What happens when you take the wildest looking shoe on the market and tell the designers to make it even wilder? Then there is a pretty good chance they will create something resembling Puma Fast-R 2.
Okay, the second version may not be as big of a shock as the first, as the two versions do look quite similar. But some quite interesting things have happened visually. Among other things, the designers have allowed the carbon plate to extend further than the midsole itself. But it's not all just visual gimmicks to get people to turn their heads. The major changes are hard to spot with the naked eye, but easy to feel when you put the shoe on.
Aliphatic ETPU. Yes, chew on that for a moment. That is the foam type that Puma has chosen to use in the Fast-R 2. Not peba, but aliphatic ETPU - and of course still nitrogen-infused. I must admit that I don't have a deep understanding of what technically happens in the shoe when choosing one over the other. BUT I can clearly feel that something cool is happening under my feet when I run in Puma Fast-R 2.
Puma Fast-R 2 - Extremely bouncy
The first time I ran in the shoes was during an interval workout, where I ran with other runners. When I did the first acceleration, I was almost about to run into the runner in front of me because I did not expect there to be so much bounce in the shoes.
The new Nitro Elite foam is really good. There is both plenty of energy return and cushioning in it, and it generally makes it a really good experience to run in Puma Fast-R 2. The shoes excel particularly in longer interval workouts, tempo runs, or longer races where you easily get into a good flow and just need to maintain it. Once the shoes get going, they are hard to stop.
The carbon plate in the Fast-R 2 is very visible. Both because there is a large hole in the midsole where it is the only thing connecting the two parts. And also because the plate extends further forward than the shoe itself. There is no doubt that it really helps propel the shoes forward and plays a major role in making the shoes as aggressive as they are.
Puma Fast-R 2 - Ultraweave and PumaGrip
So far, I have mostly praised how the shoes feel under my feet. This is because they are so wild and provide so much bounce, which I believe is the shoes' greatest strength. But both the upper and outsole of the shoes are actually very sensible.
The upper is made with Ultraweave material. It is thin, lightweight, and breathable. And it sits really nicely on my foot. The fit is really comfortable. It's not a classic 'race fit' where everything can be a bit tight, but I have a feeling that the shoe holds well on my foot without squeezing or pinching. However, the tongue is very elastic, which means you need to make an effort when tightening the shoes, as they can end up fitting a bit too loosely if the lacing is not done correctly.
The outsole is partially covered with PumaGrip. I have mentioned it in other reviews of Puma shoes. Puma Grip just works. It provides a really good grip in all the different scenarios a road running shoe can encounter. Rain, gravel, a little mud. PumaGrip handles it.
Puma Fast-R 2 - Conclusion
Overall, Puma Fast-R 2 is a shoe for those who want to experience some of the craziest bounce on the market. It is an obvious racing shoe for those who want a lot of cushioning, and especially for marathon and half marathon intensities, I think it performs exceptionally well.
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