When I first unboxed the Puma ForeverRun NITRO™ 2 Women's Running Shoes, I immediately sensed that they were something fresh and enticing.
The sleek design, obvious cushioning yet lightweight feel made me excited to try them on and hit the road. As soon as I slipped my feet into them, I noticed the plush cushioning. They felt soft yet supportive, almost as if they were moulding to my feet. Having historically run in firmer, less cushioned stability shoes & daily trainers, the first run in them was a game-changer.
The dual-layer Nitro foam midsole provided such a smooth and bouncy responsive ride that I barely felt the impact of each step. Despite fairly unstable hips and ankles I felt grounded and secure on a mix of surfaces.
I’ve tried plenty of running shoes, but what stood out about these was the balance between comfort and stability. The wider base and dual-density midsole make every stride feel secure and well-supported, without any stiffness or restriction. Whether I was going for a steady jog or pushing the pace, they felt reliable and consistent, helping me stay comfortable, even on longer runs.
The engineered knit upper with gusseted, soft non-invasive tongue adds to the comfort with a snug yet flexible fit, though I did notice they felt a little warm on hotter days. The handy heel tab combined with angular perforated tongue and flat lacing makes slipping in and out of them easy too. The plastic external heel counter is very supportive, adding to the balanced supportive wider midsole based heel strike to toe off with 10mm drop. As for traction, the PumaGrip rubber outsole gives me great confidence on different surfaces, gripping well whether I'm on pavement or slightly uneven terrain. At 307 grams they are slightly heavier than some shoes I’ve worn, but honestly, the extra support and energised cushioning make up for it - I didn't feel weighed down at all.
The fit is true to size and after 3 weeks of regular running in them there is almost no visible sign of wear & tear which is important on a student income at R3399.
Aesthetically the shoes look slim and feminine despite the somewhat bulky plush cushioned design which is a real plus when wearing them on social group runs and post run coffee shop stops. The mauve purple upper with darker overlays is subtle and stylish.
I also had the fortune of pairing my Puma shoes with well colour coded Puma shocking pink sports bra and black shorts. I felt fast & feminine - even when I spotted local Olympian Vicky Van Der Merwe who rocks that look best.
The bra is extremely comfortable with built in pads which are a win because they don’t move around when washed in the machine. The soft to the skin touch shorts are very lightweight and a superb fit from start to finish because they don’t ride up while running and breathe well.
Overall, the ForeverRun NITRO™ 2 has become my go-to running shoe. Whether for daily training or longer distance runs, they deliver the ideal mix of cushioning, support, and stability. They keep my lower limbs feeling fresh with reduced fatigue - and make every run feel smooth and almost effortless.
