@itchyguy123 There is no wrong pick for shoe of the year it is such a personal thing what someone will like over someone else the Boston 12 was a great shoe this year and many people raved about it just because kofuzi was disappointed does not mean that they are wrong that's not how this works
I would not put the Deviate 2 on #1 in any specific category but its so damm good in all of them that I fully agree its a great shoe and worthy of this. Perfect shoe to take on vacation incl. potential for light trails!
I'd like to challenge that an easy day shoe or recovery day shoe could win the shoe of the year. For many daily runners who aren't trying to even think about going fast that is the type of shoe that we have definitely gravitated towards. Shoes like the More, Nimbus and Bondi are dominating the market for the casual 15 to 25 mile a week runner. All that said I'm currently running in the deviate nitro nitro 1 and it's fantastic, I get why you picked its successor.
As an owner of the DN2 i can say that shoe is insane. I need about 20% less power to run the same paces than for example in Velocity nitro. Its very comfortable shoe
@@jesustsa1 its night and day between them. But velocity is good for daily base mileage. I even use it as tempo (slower than my HM pace) so that i can build strength and fly in DN2 when time comes
Imo the nitro series by puma are still some of the most underrated shoes out there. The cushion, energy return, comfort, durability are all super great PLUS at a relatively affordable price which makes them great value for money
its good that its underrated. you see what happens to saucony endrophin speed supply, i almost couldnt get one and i couldnt get a second pair because everyone just buying it whenever its available
Nice to see the Puma DN2 getting the credit it deserves. I have a pair and I absolutely love it. It works well in a lot of different workout AND I also use it for my Hyrox events. It definitely is the most versatile shoe of the year in that regard.
I run almost exclusively on a brand you seldom review. But I still enjoy every video that you have put up including this. Happy 2024 to you and everyone watching this video.
As a beginner running marathon, I have bought a few shoes you recommended over the last year. Now after a few test iterations, I found the shoes rotation for my leg. Thank you for the great work🎉🎉🎉
Agree, Deviate Nitro 2 is a shoe that does everything. If people ask what shoe to buy...this is it. Buy two pairs one for racing and one for everything else. It is a cracking shoe, even better if you pick it up for under half price. Many of my mates swear by it too. It is long lasting, certainly up to at least 700 km. My mate has over 1300 km on his pair including one run of about 250 km!!! This is the best shoe of the year!!! Thanks for the videos Kofuzi. You are "on the rise".
DN2 is a uniquely amazing shoe for me as well. Running on them just feels right. My only reason for sometimes picking up different shoes for my daily runs is so that my legs won’t grow “too dependent” on them. I find the DN2 like a traditional running shoe with all the modern running tech to supplement my daily runs just the way I want it to. It only has a 6mm drop without the too radical toe spring, a really cushioned platform (especially the heel), a noticeable assist from the plate for longer/faster runs, a reassuring traction, and a plush comfort all around the feet. I couldn’t agree more with having this as the shoe of the year. Thanks for giving Puma the credit it deserves!
The Puma DN2 was my marathon shoes (which is my daily trainer) after I have an uncomfortable fit issue after 20km runs with the Endorphin pro 3. Here's to Puma dominating the running shoe arena in the future.
Happy New Year Michael and, thank you for all shoe reviews. Your shoe reviews literally set my list for what I need to buy next and I have never been disappointed with any of shoes I bought after seeing your review. Happy New Year to all Kofuzi Run Club members too, I learn a lot from you all comments. This is to the year we had and a great racing year ahead in 2024 🥂
Thanks Mike for all the great reviews and motivation videos. I enjoyed them all. DN2 is a true shoe of the year. My absolute favorite in my shoe rotation.
Appreciate your content so much. Wrapping up my first year of running and the SC Trainer v1 was my first shoe. Bought them on a whim after watching your review and never looked back. Happy new year to you, your fam and the Kofuzi fam!
I agree with your choice for 2023. I have changed to PUMA from Asics with the deviate nitro 2 and it has been amazing running in these. I want to congratulate puma for what they have done here because the experience is thoroughly enjoyable.
Hey Kofuzi, I haven't ran a single day since 2019 and after watching your reviews on Novablast 3 and 4, I picked up the Novablast 3. So far it has been a blast (pun intended) and I love running them. Somehow I feel it is easier to run in them than Pegasus 33 & 37 which I owned. Thank you.
My top shoe this year, and the one I put the most miles in, was the Deviate Nitro 2. I'm a casual runner and I often have no plan going out. If I feel great, I'll pick it up a little. If I'm tired, I go easy. The DN2 can do whatever I need; snappy enough; cushioned enough; enough traction.
I bought the Deviate Nitro 2 to get back into running, and its made the trip back so enjoyable I used to run on zero drop and having a bit of pop and cushion really is making it a super enjoyable experience
I've only tried the Puma on your list. And can say that I love that shoe. I do use it in a daily trainer rotation. It's just super comfortable at all paces, for me anyway, and I love the colorway I have it in
Thank you always for your videos！I am so glad to see that after watching many videos of shoes in different channels my conclusion is the same including the Takumi sen 9.
The dn2 seems like the most underrated shoe of the year as well in terms of other reviewers. I can't wait to pick these up one day. Cheers to a great year of content Ko!
Awesome end of the year video! I'm pumped to have my comment in it too! I look forward to another year of shoe reviews and Runner's Weekend videos! Hope you are running Tokyo next year because that Runner's Weekend video is my all time favorite. Next year is going to be insane for new shoe releases. Happy New Year.
Was looking to buy the NB 4 which i still will locally but i also just ordered the shoe of the year after seeing pretty much all positive reviews including from the Kof 😁. Ordered from the UK slightly cheaper and in a colour not available in my size in Australia anymore. Just getting back into running and looking forward to trying both.✌️
Well now you have me thinking.🤔 I was going to to pull the trigger on the NB4's in the New Year but these sound promising as well. Thanks Kofuzi for all the quality vids over the past year. May the New Year bring you peace, happiness and lots of running.😁
Just got the Deviate Nitro 2 for $81(₱4,575) in PH, its so hard to find decent shoe below $100 these days Traction is great only downside is the exposed foam in the midfoot
I used DN2 for HM & FM.. it's perfect for HM with easy pace/ slow run without any issues.. for FM after 25km-30km, my foot start feeling hot a bit.. overall, it's really amazing for daily training.. thanks kofuzi for the every single video you sharing ❤
Happy New Year and thanks for all the videos Mike! 🥳 My sneaker of the year for 2023 was the Mach 5. 👟 I got them in the begining of the year, racked the most miles in them for 2023, and pushing 490 miles in them so far! They were a b-day gift, though feel like I have gotten my moneys worth! I do wish that outer sole lasted a bit longer, tbh. My close second, would be the Asics Nova Blast 2 (older sneaker). I have racked 303 miles in those already! I have used them for longer tempo, long, and recovery runs. The NB2 has been really a cruizer shoe for me. My last sneaker purchase at the end of 2023 was the DN2 & DN2 Elite MS. I made the purchase after watching one of your shoe review videos. I have been only on one long run so far (14 miler) in the DN2, and I do like them a lot. If I would describe them in one word, it would be BOUNCY. The slightly higher stack, and Nitro infuased cushion provides really good protection for my legs/joint on those really long runs, great energy return, and felt like I did not have to put in as much effort on my run (longer run at an easy effort). That carbon plate is still pretty strong, even though it is said to be "70 percent carbon". I am not sure what that other 30% is made from, maybe plastic I am guessing. I also own, and coming from the Fast-R 1 NITRO Elite. I did feel it pretty good in my lower legs after running in the DN2 for that first run. Though the plate is not as aggressive as the Fast-R 1 NITRO Elite. Which is kind of what I was looking for, since I want to do more marathon training, and get more practice in carbon plated running shoes. Though wanted something less aggresive for a carbon plate. I can tell the DN2 is going to be a very versatile running trainer. Including that gripy, and meaty tred on the outer sole. Which will be perfect for wet, and wintery road conditions in New England. I like that fact that Puma sneakers are more reasonably priced. You get a lot of bang for your buck with Puma, and they are definitely on the rise in the running sneaker game, IMO. 🐅
It’s hard to get running shoes at a decent price or in my size where I currently live. By some miracle I found the DN2 on sale for the equivalent of less than 100 bucks, and I picked them up on a whim. Incredible shoe - though I think the saucony speed 3s run them pretty close
I was thinking you might be tempted to pick the NB4 since I know that's one of your favorite shoes, but I think you made the right choice. The DN2 does more to advance the state of the art and, as you mentioned, is pretty much good for everything. Cat powerrrr!!!
DN2 make me realize that i don't need any super shoes yet 🤣... Thanks for the recommendation, DN2 is a greath shoe for me (and I got a very low price too 🤑)
Kofuzi influenced all my shoe purchases from Novablast 3, Takumi Sen and now the Deviate Nitro 2, one thing I’ve noticed while buying the Deviate is there’s a Deviation (pun intended) in foam height particularly on the left foot is much lower than the right, I have to fit 3 pairs just to get it right and only one of them has the correct foam height but still I can feel a little bit of difference between the pair, I suggest to try it first or buy it in store rather that getting it online
Yo, what’s going on!!! Puma has definitely been doing things right. Having options is always good for every runner, since one super shoe would never be, one size fits all type of shoe. 👍🏼
good day Kofuzi! i would love to see a preview/100 review of the Anta G21 Pro Xian Fiber. can you make a video of it? id appreciate it. 😅 i think, you would love them and your audience too. it has great outsole, midsole and upper.. and did i say it has carbon inside? 🤭 hopefully, in your future videos. 🤞🤞 thank you 💕
Great choice, I used to think kofuzi favors Asics shoes, but now I see he is actually being fair. The DN2 is one of those shoes, it is just special, all details come together to make such a great shoe, the perfect fitting upper, the perfecly cushion-bounce-balanced midsole and the grippy outsole, it is so enjoyable indeed, glad I got 2, maybe I should get a third!
Everyone has favorites. I’m not a robot. If you think I’m wrong, let me know. But I’m not going to pretend I don’t like a shoe from a brand just because I like other shoes from that same brand. Like, in other words, which ASICS shoes am I wrong about?
@@kofuzi Good afternoon Mike. What I was doing in my comment was indirectly admitting that I (like most/all) people sometimes judge too fast. That's all really. I like your channel better than most. But OK, since you asked... the Novablast 3, while an incredibly fun shoe, feels unstable for many people (too soft) and was it the grip in the rain also? So, if you had to compare shoe of the year 2022 and 2023, which would win, the Novablast or the DN2? Because for me, the DN2 is clearly the winner, the closer to perfect shoe. You asked!
Nimbus 25 was better than anyone thought it was going to be, including myself. It was probably my favorite shoe of the year (I bought 4). A little concerned with the 26 version coming out in January. Megan from believe in the run said it felt firmer than the 25, which makes it more lively but if that’s not what you’re looking for then it’s not a good thing. They did improve traction of the 26, which I thought was one of the weakest points in the shoe and supposedly improved the overall fit of the upper but that may end up leaning in subjective category. We’ll see 😅
@@anjalirawat5378 it’s fantastic walking shoe. Very stable while being cushy. There is an ortholite insole too that adds to comfort. The 3 things to keep in mind though. The outsole isn’t IMO that good on wet surfaces like metal and stone but decent for everything else. The upper is a little too warm during the summer and while the tongue is one of the best on any shoe, the tag at the top can itch or scratch your ankle if you wear no show socks. You could cut it off but I just ended up using my running socks most of the time with them which solved that problem. The 26 looks like it addresses the traction problem and the new fit they were talking about may address the too warm problem. Looks like they kept the tongue tag though 😢. If you can get a decent amount off on the 25, I’d highly recommend it.
@@BryanHaywood thanks alot for there detailed reply😄 the outsole does look a bit slippery. My main concern was the sheer size of the shoe and how it lends to walking. Glad to know they perform well. I’m getting the 25 at discount so I’ll give them a shot👍
I’m not qualified to call any shoe the shoe of the year as I haven’t tested many. But I love my Superblast Rebel V3 ( both 2022) and the Puma DN2. I’m glad you gave it that title 👍
Very good review! I have the Asics Nimbus 25 of which I feel is too big and cumbersome so it does not get much run time. I have been running in Sauconys for over 40 years, currently have Endorphin Pro, which I love for those special runs. I also have the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 and love this shoe. I also have the Elite 1 and 2 versions and have to say, Puma has recently knocked Saucony off of it's long-standing number one running shoe in my collection. Enjoy all of your video content, however your 2023 Chicago Marathon recap wins first place 🥇🏆. I was born and raised in Chicago and now reside in Arizona (no regrets, do not miss the ❄️🌨️ 🥶). HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your family! 🎉 🎊
As I'm a 5 to 10k runner This is my shoes I had purchased and worn throughout the year: . Puma forever run nitro (earlier this year)(easy run/daily trainer/tempo/ 2 races) . Adidas Boston 12 (current in use) (easy run/daily trainer/tempo/ 1 race so far) . Brooks Hyperion max (current in use) (tempo/race day) My pick is puma forever run nitro, because it was over all a great shoe I've used it for one 5k and one 10k race. It did pretty good for being a stability shoe. Did all my runs in it and I had not found a bad day. I would say Boston 12 but I had just gotten the shoe a month ago.
I'm pretty much always behind in terms of running shoes, but for me this year my top 2 favorites were Novablast 3 and SC Trainer V1. Racing shoe I have to give it to the Vaporfly 3. 🎉🎉🎉
I just tried two of those shoes on your list. The nimbus 25 wasn't what I was expecting and gave me really numb feet. Narrow toe box and seemed to lock my foot in place so i couldn't move them while running and couldnt stop the numbness. So I exchanged for the novablast 4 and instantly felt the difference. It really is a much better shoe imo. I would describe it as a slightly softer superblast. Not the same but similar qualities. Obviously haven't put a ton of miles on them yet but so far so good. I haven't run the novablast 3 though as a comparison.
wat shoe store lets u run in a shoe to try out and return and exchange em for sumthing else if u dont liek it? ive tried that and its never worked out for me at my local running store lol
@@kevinclark5086 no im being srs. so ur local shoe store lets u go for runs in the new shoes and if u dont like sumthing about it they let u exchange >?
I’m an iPhone user and a Garmin wearer. I’ve tried an Apple Watch to see how it was. But it didn’t do it for me. I want a sports watch that can do some “smart” functions, and not a smartwatch that does some sport stuff. All the workout functionalities, the maps and navigation, battery life, etc, that the Garmin provides are a must
Becauae of your review, I purchased puma deviate nitro 2 for long run and finished my first marathon in it. Very surprised and satisfied experience for a middle pack runner like me (most of my shoes are adidas and asics) . Plus i am a big fan of molly seidal 😀
Haven’t tried out a puma running shoe before. Probably because they’re not available at any local running stores I’m aware of, and I ideally like to put a shoe on-foot before committing to a purchase. But with such a glowing review I might need to just pull the trigger!
It’s been kind of recent since they’ve tried to make a return to running. I think a lot of local running retail was either reluctant at first or just couldn’t get the product in the store. It seems like both of those issues should be resolved for 2024.
For me it's the Adidas Adizero Boston 12. A superbly effective all rounder and if you're a marathon runner it's a great training companion to the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3. Happy New Year to you, keep the videos coming.
