Upper and Fit
The shoe fits a bit wider than the normal Puma last, though it’s still fairly narrow with a low-volume toe box. The knit mesh is fairly stretch in the forefoot though, which is good for swelling but also may be receptive to those with wider feet. The mesh feels as though it gains more structure around the midfoot, providing a light stability element to the shoe. The heel is lightly padded—just enough to be comfortable but not overly so. Lockdown is fine, doesn’t really stand out in either direction.
Standout is the degree of padding in this shoe. Max-cushioned options seem to have the tendency to contain inordinate amounts of foam and cushioning in the upper, and it only serves to make the shoe hotter, heavier, and less comfortable (at least for me personally). The Magnify v2 FINALLY breaks that trend in my opinion and finds a nicer balance between comfort and utilitarianism. It isn’t the most breathable upper I’ve ever seen, nor the most supportive, but it outpaces all other shoes in its category with regards to the former and is supportive enough to meet most runners’ needs.
Midsole and Ride
The midsole is full Nitro this round, and is similarly excellent. While not firm by any means, it definitely feels more balanced than the Invincible or NB More line. Like all Puma shoes, it takes about 20ish miles for the midsole to “break in”, but once it does, it really hits a Goldilocks spot—neither too firm or too soft. The result is a no-frills feel that feels perfect for a variety of runs, capable of performing well for recovery days to light tempos.
It definitely is not a fast shoe by any means—its is still a max-cushion option, after all—but it does have a bit of pep to it, more than enough for any work at steady state, some strides after a run, or anything like that. I wouldn’t use it for anything faster than a light tempo, but it does make a versatile option for a recovery/long run shoe. While not as bouncy as the Triumph 20, I actually appreciate the more controlled springy-ness of the Magnify, especially when combined with its more limited rocker. The T20 always left my legs feeling relatively sore, a problem for a shoe supposedly meant for recovery. That said, I do believe the T20 returns more energy, but the Magnify does hold its own, and for me personally, in a way that makes it fit better into the recovery slot of my shoe rotation.
Outsole and Durability
I’m not going to spend much time singing the praises of the Magnify’s outsole grip, because I think it’s fairly well-known by now how good PumaGrip is. That said, I think that the Magnify’s specific outsole deserves some additional praise, especially given the fact that I have taken it on everything from highly technical trail to pavement now, and at every point, it managed spectacularly. The outsole rubber is highly durable and maintains its grip well, even as the tread has begun to fade. Together with its midsole geometry, I’ve found that the Magnify is far more capable than any other max-cushion shoe to handle whatever terrain you throw at it, and it remains surprisingly stable regardless of surface. I would never dream of taking the Invincible on some of the trails I’ve been able to run with the Magnify, so it deserves props from that perspective.
With respect to durability, I believe that the Magnify can go anywhere from 400-500 miles for the average runner.
Conclusion
The Magnify are a spectacular shoe with an understated, goldilocks-style ride that sits squarely between soft and firm, a spectacular outsole, a simple, effective upper, and a bomb-proof level of durability. While not the bounciest, springiest, or fastest max-cushion option, it is incredibly good at what it does and transfers the Puma Running M.O—no frills, effective shoes that you can rely on and don’t have to think about—into the recovery shoe realm quite well, offering a fine alternative to many of the current options on the market. Like most Puma shoes I’ve tried, there isn’t much to really critique; other shoes may better fit others’ needs, and while not first in class in any category outside grip, those who like Puma shoes or just want a recovery day option that is understated and lets you do your thing will appreciate this one. It so easy to just throw these on that I’ve literally plowed through this pair.
Anonymous runner · Oct 30, 2023
