Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 vs Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4:
Which to Choose

Start with how close they really are: similar stack heights (roughly 38 mm heel / 29 mm forefoot on the Saucony versus 37 mm / 28 mm on the Puma), nearly identical drops (8 mm on the Pro 4, 9 mm on the Deviate), full-length carbon plates, and TPU/PEBA-type superfoams that are springy and lively rather than plush. Both share the same caveat — a tall, soft, low-stability platform that feels a touch tippy and vague at jog pace and only settles once you're genuinely rolling (optimally around 3:00–3:20 min/km). The single biggest hard difference is weight: the Deviate Nitro Elite 4 is a featherweight at about 173 g in men's US 9, while the Endorphin Pro 4 comes in around 218 g — a 45 g gap that is substantial in a race shoe and shows up as less swing weight late in a marathon. On ride character, the Saucony leans on a pronounced rocker that tips you forward onto your toes and rewards a quick cadence, whereas the Puma delivers a more aggressive forward tumble that flatters a committed midfoot strike; the 8 mm drop of the Pro 4 is slightly more forgiving to heel strikers, while the Deviate's 9 mm offset plays to both heel and midfoot landings. The uppers also differ in intent: the Puma's ULTRAWEAVE is a minimal, breathable race wrap, and the Saucony's thin engineered mesh openly trades some lockdown and long-term durability for low weight. In short, these are two versions of the same idea, and the deciding factors are weight, the specific flavor of the rocker/toe-off, and how each upper locks to your foot.