Details
Brand
Puma
Heel To Toe Drop
12mm
Breathability
10/10
Latest Version
No
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Lightweight: Float like a feather with a truly lightweight pair of shoes• Energy return: Everyone wants to know what they get back? IGNITE Foam, PUMA’s proprietary material, has exceptionally responsive, energy-recycling qualities to help make you faster and add a bit of spring to your step.• Propulsion: Engineered propulsion zone in the middle of the outsole produces more force when you dig your toes in and take off• Improved nighttime safety, reflective overlays for greater visibility• Rubber outsole provides a good level of grip, with EverTrack+ injection-blown rubber for durability covers high contact areas• PUMA Cat Logo located at the tongue and near the heel, PUMA Formstrip adorns each side of the shoe.
Upper
The upper used in this shoe is made from a heavy synthetic material that creates a somewhat stiff feel while running. The upper is filled with mesh ventilation sections to keep the foot comfortable, but that doesn’t help to alleviate the difficulties with stiffness. Overall the shoe just doesn’t bend or mold much to the runner’s foot. It can be a bit constricting around the sides and the upper is the main reason that some people don’t enjoy this shoe. It does offer a higher level of stability and security though, which could be a plus if you’re looking for that from a running shoe.
Midsole
Two of the coolest features of the Puma Speed 300 Ignite are found right in the midsole of the shoe. The first is what is known as Ignite foam, and it’s a spongy and bouncy material that cushions your foot while running while helping to make running feel a bit easier. The midsole helps take the impact out of each stride and can make your feet feel a bit lighter. There’s also a flex groove that runs along either side of the midsole made from chevron. This groove transfers power from your regular stride around the foot to help enhance that spring feel even more and make running more comfortable that way.
Outsole
The Puma Speed 300 Ignite comes equipped with a very capable Evertrack outsole. This heavy tread design creates good solid gripping power in a wide range of conditions. The huge amount of rubber contact offers excellent holding power during asphalt, pavement and smooth surface running, but the rougher tread sections provide enough traction for loose running surfaces as well. The outsole also features a red section known as Forever Foam, that provides a nice cushion in the heel area if you’re a heel striker.
Breathability
Some running shoes feature a full mesh upper that just allows your feet to breathe naturally throughout the run. These shoes don’t follow that model. Instead, they feature synthetic uppers that don’t breathe, mixed with mesh sections that allow ventilation. The end result is a mildly breathable shoe that is just fine for most average running conditions. This isn’t the type of shoe that you’ll want to use in high-temperature conditions where your foot needs to breathe comfortably throughout the jog.
Comfort
These shoes are an interesting blend when it comes to comfort. The foam midsole offers an excellent level of padding without being too cushy, creating great lower foot comfort. That same level of comfort doesn’t continue on throughout the rest of the foot though. The synthetic material used in the upper portion of the shoe creates a very stiff feel that’s difficult to deal with while running regularly. The product doesn’t flex with the foot and can even cause some foot fatigue or discomfort when running for long distances. It’s not necessarily uncomfortable, just a bit stiffer than some might like.
Style
Many running shoes offered today have a very busy look, with different colors, designs and special features showing off everywhere. The PumaSpeed 300 Ignite is a refreshing shoe because it doesn’t really fall victim to that trend. It’s one of the simplest and cleanest looking running shoes that you’ll find. It shows off a few different attractive color schemes, and if it wasn’t for the chevron flex groove that’s given a bright neon color, it would be difficult to tell that it’s an athletic shoe at all. It has a nice casual look that many runners will enjoy, and it’s something that can even be worn casually without looking out of place.
Durability
The Puma Speed 300 Ignite is a rugged and durable shoe that can hold up to regular abuse well. The synthetic upper doesn’t flex much and will take hundreds of miles to wear out completely, meaning that you won’t be worried about the shoe falling apart while on the go. With many running shoes the first thing to go is the outsole, but that seems pretty unlikely on this model. The Evertrack outsole is so rugged and composed of really thick rubber that it doesn’t seem likely to wear out for a very long time. These two elements, along with other high-quality materials help ensure that this shoe will offer a long lifespan and make for a good long-term running partner.
Protection
Runners looking for a high level of protection will really enjoy how well this Puma Ignite shoe shields the foot. The Evertrack outsole is made from thick durable rubber that can withstand regular impact while protecting against things like puncture while running around on a range of terrain. The shoe also comes with a tough synthetic upper that holds up really well against debris to the sides of the feet. This makes this shoe a good solid option for more outdoor running conditions as well, as long as the running terrain isn’t too loose for the traction.
Responsiveness
The Puma 300 Ignite shoes are designed to be highly responsive, and for the most part, they deliver on that design. Between the Ignite foam and the Chevron flex groove, the shoe is really springy while striding. There’s also a foam V section on heel of the outsole, making running just a bit more comfortable for heel strikers.
Support
While many people complain about the stiffness of this show, the level of support it offers is pretty impressive. The heel cap is flexible and molds right to your foot for a nice precision fit. This shoe comes equipped with a suede tongue that can be cinched down really tight comfortably. The bulk of the shoe’s support comes from the thick synthetic upper that many complain about being stiff. The Puma 300 Ignite offers an excellent level of hold and support to the sides of the foot and the ankle because of this slightly stiff feel though, making them a solid option for runners that prefer that extra bit of support.
Terrain
The cleverly designed outsole on the PumaSpeed 300 Ignite shoes makes it possible to run on most terrain types. The high level of smooth rubber at the heel and around the ball of the foot helps this shoe stand up to hard use capably on smooth surfaces like a track or pavement. There are plenty of deep groove throughout the shoe that also offer enough traction on dirt and grass as well. The only surface type this shoe could have trouble with is gravel, and even there it should offer decent gripping power, the grooves are just a bit narrow to really dig in like a proper all-terrain running shoe can.
Price
With a price range between $80 and $110 these running shoes are highly affordable and a good solid value when considering their longevity. Runners looking for a value pair to start with, should consider these shoes. They’ll offer good performance at a reasonable cost that makes them highly desirable. It’s rare to find a shoe with as many features as the Puma Speed 300 Ignite at this lower price level.
Drop
The 8.5 mm drop found in these Puma Speed 300 Ignites the shoes are a decent mid-level product for runners of both types. It doesn’t matter if you run on your heels or your midfoot. The drop won’t cause any discomfort either way, and it makes it possible to switch from one stride type to another. Heel runners that want to work toward a different stride should consider these shoes because they will work in either condition. They’re good transition shoes and are designed to help runners learn a more natural gait, without being thrown right in uncomfortably.
Stability
These running shoes are rock solid when it comes to stability without being too overwhelming. The molded heel cap and the stiff upper help to create a nice secure feel while you run. Some people complain of it being a bit tight, a bit stiff or limiting, but runners looking for a high level of stability will really enjoy the way these shoes feel. The product also comes with a solid band that extends from the middle of the outsole to the front of the shoe, and a flex groove at the sides of the midsole to help distribute forces through the foot and add a bit more stability overall.
Flexibility
Unlike some of the lighter designed shoes on the market, the Puma 300 Ignite isn’t one of the more flexible options. That’s all because of the synthetic upper used on the product. While it comes with some mesh ventilation sections, there is just too much of that thick material for the shoe to be flexible at all. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad shoe, but it has a stiff feel to it during most running conditions. This appeals to some people, but will put others off when they give it a try.
Traction
The Puma 300 Ignite is designed to offer industry-leading traction. It features large sections of smooth rubber for excellent gripping power on smooth surfaces. There are wide sections of rubber at the rear offering maximum launch power, but the ball of the shoe comes built with a good mix of smooth rubber and ridged traction sections for a mix of support. This shoe will stand up well to mixed surface running and can handle a bit of grass or dirt with no issues. It’s a good all-around product when it comes to traction and it should provide top-level performance most of the time.
Bottom Line
Puma’s series of “fast” shoes continues to gain attention among a wide demographic of runners. While the Speed 300 Ignite caters to the minimalist runner (because of its lightweight nature, and trim sole,) it strikes a the difficult balance of offering some cushioning and arch support as well. Because of this blend these shoes have a pretty broad scale of appeal. They can be a great go to for 5Ks, mid-distance runs, or even a daily trainer. When all the pros and cons have been weighed, the specs have been reviewed, and the details inspected what you will find is a very solid shoe offering high performance at a reasonable price. All in all it’s hard to wrong.
