Which should you buy?
Choose the Deviate Nitro Elite Trail if you race on smooth trails, fire roads and mixed road and trail.
Choose the Tecton X 4 if you want more grip and cushioning for long trail races on moderate terrain.
The Deviate Nitro Elite Trail is 11 g heavier than the Tecton X 4. It has 5 mm less foam under the heel. Its drop is 6 mm against 5 mm. It costs £20 less at full price.
Side by side
| Spec | Deviate Nitro Elite TrailPUMA | Tecton X 4HOKA |
|---|---|---|
| Review score | 95/100 (1 review) | 87/100 (1 review) |
| Type | Trail | Trail |
| Weight (men's UK 8.5) | 272 g | 261 g |
| Heel stack | 35 mm | 40 mm |
| Drop | 6 mm | 5 mm |
| Cushioning | Balanced | Balanced |
| Bounce | Springy | Springy |
| Plate | Carbon plate | Carbon plate |
| Support | Inherently stable | Neutral |
| Fit | True to size | Runs small |
| Widths | standard | standard |
| Waterproof version | No | No |
| UK RRP | £200 | £220 |
Weights are for a men's US 9 / UK 8.5. Prices are UK RRPs; shops often sell for less.
What the critics say
The reviews comparedReviewers rate both as fast, stable trail shoes. Road Trail Run's Jeff Valliere and Believe in the Run's Taylor Bodin liked the PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite Trail on smooth trails and fire roads but flagged shallow lugs in mud. Believe in the Run found the HOKA Tecton X 4 light with Vibram grip but short-fitting and best on moderate trails.
Deviate Nitro Elite Trail
- Lively, responsive ride at tempo pace and faster
- Stable for such a tall, plated shoe
- Versatile across roads, smooth trails and fire roads
- Grip on wet rock: Road Trail Run testers rated it well, others found it limited on technical ground
- Forefoot feels stiff at slower paces
- Shallow lugs struggle in mud, loose dirt and steep climbs
- Stiff heel collar and counter rubbed several testers
Scores from Road Trail Run.
Tecton X 4
- Fast, smooth and stable over long distances
- Breathable upper that drains quickly in heat
- Excellent Vibram grip
- Runs short, so most need half a size up
- Expensive, and less nimble on very technical descents
Scores from Road Trail Run.
Paraphrased from published reviews.
What's new in each
HOKA Tecton X 4: Same plates and PEBA formula as the Tecton X 3, with a more open, quicker-draining Matryx upper, new lacing with a heel-lock eyelet, more padding and about 9 g less weight.
About each shoe
About the Deviate Nitro Elite Trail
PUMA calls the Deviate Nitro Elite Trail a pinnacle super shoe for trail racing, suited to anything from speed work on local trails to race day, with the brand listing 5K to marathon as its range. It is the off-road, plated counterpart to the road-going Deviate Nitro Elite 4, and a race-focused alternative to the cushioned Voyage Nitro 4.
Two layers of NITROFOAM Elite, an aliphatic TPU superfoam, sandwich a PWRPLATE carbon plate that PUMA says stabilises the midsole while maximising energy transfer; Running Warehouse describes it as carbon-composite with torsional flexibility. The PUMAGRIP ATR outsole is designed for traction on ice, mud and unstable surfaces, with 3 mm lugs, and the single-layer ULTRAWEAVE upper uses PWRTAPE for structure. It is PUMA's entry among trail racing shoes.
Specs and features from runningwarehouse.com, us.puma.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
About the Tecton X 4
HOKA describes the Tecton X 4 as a premium carbon-plated trail racing shoe, built for ultramarathons and fast efforts on technical terrain. Among the brand's plated trail models it sits between the Rocket X Trail, aimed at smoother trails and fire roads, and the taller, heavier Mafate X.
Two layers of PEBA foam are separated by patent-pending parallel carbon plates, shaped by HOKA's speed-focused MetaRocker geometry. The outsole is Vibram Megagrip Litebase with 4 mm Traction Lugs. Above it, the Matryx Micro textile upper is built to drain, with a gaiter-like knit collar, a stretching vamp that allows for foot swelling, ghillie lacing and protective foam pods on the tongue. Compared with the Tecton X 3, the plates and foam stay the same while the upper and lacing are revised. It weighs 261 g in a men's UK 8.5 and has a 5 mm drop.
Specs and features from runningwarehouse.com, rei.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
Deviate Nitro Elite Trail vs Tecton X 4
In short
Two carbon-plated trail racers. The Deviate Nitro Elite Trail is £20 cheaper, and reviewers found it fast and stable on smooth trails and fire roads but limited in mud and on steep, loose ground. The Tecton X 4 has a taller 40 mm heel, Vibram Megagrip and twin carbon plates, and reviewers found it fast and stable over long distances, though it runs short.
- Better reviewedDeviate Nitro Elite Trail
- LighterTecton X 4
- CheaperDeviate Nitro Elite Trail
- More foamTecton X 4
Get the full story
PUMAEverything on the Deviate Nitro Elite TrailScores from 1 published review, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Deviate Nitro Elite Trail
HOKAEverything on the Tecton X 43 video reviews, scores from 1 published review, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Tecton X 4More comparisons
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