Details
Brand
Puma
Heel To Toe Drop
12mm
Breathability
10/10
Latest Version
No
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Outsole grooves• Unique disc for good fit• One piece upper with mesh• Stylish design• Solid pricing
Upper
The upper of the Ignite Disc is one of its more unique aspects, because it contains Puma’s Disc fit system. Offering a laceless upper, the Disc Fit system utilizes a disc that rotates to adjust the tightness of the shoe. The advantage of this is convenience, as a lot of time is saved from tying shoes. Additionally, it allows users to adjust the fit perfectly to their desired tightness. The disc actually is attached to both the upper and midsole, so the overall fit when adjusting is much more balanced and comfortable. This is definitely a very useful and unique feature that enhances the upper. In addition to this, the upper also contains memory foam to enhance the comfort while running even more. The upper itself is a single piece solid construction, covered with mesh in some places. Overall, the upper of the Puma Ignite Disc is quite effective at its job of providing a good fit and flexibility.
Midsole
The midsole of the Puma Ignite Disc is composed of PU foam. Very similar to TPU, PU, or polyurethane foam, is designed to be very springy, and also provide good impact protection from shocks. Thanks to this material, the midsole is very good in the responsiveness department. The midsole also features Puma’s ForEverFoam in the heel. This is another material that, as its name implies, is designed to be very durable, and also help with cushioning shocks within the heel. Finally, the special disc that comprises the Puma Disc Fit system is also partially located in the midsole, though this feature will be covered more in the upper section. Overall, the midsole of the Puma Ignite Disc is pretty unique and offers some very good materials and features that allow it to do its job of cushioning and responding well.
Outsole
The outsole of the Puma Ignite Disc is made of Puma’s EverTrack carbon rubber, which is designed to be both durable and also grip well. Different carbon rubbers are often used for outsoles and are good choices due to their ability to resist impacts and also provide traction. The outsole also features several grooves, which are designed to provide flexibility and allow for better overall movement. As a whole, the outsole is pretty good, offering some useful features that contribute to its main purpose.
Breathability
The breathability of the Puma Ignite Disc is fairly good, thanks to its upper. The upper is partially mesh, which is often used thanks to its ability to allow air into the shoe. Mesh does this because it is woven with holes in it intentionally, to both promote flexibility and breathability. The upper tends to be the big factor in determining the breathability of a shoe and that is the case for the Ignite Disc as well. The Ignite Disc has good breathability overall.
Comfort
Comfort is definitely something to be considered when buying any running shoes. Overall, the Puma Ignite Disc is quite comfortable thanks to its outsole, midsole, and upper. The outsole contributes through its grooves, which make the shoe more flexible. More flexibility means a better and more natural range of movement which is usually more comfortable. The midsole contributes with its PU foam material, which does a good job providing cushioning and returning energy. This makes every stride feel more efficient and minimizes shocks. The ForEverFoam in the heel adds to this as well. Finally, the upper contributes with its signature Disc, and also its breathability and flexibility. The Disc makes for a very comfortable fit as it can be fine-tuned to fit exactly how its user prefers. The mesh of the upper adds breathability and flexibility to the shoe, two areas that are big in terms of comfort. Overall, the Puma Ignite Disc is a very comfortable shoe thanks to its features.
Style
In terms of style, Puma tends to be fairly robust and is a popular choice for many. Their shoe designs tend to differ a bit from classically styled running shoes like those of Brooks or Asics. They seem to be styled a bit more like Adidas, or other lines that focus on fashion a bit more. The Ignite Disc is a fairly stylish shoe overall and has a pretty unique design thanks to its lack of laces. The shoe looks very sleek and minimalistic thanks to the fact that there are no laces. The disc on the upper is fairly small, but still is noticeable, and gives the shoe a unique flair. The Ignite Disc comes in a variety of bright and dark colors for both men and women, and could probably double as an everyday shoe effectively. Overall, the Ignite Disc is a pretty stylish shoe.
Durability
Durability is another very important vector to consider with shoes. Getting stuck replacing shoes more quickly than expected is definitely not a fun feeling. The Puma Ignite Disc is fairly durable, though there have been some user complaints about the disc. The outsole is durable thanks to its use of carbon rubber. Carbon rubber is a very standard choice for shoes, as it resists impacts quite well, even against concrete and asphalt. The midsole is quite durable thanks to its PU material, which is very resistant to wear and tear, and maintains its original shape well. The upper is mostly durable thanks to its one-piece construction which makes rips and tears a bit less likely. The disc however, is the main source of complaints from some users. Some reported that the disc on the upper broke much more quickly than expected. This is definitely something to take note of, as the disc is one of the selling points of the shoe. Overall, not all users experienced this problem, but still it is important to consider this when purchasing the shoes. Overall, apart from the disc, the Ignite Disc is a pretty durable shoe.
Protection
Protection is pretty good in the Puma Ignite Disc. The main features that aid in this are the upper and the midsole. The upper protects the foot from above by its snug fit and security, which stabilizes the foot while running. Additionally, the upper keeps the elements and debris from getting within the shoe. The midsole contributes to protection through its PU foam, and the ForEverFoam in the heel. The PU foam material absorbs impacts very well and minimizes shocks to the foot while running. The ForEverFoam in the heel essentially does the same thing in the heel, adding on the cushioning even more. Overall, the protection of the Ignite Disc is pretty solid.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness essentially can be described as the feeling that returns to the foot with every step taken. A more responsive shoe will return energy better than a less responsive one. The midsole is generally a big proponent of responsiveness in a shoe due to its position. The foam in the midsole of the Ignite Disc is pretty responsive and does a pretty good job of facilitating energy with every step. However, not much stands out in the way of responsiveness. That said, the Ignite Disc is a pretty responsive shoe overall thanks to its midsole.
Support
The primary pieces that contribute to support in the Ignite Disc are the upper and the midsole. The upper provides support through its very snug fit. A snug fit allows the foot to be more secure while running and is beneficial to preventing injuries. This, in tandem with the flexibility of the upper, makes it a very good fit in terms of support. The midsole contributes to support through its cushioning foam that is present in the heel and the center of the midsole. This foam makes each step more supported by protecting from the impact with the ground. The support of the Ignite Disc is solid overall.
Terrain
Like most running shoes, the Ignite Disc should be usable on most commonly runnable terrains. They will probably fare best on road and concrete, but on trails, dirt, or grass, they shouldn’t face too many issues. In more extreme areas like very rocky areas, or ice, it is probably not advisable to use them, however. They are usable in rain, though not waterproof, so caution should be exercised.
Price
Price as a whole for the Ignite Disc depends on the size of the shoe. For some sizes, the Ignite Disc can be found for very cheap, whereas for some sizes the price is fairly average. That said, for what is offered by the Ignite Disc in terms of features, most prices it can be found at are a pretty good value.
Drop
The drop on these shoes is decently high, measuring around 12mm. Most trainers have a drop that is around 8-10mm so the 12 mm drop is a bit surprising. It probably shouldn’t be an issue for most. For those seeking a more minimalist shoe, however, this might be a bit too high of a drop.
Stability
The Puma Ignite Disc is a pretty stable shoe thanks to its upper and its midsole. The upper once again provides stability with its snug fit, which is largely due to the signature disc. By giving a snug and comfortable fit, every stride is more secure and in turn, the stride is more stable overall. The midsole contributes to this stability through its cushioning foam. The presence of this foam underneath the foot and in the heel helps to reduce the impact of each stride, which also contributes to a more stable stride overall. The Ignite Disc as a whole is a fairly stable shoe.
Flexibility
The main sources of flexibility in the Ignite Disc are the upper and the outsole. The upper contributes greatly thanks to its mesh design. The mesh is very flexible because of the way it is designed and woven. This allows the top of the shoe to flex as needed while running. The outsole contributes through the grooves on it. These grooves improve the flexibility of the bottom of the shoe, which makes each step feel a bit more comfortable. Between these two features, the Puma Ignite Disc is a pretty flexible shoe.
Traction
Traction shouldn’t be a major issue on most surfaces thanks to the carbon rubber on the outsole of the Ignite Disc. Carbon rubber tends to offer very solid traction on most commonly ran surfaces. Only on more extreme surfaces or very wet surfaces should one be worried about traction with the Ignite Disc.
Bottom Line
Overall, the Puma Ignite Disc is a quite unique shoe that offers some very interesting and useful features. For anyone seeking a trainer that fits well, is fairly stylish, and is solidly priced, the Ignite Disc is definitely not a bad choice.
