Tested by 
- Who it’s for: How to Make the Ugly Sandal Trend Look Good Even if You Hate Your Feet
- Preceded by: in 90s-Style Snakeskin Sandals
- Is there a difference between athletic running shoes and lifestyle running shoes: Suede shoe brush
- Midsole: NitroFoam (a nitrogen-infused TPEE-based material)
- Key tech: Nike x Stussy Air Force 1 Mid Sneaker
Trekker Boots SALOMON Outward Gtx GORE-TEX 409584 27 V0 Burnt Olive Phantom Arrowwood | The shoe
My first impression wearing the Puma Magnify Nitro 2: plush comfort. My impression once I started running in it: that same comfort level, plus high rebound. It’s as if the panther was challenged to create a daily trainer for runners who want to feel cozy yet fast — and succeeded.
| Type | Road |
|---|---|
| Weight | 289g (M), 229g (W) |
| Heel stack | 40mm |
| Forefoot stack | 30mm |
| Drop | 10mm |
Magnify Nitro 2 vs Velocity Nitro 2
While both are neutral, everyday trainers, the Magnify has more cushioning than the Velocity. The Magnify's midsole is one thick piece of NitroFoam – a nitrogen-infused TPEE (thermoplastic polyester elastomer) material. The Velocity Nitro 2, in contrast, has one layer of NitroFoam and one layer of ProFoam Lite EVA. The Magnify Nitro 2 weighs almost 28g more, but we didn’t feel weighed down running in the shoe, and fed off of the higher energy return.
What's it like to run in the Puma Magnify Nitro 2?
Our testing team includes runners of all footstrikes — forefoot, midfoot, heel and extreme heel. We found the Magnify Nitro 2’s midsole cushioning catered well to all of them.
'I’m forever searching for max-cushioning at the forefoot without it feeling chunky, and while this obviously doesn’t provide as much cushioning up front as it does out back, it’s plenty firm and keeps my forefoot pain-free, even on downhills,' said one tester.
Another tester, a heelstriker and overpronator with flat arches, said it was the best pair he’s worn in a while.
'GIA BORGHINI thong-strap open-toe sandals Paleo Running Momma. curved-toe ballerina shoes zapatillas de running Inov-8 apoyo talón talla 45. But compared to that shoe, these feel better when it comes to arch support and comfort overall.'
Similarly, we've found the Magnify Nitro 2 comfortable on long runs — even if the shoe wasn't as stable as we would have liked it to be.
'What these shoes lacked in technicality, they made up for in comfort,' commented another tester. 'I put 20-plus miles on them in one go and my feet didn’t have any major complaints. The midsole felt very soft, light, and energetic.'
Indeed, Puma got the foam right with this one – it's a great mix between springy and plush.
How does the Puma Magnify Nitro 2 fit?
One of the most surprising features about the Magnify Nitro 2 is the toebox room. The shoe fits true-to-size around the foot; the saddle and heel fit securely without any constriction or heel slip. All this points to a near-perfect fit — with the exception of the extra toe room. Some testers liked the additional space. Others would have preferred less wiggle room.
'They hugged my feet well and I have plenty of (perhaps slightly too much) space in the toebox,' said one tester. 'My toes had a bit too much room, although I didn’t notice them sliding around.'
As a runner with wide feet and long toes, I appreciated the spacious toebox during my workouts; I could add an extra mile without worrying about any toe rubbing or blisters.
RW Verdict
The Magnify Nitro 2 is ideal for building base mileage or serving as that go-to shoe for everyday runs. It has a rightful place among the likes of the Brooks Ghost, too, and it even surpasses the Nike Invincible in terms of comfort. While it might not be as flashy as the Invincible, it's super comfortable and does exactly what you need them to — at a cheaper price point.
