PUMA Crank the Foam to Maximum With the MagMax NITRO 2

PUMA are doubling down on the big-foam agenda with the MagMax NITRO 2 – the sequel to their super-stacked, super-squishy, supermax cruiser. The brief for round two? Make it lighter, make it springier, and make it feel like someone secretly installed trampolines under your arches. At 15 grams leaner than the OG from 2024, mission very much accomplished.

The upgraded NITROFOAM midsole is the headline act, serving up even more rebound, energy return and that addictive marshmallow-meets-rocket-fuel feel that made the first MagMax a sleeper hit with everyday runners. It’s plush without being sloppy, responsive without being punishing, and bouncy enough to make you question whether roads should come with speed limits for legs.

Up top, PUMA keep things breezy with a premium mesh upper, a plush collar and a knitted tongue that hugs the foot without strangling it. Neutral runners will slot this straight into the weekly rotation and forget about it. Long run, recovery run, ‘I just need to sweat out the work week’ run… it’s built for all of it.

‘We wanted every step to feel energised,’ says Senior Footwear Product Line Manager Conor Cashin. Safe to say the foam scientists in Herzogenaurach cooked.

PUMA’s running division have been stacking wins over the past 18 months. The Fast-R NITRO line continues to be their carbon-plated flex, the Velocity NITRO series remains a go-to daily trainer for budget-minded mileage munchers, and the new Deviate NITRO 3 has been pulling in praise for offering race-day pop without the race-day price tag. Add in a steady drip of NITROFOAM upgrades across the board and you’ve got a brand building a genuinely competitive ecosystem – not just dropping one-off bangers, but tightening the screws on an entire performance lineup.

The PUMA MagMax NITRO 2 touches down December 1 via PUMA and select retailers worldwide.

For more on PUMA performance, spring over to Tyrese Haliburton’s debut basketball joints.