Runners say they experienced real efficiency gains with PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 at Dubai Nitro Lab

The PUMA Nitro Lab arrived in Dubai for the first time with a clear brief. It ran as a live experiment, combining science, sweat and competition to test the Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 as PUMA’s fastest race-day shoe.

The venue, the futuristic SIRO One Za’abeel Hotel, was transformed into a biomechanics playground. Athletes clipped into high-speed treadmills while cameras tracked every angle of their stride. Pressure-sensing insoles captured force, oxygen masks measured efficiency, and screens flashed back live data. The protocol was simple. Warm up, run, recover, compare. Each runner saw results within 15 minutes. The test measured in hard numbers whether the shoe delivered on its promise.

A shoe built for speed

Independent research by the University of Massachusetts Amherst has already proven the shoe’s credentials. Led by biomechanics specialist Wouter Hoogkamer, the study demonstrated that the Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 improves running economy by 3.15 per cent. For a three-hour marathon runner, that translates to more than four-and-a half minutes shaved off race time, a staggering edge in elite competition.

The shoe achieves this through a set of deliberate upgrades: it is 95g lighter than its predecessor, uses NITROFOAM ELITE for high-rebound cushioning, integrates a streamlined PWRPLATE carbon plate for propulsion, and features a breathable ULTRAWEAVE upper paired with PUMAGRIP outsole for traction across multiple surfaces.

“The main goal was optimisation,” explained Maximilian Gruettner, Team Head of Performance Concepts - Innovation for Footwear & Apparel at PUMA Headquarters in Herzo. “The materials are similar to the Deviate Elite 3, but we reduced weight by cutting unnecessary foam and making the plate lighter while keeping stiffness. We analysed every part of the shoe and shaved grams wherever possible. The combined savings made it lighter and more efficient.”

Gruettner explained the numbers. “We measure how much oxygen you use at a given speed. Like a car using less fuel, less oxygen means greater efficiency. Across the board, athletes were about 3.15 per cent more efficient in the Fast-R 3 compared to other shoes.”

Athletes weigh in

The Nitro Lab testing process was rigorous: 90 minutes of warm-up, intervals, and recovery runs, followed by real-time analysis.

For Noura Al Khalaf, the UAE national women’s marathon record holder, the Fast-R 3 influenced her stride as much as her pace.

“When I run in these, I naturally land on my midfoot, which is much better for performance,” she said. “Midfoot striking keeps my knees higher, which means I can run faster. The shoe is also very light, lighter than the one I use, and more breathable, I do not feel heat in my feet, which helps me feel quicker. My heart rate will not spike as much, which means less lactic acid buildup. Lower heart rate, less lactic, better endurance. Because the shoe is lighter, I conserve energy.”

She added: “I performed 2.04 per cent more efficiently in the Fast-R 3 compared to my competitor elite race-day shoes, which translates to potential time gains of around 1:33 in the half marathon and 0:39 over 10k. I’ll definitely use it again in competition.”

For HYROX athlete Jake Dearden from Manchester, the performance difference was immediate.

“Personally, I feel like they’re a lot fancier, a lot springier,” he said. “They’re not for walking around every day, they’re built for performance. They feel more efficient.”

Dearden, who usually races in the Puma NITRO Deviate Elite, admitted the gap was stark. “Compared to an everyday runner, the difference is huge. It is one of those ways you can improve without necessarily getting fitter. The shoe is lighter, which saves energy and it is more responsive and efficient with every stride. That’s going to help me hit the times I want in the future.”

“I performed 2.51 per cent more efficiently in the Fast-R 3 compared to my current elite shoe, which could save me up to 2 minutes and 38 seconds over a marathon distance.”

Innovation, backed by data

While the athletes felt the difference, PUMA’s innovation team ensured the numbers told the same story. For Laura Healey, Senior Manager of Research and Insights at PUMA Running in Boston, the challenge was creating not just another good shoe but also a truly great one.

“There are already so many strong race-day shoes,” said Healey. “Everyone knows the key ingredients: foam, plate, and geometry. The challenge is finding the perfect recipe. It is easy to make a good shoe, hard to make a great one. Using athlete data and computer simulation gave us the edge.”

Healey highlighted the foam technology at the heart of the Fast-R 3. “The NITROFOAM ELITE is light, highly responsive, and very durable, so from your first stride to your last in a race, the rebound stays the same,” she said. “That consistency is rare. It has one of the highest energy returns in the market at 93 per cent, and we’ve improved it by 25 per cent compared to earlier versions.”

On the testing process, she added: “We started digitally, running simulations with biomechanics data from real athletes, and then optimised every part of the shoe before physical prototypes. This cut time and cost dramatically. Once we had the shoe, we tested with over 75 runners, from everyday athletes to elites, and 100 per cent ran more efficiently in the Fast-R 3. On average, efficiency improved by about 3.3 per cent over competitors. For a 3:30 marathon, that could mean shaving six minutes off. Even small percentages matter hugely in racing.”

Why Dubai matters

The Nitro Lab was launched in Boston in 2021 and has toured four global locations. Dubai marked the first Middle East stop. The city offered both the audience and the platform for a region invested in performance sport.

“It shows we can prove anywhere in the world that our product performs better than competitors,” said Gruettner. “Athletes here can test and see the difference. Laura and I came from Germany and Boston to ensure the testing was backed by real science.”

Healey pointed to a broader impact. “Since the rise of super shoes, records have been falling, and this will push it further. What is exciting is how the tech also improves everyday running shoes. Lessons from this shoe flow into models designed for casual runners, making them more comfortable and less stressful on joints.”

Johan Kuhlo, Managing Director PUMA Middle East, added: “As someone who enjoys running, it’s rewarding to see PUMA continue to redefine what athletes can achieve with elite footwear. The Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 has already proven it can improve race times during testing. Showcasing the Nitro Lab in the Middle East underlines the region’s growing role in the global running scene. With such an active and passionate community, it was only fitting to give runners the chance to put the shoe through its paces, review the performance data, and experience the innovation firsthand.” 

Dubai Nitro Lab proved that footwear could measurably shift performance. While athletes saw a glimpse of the future, PUMA showed innovation backed by science. As the data rolled across screens in Dubai, the Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 confirmed what the brand promised: a race-day weapon built to push runners further, faster, and with less wasted effort.

The shoes are available now at PUMA UAE retail stores, PUMA Online (Saudi Arabia & UAE) and selected Go Sport retail stores.

– In association with Puma