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PUMA shoes undoubtedly dominated the hottest sneaker trends of 2023, but they’ve always been on the radars of the most devoted sneakerheads and performance athletes — for nearly a century, in fact. From record-breaking running shoes, NBA-worn basketball shoes, and high-style footwear sported by off-duty top models, the best PUMA shoes continue to champion the shoe market in innovation, comfort, and timeless aesthetics.
While the German brand has always been at the forefront of sportswear, its soccer shoe selection particularly saw a spike in the fashion scene, as “Blokecore” and retro sneaker styles reigned supreme in 2023. Whether it was Emily Ratajkowski slipping on her sleek PUMA Palermos on a regular basis, or it was Rihanna’s internet-breaking reissue of her iconic PUMA X Fenty line, with the Avanti L and Creeper Phatty sneakers, it’s safe to say that PUMA leather and suede is in, in a big way. PUMA’s lifestyle sneakers not only serve as supremely versatile footwear, which play well with all kinds of stylings from casual athleisure to fashionable workwear, they also reliably keep you light on your feet, thanks to the brand’s extensive mastering of performance-level construction and comfort.
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Whether you’re shopping for the best PUMA running shoes to replace tired kicks in the new year, or upgrading your go-to basketball shoe, you can count on PUMA’s unparalleled sneaker technology to carry you beyond your personal record. You’ll discover PUMA NITROFOAM cushioning technology spotlighted in nearly every performance option in our top list, like the best-selling PUMA Deviate NITRO 2 Running Shoes or the shiny-new PUMA x LAMELO BALL MB.01 Golden Child Men’s Basketball Shoes, as it provides a lightweight-yet-powerful level of nitrogen-infused energy response that supports your stride and allows you to fly high, whether you’re shooting for net or the finish line.
PUMA’s specialty stability features, like molded collars, heel counters and clips, engineered carbon PWRPLATE platforms, and PUMAGRIP rubber traction, are evidence of decades-long innovation sported by the best athletes of all time, making these sneakers exemplary for any level of performance.
Other PUMA-exclusive architecture, like premium leather and suede, classic gum rubber, and stylish colorways give each shoe a larger-than-luxe feel, with durable construction and sleek design that’ll hold up no matter where your day takes you.
Below, our editors have curated the best of the best from PUMA, whether you’re a streetstyle trendsetter or star athlete in your own right.
Colorways: Puma Black-Feather Gray-Gum; White-Vapor Gray-Gum
Materials: Suede, synthetic leather, rubber
Special features: T-toe construction, gum sole, rubber midsole and outsole, mesh sockliner
PUMA Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
What testers say: “I’ve been wearing my Palermo’s everyday and they couldn’t be more comfortable — soft, flexible, ample toe box, no-slip sole. I have gotten so many compliments on them.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $90
Colorways: Sunset Glow/Puma Black; PUMA White/Fire Orchid/Icy Blue; Fire Orchid/PUMA Black/Icy Blue
Materials: Mesh, rubber
Special features: NITROFOAM Elite midsole, stability PWRPLATE, PUMAGRIP ATR rubber traction
PUMA Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
What testers say: “These shoes are so comfortable and easy to run in from the start. They barely needed any breaking in. This color is a LOT more vibrant than the online photos show, as a heads up. I love neon sneakers so it worked out!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $160
Colorways: Puma Black-Puma White; High Risk Red-Puma White; Gray Violet-Puma White; Peacoat-Puma White; Honey Mustard-Puma White; Cabernet-Puma White; Steel Gray-Puma White; Malachite-PUMA White, and more
Materials: Leather Working Group-certified suede, synthetic leather, rubber
Special features: Lo-top silhouette, comfort sockliner, traction midsole and outsole
PUMA Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
What testers say: “These feel even better than they look! I got these a couple weeks ago and they’re way more plush inside than I had expected. Super comfy and so stylish.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $75
Colorways: Fire Orchid-Ultra Blue; Ash Gray-PUMA White-Yellow Burst-Vivid Violet; Icy Blue-Ultra Blue
Materials: Mesh, rubber
Special features: Molded heel collar, NITROFOAM midsole, PUMAGRIP rubber outsole
PUMA Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
What testers say: “Excellent daily trainer for long runs! The woven mesh upper is smooth and comfortable, with plenty perforations for adequate ventilation. I bought these in my usual size — the toebox has enough space to splay toes. The padding around the heel is just enough, with no issues of hotspots or rubbing. Very comfortable midsole cushioning with a smooth roll off from heel to forefoot. The nitrogen infused material gives a noticeable spring back with each step, keeping the legs fresh and protected. There’s not much ground feel when I take them on five mile runs, which I enjoy. The shoes felt best at a moderate cruising pace, but it was fun to pick up the pace in them. Outsole traction was also good on all surfaces I ran on: road, dirt, grass. Excellent secure footing from all of my runs!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $140
Colorways: Puma White-Puma Black; Puma White-Peyote
Materials: Leather, suede, synthetic materials, rubber
Special features: PUMA Formstrip overlays, webbing heel pull loop, gold foil PUMA No.2 Logo
PUMA Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
What testers say: “Love these! I’m short so I’m loving the platform style and they fit great. I get compliments every time I wear them. I’m buying them in another color as well!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $90
Colorways: PUMA Black; Ultra Blue-PUMA Black-PUMA Silver; Fire Orchid-PUMA Black-Ultra Blue; Yellow Burst-PUMA Black-PUMA Silver; Lime Pow-PUMA Black-PUMA White
Materials: Mesh, rubber
Special features: NITROFOAM midsole, PWRTAPE upper, RUNGUIDE guide rails, flared rubber outsoles, asymmetrical heel counter
PUMA Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
What testers say: “They are sooooo comfortable. I like the springiness of the heel when you step down, and the ride of cushion across the arch support. Best sneakers I have ever owned.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $150
Colorways: Puma White-Puma Team Gold; Puma Black-Puma Team Gold
Materials: Leather, rubber
Special features: EVA midsole, T-toe overlays, gum rubber outsole, padded tongue
PUMA Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
What testers say: “Always a go-to shoe for comfort and simple style. Love them. The best lifestyle sneakers. And, since they are made from real leather, expect them to last a while with proper care.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $70
Colorways: PUMA White-For All Time Red; PUMA White-PUMA Navy-Lime Squeeze
Materials: Mesh, rubber
Special features: NITROFOAM midsole, low boot silhouette
PUMA Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
Price upon publish date of this article: $130
Colorways: Alpine Snow-Alpine Snow; PUMA Black-PUMA Black
Materials: Mesh, leather, suede, nylon, rubber
Special features: Full-knit base, TPU Formstrips, heel and eyestay overlays
PUMA Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
What testers say: “This is what I exactly what I was looking for. SO comfortable and great design!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $110
Colorways: PUMA Black-PUMA Black; Puma White-Silver
Materials: Mesh, rubber
Special features: NITROFOAM Infused midsole, PUMA Formstrip toes, low boot silhouette
PUMA Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
What testers say: “I purchased the MB.01 Lo in white and I absolutely love this pair and model over all. I’ve purchased every pair of MB.01’s that have dropped and I continue to do so from here on out. So comfortable. Thanks Puma!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $115
The History of PUMA Shoes
PUMA’s game-changing history begins with humble family roots. Brothers Rudolf and Adolf Dassler founded the brand as “Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik,” which translates to “Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory,” in their parents’ home in 1919. The company was created on the heels of their father, Christoph Dassler, who worked at a shoe factory in the early 1900s. Rudolf spent time working beside his father during that time, and later served as a salesman in the leather trading business after returning from World War I. In 1924, him and Adolf came together to expand their vision to a dedicated facility in Herzogenaurach, Germany, and created the first sports shoe manufacturing business of its time.
In just a few years, their specialty “Gebrüder Dassler” shoe spikes were worn on the most prominent German athletes, which first took the world stage at the 1928 Summer Olympic Games in Amsterdam. In 1936, the brothers famously packed a suitcase of footwear and drove to Bavaria, Germany to convince champion sprinter and long-jumper Jesse Owen to wear them at Berlin’s Summer Olympics that year. He accepted, marking the first-ever shoe sponsorship for an African American, and the shoes equipped him to win gold four times over at the track and field event.
The brand soon became globally renowned as a leading performance footwear provider and appeared on the feet of several following Olympic champions in the years leading up to World War II. After the war, the brothers went their separate ways, and Rudolf took reigns of the company in 1948. (Adolf went on to create his own shoe company.) Rudolf renamed his venture “Rudolf Dassler Shoe Factory,” before officially cementing the name as PUMA in the same year.
The latter half of the century saw great expansion in PUMA’s athletic offerings for both pros and the everyday sports star. In the ’50s, the brand touched down on the football field with the first screw-in stud shoes, as seen in the historic Atom and Super Atom football shoes, broke Olympic records in running, and developed its signature and stabilizing FORMSTRIP feature. By the end of the ’60s, PUMA’s official “No. 1 Logo” was stamped across its footwear and new pro sportswear. PUMA hit hardwood in the ’70s with the PUMA Clyde basketball shoes, which were made custom for champion New York Knicks’ point guard Walt Frazier, and record-maker Guillermo Vilas brought the brand to tennis fame.
PUMA went on to revolutionize sneaker tech, from essential “Running System” (RS) running shoe cushioning, the first-ever computer shoe (“RS-Computer”), and laceless sports shoes. At the turn of the century, the brand explored lifestyle shoes (with the help of Jil Sander), designed fireproof shoes for Formula 1 drivers, and ventured into golf shoes and gear. As the 2010’s rolled on, PUMA collaborated with pop culture icons to the likes of Rihanna, and continued to innovate champion-level technology for pro athletes and shoe lovers alike.
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Meet the Author
Olivia Cigliano is a Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD where she writes shopping content on the best-rated footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Olivia received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. Olivia spent 2023 writing about the hottest sneaker trends worn by street style stars and top athletes, including trending soccer shoes, to the likes of PUMA Palermo’s, and the best retro-inspired lifestyle shoes.
