Puma
Puma is a German sports brand from Herzogenaurach that has been making shoes and clothing for football, running, basketball and motorsport since 1948. Among sneaker fans, the brand is known for low, slim classics with a sporting past. In recent years its flat Puma sneakers in particular have become popular again, for women and men.
The history of Puma
Puma was born out of a quarrel between two brothers. Rudolf and Adolf Dassler made shoes together in Herzogenaurach until they split up in the late 1940s. Adolf started adidas, while Rudolf founded Puma in 1948, on the other side of the river in the same small town.
The brand soon played a part in top-level sport. Footballers wore the Puma King, and Pelé played in it at the 1970 World Cup. In the late 1960s the Puma Suede appeared, a suede basketball and training shoe that was later adopted by hip-hop and breakdance culture. In the 1970s basketball player Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier wore the shoe, after which Puma named a version after him: the Clyde.
What is Puma known for?
Its most recognisable detail is the Formstrip: the wide, curved stripe on the side of many Puma sneakers. Together with the leaping puma logo, that stripe makes a Puma shoe instantly recognisable. The brand also works extensively with athletes, designers and musicians.
A second hallmark is its link with motorsport. Puma made shoes for racing drivers: low, light and with a thin sole, so you can feel the pedal properly. Puma still makes racing shoes and team kit for motorsport today. That profile returns in the lifestyle models that are in demand again, just like other low sneakers such as the adidas SL 72.
Popular Puma models
- Puma Speedcat: a 1999 racing shoe with a suede upper and a thin sole that wraps up over the heel. After its reintroduction it became one of the most sought-after low sneakers, also as a Ballet version with a strap across the instep.
- Puma Palermo: a 1980s terrace sneaker with a gum sole and the name of the city on the side. It belongs in the same line-up as the adidas Samba.
- Puma LaMelo Ball: the signature shoes of basketball player LaMelo Ball, from the MB series, with bold colours and graphic prints.
- Puma King: the football classic, also available as an indoor sneaker with a flat sole for everyday wear.
On WOOVIN the range mainly consists of the Speedcat in OG and Ballet versions, complemented by LaMelo Ball models, the Palermo and the King Indoor.
How do Puma sneakers fit?
Most Puma sneakers fit true to size, so you can stick with your usual size. The Speedcat is narrow and fits snugly around the foot, though, because it is derived from a racing shoe. If you have wide feet, go half a size up with the Speedcat. Basketball shoes such as the LaMelo Ball models are roomier and sturdier; check the fit per model.
Buy Puma at WOOVIN
On WOOVIN you will find Puma sneakers for women and men, with a focus on the Speedcat. Choose the Speedcat OG for the original racing silhouette, the Ballet if you are after a more feminine look with a strap, and a LaMelo Ball model if you want a striking basketball shoe instead. Filter by model, colour and size to quickly see what is available in your size.
