Puma - Velocity NITRO™ 4 Road Running Shoes

Puma Velocity Nitro 4 is my go to for what you’re describing. Not squishy, a bit of bounce with cushioning. Legal stack height.

I have the EVO SL too and it can be used as both, although it starts to shine at paces between 3.45-5min/km pace IMO. I would recommend using it as a threshold/tempo session but it's still very fun to use on easy runs as well, although I find myself going naturally faster in them. I find them a bit annoying with the flimsy quality of the tongue for longer runs so have got the Puma Velocity Nitro 4 for both longer runs and daily runs, a a cheap beast and can see myself using it for quite a while.

I got some a few weeks ago. Similar experience to you. I'm loving them. Quite noisy shoes for the first few runs as the grip eases in. 

Puma nailed it with the Velocity Nitro 4.

Can you get yourself a pair of Puma Velocity Nitro 4? They seem to be available on Puma India (I’m assuming that’s where you are considering the INR) for 12000INR, they’re reasonably durable, and they’re the cousin of the Deviate Nitro so they’re good for grip etc, and they’re pretty comfortable

Honestly a daily trainer like a puma velocity nitro 4. It feels like an all round better version of a pegasus in the way that it does everything well. The li ning red hare 9 pro is also a great budget alternative that's as good for about 40% of the price if you can be bothered to use the TaoBao app. If you want something faster and more protective I'd consider the Dynafish Xiaonian which are my favourite shoe of all time. Super light and I use them for my 7:30 min/km recovery sessions and my 3:40 tempo runs and they're great in both. Plus they're cheap

This is more of a tempo shoe. In terms of daily trainers there's 4 ways you can kind of go. You can get a versatile, lower stack pegasus type daily trainer (the best ones are probably the velocity nitro 4 and li ning red hare 9 pro), you could get a max cushion longer run shoe (like a magmax 2, superblast 3 or Vomero plus for something a bit more versatile), you can get a carbon tempo shoe (like the ZF6 but the deviate nitro 4 is probably a better shoe) or you can get a supertrainer (like the Megablast or Xiaonian) for something with a greater range. I'm biased because it's my daily but I love the Xiaonian due to it's versatility. Even if I'm doing intervals or tempo stuff I usually put these on over my carbon plated shoes it's that good. Also a good easy shoe

Puma Velocity Nitro 4 or if you want max cushion or more protection ASICS Gel Nimbus or Nike Vomero although they’ll be a bit heavier.

If you want something not too pricey as you're still figuring out whether you actually like running, why not try out the Puma Velocity Nitro 4? Was a bit skeptical at first but they've grown on me. Bit clunky while walking but they feel fine when running and offer good energy return. Also, the VN4 are fairly breathable. I, too, run in the tropics.

I had a blast when I demod the VN4, to me that was the closest thing I've had to the Speed 2 feeling overall. Just a bit too narrow for me. But the speed 2 was also a tad narrow for me too.

Toe box feels normal, not too narrow. Velocity felt a bit too narrow for me.

I’ve actually worked out in them. My issue with that shoe (I generally enjoyed how the midsole worked with my stride) was that narrowness. I have a tendency of rolling my right foot so that was a concern with that shoe. The midfoot is slightly looser than the velocity. It’s snug but not tight like the v4

Puma velocity nitro 4 is a very good all rounder. Although avoid it if you pronate.

Puma velocity nitro 4 is similar to the Pegasus 41, just much better in every way. And it can also do the tempo /speed work that the Pegasus plus is designed to do, while being much more durable and much cheaper. Can only recommend it. These two Nike pairs are two year old now, and it shows. They were borderline competitive when they released. Today they are outclassed. Their successors, to release this year, will have to do much better.

Puma VN4 if you're not rich, Megablast if you're rich. But building a two-shoe rotation with one easy daily and one tempo trainer will not cost you more long-term, quite the opposite.