you’re running on a cloud.
I had some issues with the width of the shoe as well. If you have wide feet, you’re going to want to look for this in wide version.
Puma Magnify Nitro 2 Introduction
The Puma Magnify Nitro 2 is Puma’s max cushion shoe in their Nitro line.
The updates from this shoe were fairly significant. This shoe now only has their Nitro foam, which helps greater energy return. The upper is redesigned and it feels softer than the previous version.
It is made with PWRTAPE, which helps wrap your foot without adding weight. One thing that did not change was the PUMAGRIP outsole that still gives you confidence in any road condition.
The overall feel of this shoe changed from the previous version as it feels softer, the ride is smoother, and it’s slightly lower in weight.
We recently reviewed the Puma Velocity Nitro 3 and there are a few significant differences.
The Velocity is going to come in lighter but the upper is not as soft and the tongue is unattached.
In the Magnify, you only have the Nitro foam where the Velocity has both Nitro and an EVA foam.
What’s the difference? Having only Nitro foam gives you more bounce and energy return while the EVA foam in the Velocity gives it a firmer feeling.
Both shoes have PUMAGRIP, a 10mm heel drop, and the fit on both are relatively the same.
Neither shoe has a carbon plate.
The other difference between the shoes is the price point. The Magnify Nitro 2 costs $15 more at $150 USD. Is it worth it?
The bottom line differences between these two shoes is the Magnify has a softer, bouncier midsole foam, weights an extra ounce, and has a softer upper.
It’s probably worth $15 for me but I’ll leave you to decide that.
Puma Magnify Nitro 2 First Impressions
When I first opened the box, the shoe was not what I was expecting after having reviewed the first version of this shoe.
It looked less built up. That’s where this first impression was wrong. While the shoe looked less “max” cushioned, it actually felt softer in the upper and lighter overall.
My first run in the shoe was an easy run and the shoe felt great. While it doesn’t have that cloud feeling while running, I felt like the shoe was helping me run smoothly without a lot of effort.
In fact, all of my easy runs tended to be at a faster pace even though heartrate and perceived effort levels were the same for me. I attribute that to the Nitro foam and superior PUMAGRIP outsole.
My second run was a 5k solo time trial. I wanted to see how this shoe would feel while trying to go fast. The shoe did great.
While I don’t recommend it as a go-to racing shoe more most people, the shoe helped me run a time that was in my range of expectation.
Puma Magnify Nitro 2 Upper
The upper on this shoe was redesigned compared to the first version. The material of the upper was changed to an engineered material that made for a softer feel around the foot. It is also surrounded by PWRTAPE which helps the shoe mold around your foot.
It’s quite comfortable. The tongue is now gusseted (aka attached) and also soft. The laces are flat and stay tied without a double knot.
My biggest complaint about the shoe is the fit of the upper. It’s not problematic for me but I can see how it could be problematic for others.
For one, it’s a bit tight in the toebox area. I don’t have wide feet and the shoe was just barely wide enough.
It’s also just a tad long – not enough for me to go a half size down but also a bit more room than I’m used to.
This length issue is similar to the first version of the Magnify. If you have slightly wider feet, there looks to be some wide width options and I would opt for that.
Puma Magnify Nitro 2 Sole Unit
The sole unit in this shoe is the standout part of the shoe. The midsole is made from Puma’s NITRO foam.
The NITRO foam is Puma’s own technology that increases responsiveness while giving a cushioned feel.
This is a change from the first version as that version included an EVA-based ProFoam that added firmness to the ride.
The elimination of the EVA foam was a big upgrade in this shoe. It now feels more cushioned and softer than the previous version and the ride is improved. The first version felt clunkier and not as soft. This shoe is more responsive and can help you move at some faster paces.
The other standout of the sole unit is the PUMAGRIP outsole. While many shoes on the market are experimenting with reducing the rubber on the outsole to save weight, the Magnify Nitro 2 decide to add some more rubber compared to the first version to help with durability and increased traction. I had no concerns taking corners on wet roads at a tempo pace.
The overall ride on this shoe is what makes this shoe stand out. Easy runs, long runs, tempo runs, and speed workouts all felt great on this shoe because the ride felt so good.
I often forgot about the shoes while I was running because the ride was so comfortable.
Puma Magnify Nitro 2 Conclusions
Overall, the Puma Magnify Nitro 2 is a great daily trainer that can handle all types of run.
It’s a shoe that belongs to runners of all abilities.
For experienced runners, it’s an easy day and long run shoe. For novice runners, it’s a shoe that can handle everything.
For all runners, it’s a shoe that can handle some changes in pace easily while keeping your feet and legs feeling comfortable.
For me, this shoe will be a mainstay in my rotation as a long run shoe for marathon training.
It will easily handle the miles and the different paces of those runs.
