Article by Courtney Kelly, Dominique and Sam Winebaum
Puma Forever Run NITRO 2 ($150 USD, €160)
Introduction
Courtney: The updated ForeverRun NITRO 2 features a new co-molded foam midsole on a wider platform giving the runner versatile guidance and stability. Puma reaches a broader consumer by targeting the shoe to more than just those who overpronate. It can also slide into the recovery and training category for those who just want the extra support to work into their shoe rotation.
Sam: The ForeverRun NITR0 2 is Puma’s take on moderate pronation control focused on slowing pronation velocity through its broad heel landing, substantial plastic clip, and firm blue outsole insert strips (above) all elements of their overall “Run Guide” system.
The most significant changes from v1 (RTR Review) is a new approach to the dual density NITRO midsole, it’s now co-molded instead of glued with in the photo above the teal central core softer than the outer white carrier foam
Its weight of about 9 oz/ 255g US women’s 8, 10 oz / 283g US men's 9, and price of $150 / €160 are both reasonable for such a substantial and long lasting shoe. No speedster here, but a durable, stable, and reliable ride. Let's get into the details!
Altra is a leading brand specialising in zero drop shoes (where there is no difference in the height in the back and front of the shoe) with an anatomical foot shape upper. I don’t often test zero drop shoes but in the past I did run in a handful of Altras and always with positive experiences. I don’t remember all of the models I’ve run in as this was mainly before I started contributing to Road Trail Run but if memory serves my favourite line is the Paradigm - the brand’s stability shoe. Let’s see if Torin 8 GTX lives up to the expectations!
Pros:
Very stable
High waterproofness
Approachable for runners used to shoes with drop
Dependable daily trainer for zero-drop runners
Excellent, non-aggressive shoe for tempo days
Feels lighter than the weight would suggest
Cons:
Not enough cushion for long runs
Dull ride at slower paces
Going from high drop to zero requires some caution and adaptation
Stats
Spec Weight: men's 9 US 10.5 oz / 319 g
Sample Weight: men’s 12 US/ 11 UK / 46 EU 12.31oz / 349g
Stack Height: men’s 30 mm heel / 30 mm forefoot (0mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 90mm heel / 87mm midfoot / 123 mm forefoot (12 US/ 11 UK / 46 EU)
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Let’s start with the fit. The shoe runs true to size, perhaps a tad long but I am splitting hairs here. Despite it’s anatomical shape of the toe area, the width of the forefoot and midfoot is around average for my foot which is slightly wider than normal width. Most feet should feel at home in the Torins at least as far as the shape of the shoe is concerned. The back of the shoe however does feel quite shallow and I was worried that the foothold might be poor - it wasn’t.
The entire upper, barring the heel cup which is a molded piece, is made of an engineered mesh and the large Gore-tex logo on the medial side looks really cool, perhaps adding a little structure.
Other details include a semi-gusseted tongue which is relatively thick (my preference) and the shoelaces have plenty of length to utilise the final eye-let and runners knot (also my preference).
The molded heel counter is semi structured but does a fantastic job holding your foot in place even for someone like me who has some stability needs (my overpronation typically increases after around 10 km and therefore my favourite style of shoes are stable-neutrals).
The Gore-Tex layer is excellent. I had the ‘pleasure’ of training a few times in Scottish torrential rains and I have to report that my feet remained dry every time without becoming a hot mess.
What is also worth mentioning with regards to the upper are the sidewalls present on both sides of the shoe. You don’t feel them pressing against your foot on the run but there is a feeling of being centered and aligned which contributes to high levels of stability of this shoe.
Midsole & Platform
The platform is broad and adds to the feeling of stability and security. You know that feeling where you can just let go, relax and do your miles rather than having to heavily focus on technique.
The midsole is made of EGO-MAX foam which I could not find very much information about but it comes across as a modern, responsive and quite soft EVA. Unfortunately, like my colleague Kurt (Kurt’s excellent review of the non-GTX version here), I found the cushion somewhat lacking on longer runs but very good for faster workouts due to the fact that EGO-MAX is quite responsive and never mushy.
What was interesting was that I did not feel like the midsole and platform particularly encouraged my foot to land on my midfoot or forefoot. This is probably due to the lack of a rocker to which I normally respond by midfoot landing. Heelstriking in this shoe is not a problem if that’s what you’d worry about.
Outsole
The outsole has very good rubber coverage and sticks to the pavement very well even in wet conditions. After completing around 30 km in these shoes there is no wear and tear at all and at my weight (80kg on a good day) this promises very good longevity of the shoe.
There is however one gripe I have with the outsole - the grooves which run pretty much throughout it do contribute to the feeling of flexibility however you do come home with a collection of tiny pebbles every time you’re out running on any surface apart maybe from a running track. That said however I am not sure if much can be done about it.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Overall I really liked Torin. Although it is a daily trainer, the cushioning it comes with mainly lends itself to runs in the region of 10-15 km but not beyond and I would not recommend it for marathon training unless you are of a very light frame. Where the cushioning really shines are tempo runs. My final run before concluding this review was a workout of 1 km warmup, 8x1km with a cooldown afterwards. What made the workout more interesting was the unexpected torrential Scottish rain (we sometimes call them crazy-showers here). Not only was the shoe excellent fun to speed up in but my feet remained completely dry. With regards to how the midsole performs - it should not be a surprise to anyone that if you’re not used to zero drop shoes there will be an extra strain on the lower part of your legs, particularly on the calves and shins until you are used to them. Start slowly .
The midsole per-se is relatively soft but not unstable in the slightest. I would go further and say that this shoe is a stable-neutral shoe, ideal for me. The heel counter and the semi-guiderails of raised foam side walls keep your foot centered throughout the gait cycle.
With regards to recommendations I don’t really have much to ask here, Altra Torin 8 GTX is a very good shoe as long as you don’t expect a ‘Jack of all trades’ as it is not ideal for long runs. However as far as waterproof daily trainers go, this is an excellent shoe.
Matt’s Score: 9/10 (1 point deduction for somewhat dull cushioning at slower paces).
If you are in the market for a waterproof daily trainer but don’t fancy a zero-drop shoe the Hoka Clifton comes out in GTX almost every year and can be a good alternative to the Torin. The cushioning on the Clifton however is even softer and the back of the shoe is as neutral as they get. So in other words compared to the Torin, Cliftons concede quite a bit of stability but only for heel-strikers.
If you are reading this review and find yourself wanting a GTX trainer but your overpronation requirements dictate that you go with a proper stability shoe - good news- almost the entire asics lineup comes out in a GTX version every year. Last year I tested the entry level GT-1000 stability shoe and I enjoyed it. Of course there are slight concessions to be had with regards to the entry level cushioning but as far as daily training goes it performed really well. Another advantage is the very accessible price tag, most runners use GTX shoes only as a supplement in their rotation and don’t want to splurge on a shoe that gets used only every now-and-then, GT-1000 fits that bill perfectly and especially for overpronators.
Kurt’s Review of the non Gore-Tex Torin 8, (RTR Review)
Samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.
Tester Profiles
Maciej 'Matt' Kolat- 39 years old, hailing from Poland but pounding Scottish pavements and trails since 2007. Mainly runs shorter distances on pavement 5-10 km and reserves longer runs for beautiful Scottish Glens. Matt’s opinion sometimes may differ from other RTR testers as he is the slowest of the bunch (5k at 25:38). Matt also uses running as a way to stay healthy having shed 100 lbs so far (and counting).
The Yermo hooded jacket is a slim fit softshell with a generous amount of stretch to optimize mobility when enjoying the outdoors. Though the jacket is designed for milder seasons, I have been testing my Yermo hooded jacket in the “dead of winter” on days just around freezing To add warmth, I typically wore a hat, neck warmer, and gloves, along with a wooly layer or even two underneath in order to feel toasty inside. Wind and rain resistant, the softshell has been treated with CO DWR (Durable Water Resistant) that is free of PFAS.
In my size medium, the fit is extremely comfortable thanks to the two-way stretchy fabric and cozy interior that is a soft brushed material. It’s a softshell with generous coverage minus the baggy look but with plenty of outdoorsy appeal.
Ben: The Atreyu Running Co continues to quietly make stellar running shoes. While it may not be a household name, the Austin-based brand has garnered a cult-like following. When they came onto the scene a few years ago, I was wowed by their shoes’ simplicity, affordability and sleek design. The Base Model looked like nothing else on the market (and ran that way too). The Race Model is an extremely lively carbon-plated option and priced far below anything else on the market. Atreyu continues to evolve under the thoughtful leadership of founder Michael Krajicek.
With the tagline of " “Premium simplicity, everyday performance”, the Daily Trainer 2, building on the well-received Daily Trainer 1.2, is a more versatile, longer-lasting model, using new “CPU (Casting Polyurethane) outsole technology.” for the outsole, a compound that is far lighter than the prior rubber and which contributes greatly to the big 54g drop in weight. Michael calls this latest model one of “premium simplicity” and it is that. The thoroughly modern supercritical 60% TPE / 40% PEBAX® blended foam midsole offers protection, responsiveness and cushion in ways that are far more substantial than earlier Atreyu models.
The shoe is comfortable, peppy and fun. Let’s say it clearly: The Daily Trainer 2 remains true to its roots while offering up a more advanced ride and greater comfort. Let’s take a closer look.
Artikel von Maren Müller, Markus Zinkl & Nils Scharff
GOREWEAR Winter 2025-Kollektion
Einleitung
Gorewear ist bekannt und fast schon ein Synonym für hochwertige und vor allem wasserdichte Kleidung. Unserem Testerteam wurde eine Auswahl der aktuellen Winter-Laufkollektion zur Verfügung gestellt, die neben den gewohnt hochwertigen Materialien vor allem einen Fokus auf innovative Schnitte legen. So sollen durch weniger Nähte und Anpassung an die Laufbewegungen besonders gute Bewegungsfreiheit bei intensiven Aktivitäten gewährt werden.
Da die Meinung über den originalen Cloudsurfer im RTR Team überwiegend positiv war, war meine Neugier für den neuen ON Cloudsurfer 2 besonders groß. Ich wollte wissen, ob er den Ansprüchen eines regelmäßigen Läufers gerecht wird – sei es beim Tempo oder bei längeren Strecken. In den folgenden Kapiteln berichte ich detailliert aus meiner Perspektive über meine Erfahrungen mit diesem Schuh.
