PUMA originates from Southern Germany, where the company was founded in 1948 by Rudolf Dassler when he parted ways with his brother Adolf, who went on to establish the rival adidas company in the same town, Herzogenaurach. Rudolf originally called his company Ruda, but later changed it to PUMA. Today, PUMA products are sold in more than 120 countries, covering most sporting disciplines, and the company’ s PUMA logo and distinctive‘ Formstrip,’ introduced in 1958, are recognised all over the world.
In terms of running shoes, the company is best known for producing lighter, faster shoes that are considered better suited to shorter distances, and they are even named accordingly, with the current Speed range have taken over from the Faas range( named in honour of PUMA’ s premier brand ambassador, Usain Bolt). IGNITE and NETFIT are just two of the company’ s current innovative technologies in its shoe designs.
Who Stocks them: You’ ll find PUMA products in most of the leading sports retailers in South Africa, including Sportsmans Warehouse, Totalsports, The Sweat Shop, and various independent retailers, plus you can purchase PUMA products at PUMA Concepts stores.
Web: https:// global. puma. com / en _ ZA / home /
Outsole
EverTrack is an injected blown rubber compound that provides durability in highwear areas, but is still designed to be light and cushioned to enhance the ride. Lighter shoes use SPEEDTRACTION, a lighter but still durable version of EverTrack.
Decoupled Heel
Separating the heel from the rest of the midsole with a flex groove( decoupling) slows down the rate of pronation of the foot, providing a more gradual transition from heel-strike to midfoot stance and then toe-off.
Upper
PUMA’ s evoKNIT mesh provides a smooth, light, sock-like fit that can adapt to the shape of each foot.
The Tech
The key technology you’ ll find in PUMA’ s shoes.
Flex Zones
PUMA has a solid track record in producing lighter, faster running shoes, and they traditionally have very effective flex zones in the forefoot.
Forefoot
A new development is PUMA’ s Propulsion Zone, an outsole band of foam rubber suspended over the forefoot flex grooves to provide a reflex energy return as the shoe flexes, thus making the foot spring off the ground.
Propulsion Zone + takes it still further, with a nylon plate-like insert that gives even more responsiveness.
Heel Counter
A standard feature of most running shoes, the external heel counter, or cup, makes sure the heel is snugly gripped by the shoe.
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Lacing System
A recent addition to the PUMA designs is NETFIT, a wide mesh placed over the evoKNIT upper in the area of the lacing and stretching back towards the heel, which allows you to customise the lacing to suit your individual feet, or biomechanical needs. Different lacing options can thus help with fit, or even to slow the rate of pronation, and PUMA supplies two sets of laces with different lengths to allow you to experiment.
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Formstrip
PUMA’ s unique stripe, often made from molded materials to add strength and shape to the upper.
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Midsole
PUMA’ s proprietary IGNITE midsole foam rubber provides propulsion and energy return as well as great cushioning and comfort, and is often used in partnership with either a PU( polyurethane) or EVA( Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) midsole rubber in premier Speed range shoes.
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Footbed
Extra cushioning is provided by the removable EVA sockliner( inner sole), and that is further complimented by an EVA footbed underneath the sockliner.
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42 ISSUE 103 FEBRUARY 2018 / www. modernathlete. co. za