PUMA Men Voyage Nitro Gore-Tex Running Shoes

Product Information

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. Sam: A really sharp colorway that is bright but just muted enough not to shout. I have gotten many compliments about the color on the trails and around town. Mike P: Similar to Jacob - I also like Gore-Tex trail running shoes for casual use in rainy as well as cold weather. I haven’t had much success in using them for running though - I find them too heavy as compared to normal trail shoes, and while the warmth is good for casual use, I find my feet get too warm when actually running. My current casual GTX shoe is a Salomon XA Elevate GTX. I’ve actually been looking to replace them, as I find the toe box too narrow at the front, making them uncomfortable for anything more than a short trip. I’ve also never run in any Puma shoe, so it will be good to see what they’ve been up to.

Puma | Voyage Nitro Womens Trail Running Shoes | Purple/Black Puma | Voyage Nitro Womens Trail Running Shoes | Purple/Black

The Optifit loops on the midfoot look like a resurgence of Saucony’s ISOFit tech that disappeared some years ago - and I think for good reason: a good thought after upper is enough to ensure a nice foothold - and the bootie construction of the Puma Voyage clearly delivers in this aspect. Using loops instead of standard eyelets is usually a nice simple way to allow some foot adaptation to a shoe’s fit, but I think that linking them to a piece of fabric going underfoot is not a necessity, and the global efficient fit of the Voyage don’t really need this kind of artifact. At the end of the day, and after some miles, I find it has a pleasant fit, comfortable, despite staying a bit harsh underfoot due to the full coverage, not decoupled outsole. The laces would seem the only section of the sneaker that may be a bit on the frail side. However, it too is protected around the sides lace loops that don’t expose the edges. This means that even with some friction, it should easily wear and snap in those areas. There aren’t any separated eye stays either. The loops are built into the upper without the additional stitching to integrate. 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.The PUMAGrip ATR rubber is an enhanced version of the standard PUMAGrip material. It’s more robust and grippier overall. This means that you get better traction, as well as robustness when hitting the ground. Still, it’s a decent achievement to keep the weight below 350 g, and for those coming from the road, it won’t take you long to get used to the Voyage. That said, there are lighter trail shoes available. As a consequence, even if reading the specs, the Voyage GTX might not fit with my preferred trail runner profile, I think that it can be an interesting “do it all” shoe, from easy trail outings during cold months, to hiking with the dog, no matter the weather. And considering the time of the year, it comes at a perfect time Jeremy: A very stable ride, well protected, and predictable thanks to the consistent cushioning, stability and tremendous grip. 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.

Puma Voyage NITRO 2 Review // (Oy!) This is a problem Puma Voyage NITRO 2 Review // (Oy!) This is a problem

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.

Just like Jacob, I’ve also used it for lots of walking (dog walks for that matter) and they’re also very comfortable for that use, which is not always the case with trail running shoes (Endorphin Trail for instance is much less comfortable in that use). Note that this behavior of the outsole became more evident after the first run, where it felt way more rigid. Sam: Pandemic supply issues and winter weather had Puma RTR offering the GTX version for our test. I am with the other guys on Gore-Tex in trail runners: walking, day hikes and runs in cold and through snow for me. Otherwise non Gore-Tex as the relative stiffness of such uppers can affect fit and for sure add weight, at least 1 oz. This said the newer Invisible Fit Gore-Tex significantly improves on fit and comfort although the Voyage is a more conventional Gore-Tex inner bootie construction. The Voyage outsole performs very well on all terrain. It was never a liability, I had no unexpected foot slips, and combined with the very stable platform and waterproofing I could go wherever I wanted without being limited by my footwear. In addition to the traction, the rubber is soft and flexes well enough that the ride on pavement is smooth and quiet. At 70 miles so far, much of it on rough terrain, the outsole has minimal wear. Some trail shoes have a tendency to run quite flat, offering protection against the elements but not really much in terms of energy return. In the case of the Voyage, you do have the large thread of outsole that tempers what the Nitro/ProFoam Lite combo does.

Puma Voyage Nitro trail running shoes - TechSmart Review: Puma Voyage Nitro trail running shoes - TechSmart

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. One shoe that’s easily comparable to these are the Nike Wildhorse 8. Both are considered max cushion shoes and are built for covering miles. Mike P (10.0): (Xodus 10) Xodus are surprisingly slightly heavier but run much better and are especially adept in more technical terrain. Puma may have a slight edge in forefoot protection, but that’s about it. I don’t see this shoe as a racing shoe so many of my runs were steady endurance workouts where 80% of the run was a jog and the other 20% was hiking up steep terrain. I’d definitely feel comfortable wearing this shoe for marathon distance races or longer if the elevation change is minimal. As Jacob states, I find the wet traction of the Endorphin Trail suffers a lot from the comparison with the Voyage. The Saucony would get the edge with light mud thanks to the more prominent lugs but that’s all - and I clearly lean more towards the Puma for its more versatile and efficient grip.Jacob : The Voyage Nitro GTX and the Endorphin Trail are in the same category with bouncy foam, max cushion, a rolling ride, high stability, and good road performance. Though it is lighter, the Endorphin Trail feels bulker. The fit of both is comfortable but the Endorphin Trail is higher volume and looser—it is less secure than the Voyage but would probably fit wider feet better. The Endorphin Trail is a fun shoe but I found the wet traction unacceptably bad. Combined with the less secure fit, the Endorphin Trail is a less performant shoe than the Voyage and I would prefer the Voyage for all uses. As far as the upper is concerned, you’re actually dealing with two pieces of material overlapping on certain parts. On the inside is a liner type of material, with a comfy padding surrounding the foot below the ankle. Starting around the lacing area, there's a mono-mesh upper on the outside. 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. With just a touch of engagement speed, I feel that the combination of the Nitro foam and the EVA carrier works much better and the midsole becomes smoother than at slower paces. And just like in the Puma Velocity Nitro which shares a similar construction, I appreciate that it is not mushy at all. This bit of very discrete firmness helps with stability and gives some energy to the ride.

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

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. The two loops, one on the tongue and the other one on the heel are helpful to pull them on, but the loop at the base of the heel is still a mystery to me. The lacing is secure, stays tied and does not create pressure points on the top of the foot.All applicable customs and import duties and any other charges are the responsibility of the customer.