Puma PWR Nitro SQD: We Review Puma’s Wider, Safer Dedicated Training Shoe

While most people tend to just pop on whatever runner or basic trainer they have in their shoe cupboard when doing a workout, you should really wear the right shoes for the job, especially if you’re tackling a HIIT (high-intensity interval raining) session.

To really maximise your success in high-intensity interval training workouts you’ll want to invest in a good pair of training shoes that are attuned to the unique demands of HIIT workouts. A shoe with a high level of versatility, that is just as comfortable helping you take on box jumps as it is with keeping your foot locked in during quick directional changes.

Fortunately, Puma has your back with the launch of a new specialised training shoe designed with HIIT fans in mind. The Puma PWR Nitro SQD takes the idea of an old-school ‘cross training’ shoe and ups the ante with purpose-built technology that will help you target your high-intensity workouts with absolute ease.

The brand’s latest high-intensity training shoe from under the Train Puma banner provides stability, explosive energy, and targeted support for more impactful training sessions. The secret sauce in this shoe comes down to Puma’s brand-new Nitro Foam technology, which gives you the confidence to jump higher, squat lower, and beat your best in every workout.

The all-new training shoe is lightweight with a dual layer of Nitro foam to support your most intense workout. Your joints will thank you for wearing this shoe during a HIIT session; so get ready to say bye-bye to knee pain and hell yes to squat jumps and explosive jump lunges.

According to Puma, the PWR Nitro SQD features superior cushioning and 360-degree support for multi-directional training. The shoe is engineered with a soft inner layer of Nitro foam to provide forefoot cushioning and responsiveness and a firm outer layer of Nitro foam to deliver targeted lateral stability for all multi-directional movements. This combination allows for vertical propulsion and lateral support, making it ideal for training. Plus, for extra confidence, the shoe features PumaGrip rubber for maximum traction and durability during training movements.

The Puma SQD also features a really wide base, but without feeling bulky or chunky. The result is a very solid and stable shoe, allowing you to spread your toes and use them for balance (extremely important), rather than being squashed into a small tox-box. The wider sole also gives you that extra comfort knowing that you won’t roll an ankle or strain your lower limbs by constantly overcorrecting your foot.

And while the fit is wider and more accommodating, you also get great lockdown with the SQDs, as your feet feel locked in while still giving your digits a little space to move. This minimises the chance of blisters and excessive rubbing.

The shoe also offers impressive ankle support, with a TPU heel clip for support where you need it most. The PWR Nitro SQD has a more rigid ankle collar, which took some getting used to. On first wear, there may be some rubbing around the ankle area, but it was nothing a thicker, mid-length sock couldn’t fix, and after two workouts the ankle collar had softened up quite noticably.

What’s more, the PWR Nitro SQD doesn’t compromise on style either! The modern yet clean design could easily fall into a sneaker look-book, and the fantastic silhouette makes it feel like something you could slip into your streetwear wardrobe without issue.

The PWR Nitro SQD is now available online from Puma.com and TotalSports, at a retail price of R2,699.