Puma releases the most radical running shoe you’ve ever seen

On Wednesday, the German running brand Puma unveiled its latest innovation: the Puma Fast RB (Rule Breaker) Nitro Elite—a shoe designed with a singular mission in mind: to be as fast as possible, regardless of the rules. The Fast RB Nitro Elite is anything but your typical race-day shoe; in fact, it isn’t even race-legal. With an astounding 58 mm midsole height, this shoe exceeds World Athletics’ regulations by a whopping 18 mm. But Puma didn’t stop there—the shoe also features not one, not two, but three carbon plates, engineered to propel runners to unprecedented speeds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Puma’s motivation behind developing this super super shoe was to push the boundaries of running technology to their absolute limits. “Our elite race-day running shoes are often confined to work within the rules,” said Romain Girard, head of innovation design at Puma. “The Fast RB Nitro Elite is not just a shoe; it’s a statement—a declaration of our intent to be the fastest and most innovative brand in the world.”

The midsole of the Fast RB Nitro Elite is unlike anything we’ve seen before. It boasts a 58 mm stack height (2.2 inches) in the heel and features Puma’s Nitro Elite foam, designed for maximum cushioning and energy return. The three carbon plates are strategically placed within the foam layers: a full-length carbon plate at the top, plus two TPU plastic plates under the forefoot. These plates are separated by Nitro Elite foam, the same material used in Puma’s legal racing shoes, such as the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 and Puma Fast-R 2 Elite.

Adding to its unique design, the midsole is decoupled, meaning the heel and forefoot sections aren’t connected by foam, but only by the plate. When placed on a flat surface, the shoe’s heel doesn’t even touch the ground.

The shoe’s upper is equally groundbreaking, featuring a laceless mesh design reinforced with Puma’s PWRTAPE to ensure a secure, locked-in fit. The outsole is equipped with PUMAGRIP technology, offering multi-surface traction to keep you grounded as you chase your personal bests.

This limited edition rule-breaking shoe will be available in two colourways starting on Aug. 28, priced at USD $400 (CAD $539.99). However, if you want to experience this revolutionary design for yourself, you’ll need to act fast—only 1,000 pairs will be available worldwide.