Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 103, February 2018

PUMA Speed 600 IGNITE 3 Category: Neutral Cushioning Heritage: Speed 600 IGNITE 2 Buy 1, Get 1 FREE Buy a pair of Speed 600 IGNITE 3 shoes and receive a pair of IGNITE 4 NETFIT shoes free – ask your local PUMA stockist for details. Key features: Dual layer midsole featuring IGNITE, Forefoot Propulsion Zone, EvoKNIT upper with NETFIT, EverTrack outsole What has changed: While the tooling of this model (midsole and outsole) are unchanged, PUMA has introduced its NETFIT mesh in the upper, which allows you to customise the shoe’s fit to your foot by tweaking the lacing system in a multitude of unique ways. It’s actually quite fun playing with the lacing until you get it just right. Wear-testing notes: The Speed 600 sits in the middle of the Speed range, with the 1000 offering the most cushioning, and the 100 the least. This shoe is a bit on the firm side, mostly due to its dual-layered IGNITE midsole and a fairly thick layer of EverTrack outsole rubber, so you get excellent cushioning, durability and grip, but it does feel a wee bit heavier and firmer than other PUMA models. That said, the IGNITE midsole provides noticeable bounce, and that responsive energy-return is further enhanced by the Propulsion Zone in the middle of the forefoot, where an outsole band of foam rubber positioned across the flex zones (the yellow section) provides a reflex action that pushes the foot off the ground faster. The result is you can easily go faster than planned in these shoes, in spite of their firmer ride. The real benefits of the Speed 600 shine through when you go fast in them over shorter distances, but you can still use them for longer runs, thanks to their more than adequate cushioning. They are therefore great for everyday training. And let’s face it, that racing red colour is damned eye-catching! Recommended Retail Price: R2599 (Men) & R2499 (Women) Weight: 299g (Men) & 249g (Women) In Store Date: February 2018 Heel Drop: 8mm Colours: Flame Scarlet/Red Dahlia/PUMA White (Men) & Paradise Pink/PUMA White (Women) PUMA Speed 300 IGNITE 3 Category: Lightweight Trainer Heritage: Speed 300 IGNITE 2 Key features: Dual layer midsole featuring IGNITE, Forefoot Propulsion Zone+, breathable mesh upper, Molded Eco Orthloite sockliner What has changed: The new Speed 300 has two new features, the introduction of a dual layer midsole infused with an IGNITE layer on top of a PU layer, and a Propulsion Zone+ engineered from nylon in the forefoot. That means the shoe is springier than before, when the IGNITE was limited to a wedge in the back half of the shoe, as the forefoot IGNITE and the plate-like nylon insert really push your feet off the ground as you toe-off. Wear-testing notes: This shoe is faster than ever, not just because of the above-mentioned features, but also thanks to the use of SPEEDTRACTION for the outsole, instead of the slightly heavier EverTrack blown rubber compound used in other models. Along with its low, almost minimalist profile, that all contributes to making this model nearly 80 grams lighter than its big brother, the Speed 600, and you could therefore easily use this shoe as a racer. In spite of its low profile, the shoe provides an incredibly responsive ride. Another feature to look out for is the super-breathable lightweight upper. As in many lighter shoes, the upper is mostly mesh material, but the various overlays (molded strengthening strips), including the PUMA Formstrips on either side, really do an excellent job of locking the foot in – especially given that the shoe does not have a heel counter (cup), just overlays in the heel area. The sockliner is made from Molded Eco Ortholite, a breathable and anti-microbial material that provides both comfort and hygiene for your feet, but unlike the 600, the footbed of the shoe is board-lasted – no extra PU cushioning layer then, but then this shoe is all about weight-saving and going faster, not so much about extra cushioning. The bottom line is this shoe is built to perform. Recommended Retail Price: R1999 (Men) & R1999 (Women) Weight: 220g (Men) In Store Date: February 2018 Heel Drop: 8mm Colours: Red Blast/PUMA Black/Fizzy Yellow (Men) & Paradise Pink/Soft Fluo Peach/PUMA White (Women) 43

Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 103, February 2018 | Page 43