Speedcat

The Puma Speedcat is a low, slim sneaker that owes its shape to motorsport. The Puma shoe was designed as a racing shoe and is now one of the most wanted flat sneakers, especially among women. With its suede upper and thin sole, it fits the trend for low, understated sneakers you can wear with almost anything.

The history of the Puma Speedcat

In the late 1990s Puma made shoes for Formula 1 drivers. In 1999 that led to the Speedcat: a light racing shoe with a thin sole, so the driver could feel the accelerator properly. Around 2000 Puma released a street version, made of suede instead of fire-resistant material.

After a quieter period, the Speedcat returned in 2024 as the Speedcat OG, just as low, flat sneakers were back in fashion. The Ballet version with a strap across the instep and other variants followed.

Design: OG, Ballet and Wedge

The Speedcat OG has a suede upper, a narrow, low silhouette and a rubber sole that wraps up over the heel at the back, just like a racing shoe. The side carries the Formstrip, and the toe often has the embroidered Puma logo. Thanks to that low build, you sit close to the ground and the shoe feels light.

The Ballet version has a strap across the instep, which makes it look like a ballet flat. The Wedge variant sits on a higher sole and gives you a little extra height without losing the slim profile.

Popular Puma Speedcat colorways

These Speedcat versions are currently the most wanted on WOOVIN:

• Speedcat Ballet ‘Silver’ (W): metallic silver with white.
• Speedcat Wedge ‘Totally Taupe Chocolate’ (W): taupe with chocolate brown.
• Speedcat Ballet ‘Whisp of Pink’ (W): soft light pink with white.
• Speedcat OG ‘Haute Coffee Frosted Ivory’: coffee brown with ivory details and a gold logo on the tongue.
• Speedcat Ballet ‘Rosé White’: off-white with black and light pink.

Puma Speedcat or adidas SL 72?

Both are low, slim sneakers with a thin sole, and they belong to the same trend. The adidas SL 72 is a 1972 running shoe with nylon, suede and the three stripes. The Speedcat is narrower and lower, with a racing sole and the Formstrip. If you prefer a terrace look with a gum sole, the adidas Samba is a well-known alternative.

How does the Puma Speedcat fit?

The Puma Speedcat fits true to size in length, but it is narrow and snug around the foot, as you would expect from a racing shoe. With narrow or average feet, take your regular size. With wide feet, half a size up is the better choice for this model. On the Ballet version the strap adds extra hold, but the fit stays just as narrow.

Buy the Puma Speedcat at WOOVIN

On WOOVIN you will find the Speedcat as the OG, Ballet and Wedge, with many (W) versions in silver, pink and brown. If you mainly wear it with jeans, the OG is the safe choice; with a skirt or dress, the Ballet comes into its own. The (W) models follow Puma’s women’s sizes.