Growing up with me nearly always sticking to Nike boots or occasionally picking up an Adidas pair, a brand I always dismissed was Puma and honestly I aren't sure why maybe it is because none of my favourite players were wearing them but then again it might just be because where I got my boots from mainly stocked Nike or Adidas so Puma was never really an option for me, plus I always loved the bold colourways of the Nike & Adidas ones.
When me and Liam started going for a kick about in our local park we picked up some boots and Liam opted for the Puma Classic take down model as he liked the look of them due to Alex Greenwood wearing them. Luckily with us being the same size I got to take them for a test run too and to be honest they left a really good impression on me and I do wish I had tried Puma boots sooner.
In terms of fit I have always sized up in football boots to accommodate for the thicker socks I wear so these are a size 8 and they provide a really good fit. They aren't too tight when worn with football socks and my feet don't feel restricted in them which I have found in some boots I don't get the best fit and my movement feels restricted due to the boot fitting too snug and narrow. But these are perfect I can move my feet in whichever way I want and not feel like the boot is going to fall off due to being too big or that I aren't going to get a good connection with the ball due to them being too tight or too loose, they are perfect and to say that these are a take down model it makes me wonder what top end would actually feel like.
There were no issues with these rubbing my feet either so I didn't have to worry about them needing to be broken in as it was simply put them on, lace them up and go. No blisters have appeared either which is great as I used to really struggle with new boots and them giving me blisters so my feet were sore for days after, it just didn't make wearing them enjoyable but with these Puma Classics I have had no such issue and I know when I put them on I can just kick the ball around without having to worry about being in pain. Overall they are actually really comfy and again to say they are a take down model I am really surprised, you can't feel the sole plate under your feet which is always great as no-one wants to be running and just feel the studs hitting under their feet as that is just painful and frustrating. The heel has the right amount of cushioning too so you don't have to worry about it being too thin and rubbing and it also provides a fair bit of support which is always great to minimize those rolled ankle injuries. The tongue is nice and flexible too so you don't have to worry about that being too rigid and cutting into the top of your foot like with some boots.
The fact that the tongue is flexible means that you can tuck it in nicely so it isn't stuck out of the top of the boot causing issues when you go to strike the ball. I have had boots in the past that have had a ridiculous tongue that has only got in the way so I prefer boots these days where I don't have much of a tongue on show and one that doesn't go over the laces. The placement of the laces is directly in the center of the boot and they are actually quite thin which means they are actually quite close to the upper of the boot instead of standing up a little. This is great as the fact they are close to the upper it isn't going to interfere when you go to strike the ball which is always an added bonus as you want to make the best, cleanest connection possibly with every strike or cross. The overall material of the upper is quite good too to say how cheap they are, I didn't expect them to be super high quality due to them not being top of the range but the quality is good, they are a bit cushioned on the upper and are very easy to clean which is always a bonus. You can make a great connection with the ball with these boots too, they aren't too shiny that the ball will roll over them when wet so you can get some pretty good control with these in a variety of weather. I have tested these in both dry and wet weather and have seen no difference in my training whilst wearing them as the feel and control is very similar no matter what the weather.
The sole plate on the firm ground version which we got is great too. The actually plate is nice and flexible which helps create great movement but it isn't too flexible that it is going to break easily. The moulds are nice and equally distributed which is always something I love as I feel that this sort of stud pattern works for me better than others. These are also the rounded studs not the blades which I am much more used to due to my rugby and early football playing days. They seem to have kept it nice and simple with this sole plate which is sometimes just what is needed and I am grateful for this as it is nice and balanced and great for the mixture of weather we get in the UK. Plus it is really easy to clean due to the space between the studs and the lack of depth in the pattern, keeping it simple really does have its benefits.
Whilst I was playing football growing up I always wanted boots that would make me stand out from the rest and just looked nice and vibrant so the toned down boots were overlooked. Now I am older though I still like the vibrant ones but the simple colourways are also starting to catch my eye. These Puma Classics are definitely nice as simple with just the 3 colours making up the whole boot and the 3 colours work really well together. The upper is simply white and black with a small touch of gold that doesn't look out of place and the sole plate is a great combination of black and gold none of the colours outweigh the others and the combination helps create the classic & simple boot that the Classics are known for.
With these boots being a take down model they only cost us around £28 when we purchased them which to me is an absolute bargain as I can see them getting worn a fair bit as we get back into going out to our local field for a kick about or when we finally sort the side garden out to become our football garden. The fact they are comfy, easy to clean and a great colourway makes these boots a winner for me and I will definitely be looking at Puma boots a whole lot more in the future.
These Puma Classics have definitely shone a positive light on Puma boots for me and I am actually wishing I had these back when I was playing week in week out as they are such a good pair of boots and for the price point of £28 I don't think you can go wrong. I would definitely love to try a top end pair of these as having a good experience with a take down model has sold me on them so I would love to compare what the differences are other than the price.
What are your thoughts on the Puma Classic boots?
