Puma Sneakers Are Quietly Taking Over Our Shopping Carts

When we set out to find the best Puma shoes, we didn’t know the brand had so many options for running, casual outings, and even weightlifting. Turns out, Puma is a bit of a one-stop shop for all your footwear needs—and a stylish one, at that.

“Offering good arch support, cushioning, and responsiveness, many Puma designs combine comfort and fashion,” Elizabeth Daughtry, DPM, FACFAS, a podiatrist based in North Carolina, tells SELF. She adds that Puma often stands out from other big sneaker names for its ever-evolving shoe technology, sustainability efforts, and cool collaborations with brands and celebrities like Fenty, Skepta, and Lamelo Ball (if anyone else regularly thinks about this 2016 campaign with Kylie Jenner, please let me know).

Whether you’re looking for a performance-driven running shoe or some kicks you can wear to the office, Puma has a pair waiting for you. We asked SELF staffers which Pumas rank among their faves—shop them all below.

Our top picks

1. Best Athleisure Option: Puma Speedcat OG, $100
2. Best Weight-Lifting Shoe: Puma Fuse 3.0, $120
3. Best Running Shoe: Puma Velocity Nitro 3, $135
4. Best Work Sneaker: Puma Easy Rider Vintage, $90
5. Trendiest: Puma Mostro Fey Launch Sneakers, $110
6. Best Max Cushion Option: Puma MagMax Nitro, $180
7. Best Sandal: Puma Shibusa, $50

No doubt about it: These sneakers are the cat’s meow.

Best Athleisure Option: Puma Speedcat OG

It’s not every day that a $100 sneaker is the it-shoe for Emily Ratajkowski, Dua Lipa, and Jennifer Lawrence, but the bestselling Speedcat OG is not your everyday sneak. Originally designed for Formula 1 drivers (complete with fireproofing), it’s slim and sleek, with a leather and suede upper that gives it a vintage vibe. It’s the perfect shoe for anyone aiming for the retro look, but you can reliably throw on a pair of Speedcats and trust they’ll look great with whatever you happen to be wearing.

(And if these strike your fancy but you want to get even sportier—and trendier—keep an eye out for the OG H-Street sneakers, available only for preorder at the moment.)

Best Weight-Lifting Shoe: Puma Fuse 3.0

This 2024 SELF Sneaker Award winner wowed our tester with its stable (yet flexible) sole and locked-in fit. “The flat bottom helps me stay stable and really push through the ground for my bigger lifts, especially deadlifts, where you definitely don’t want any wobble,” they said. “They’re the perfect fit, which means I don’t have to think about them when I’m lifting or worry about readjusting between sets.”

One thing to note: Since we’ve been recommending the Fuse 3.0 for a year, we’ve noticed that it can go out of stock from time to time. Don’t stress, though—every time it’s made its return, it’s come back in a couple new, sweet colorways.

Best Running Shoe: Puma Velocity Nitro 3

The Velocity Nitro 3 is designed for everyday road running, with an extended heel, moderate cushioning, and responsive ride. It’s one of several Puma runners made with the brand’s nitrogen-infused ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, known as Nitro foam. “The Nitro midsole provides a balance of cushioning and rebound to assist with daily training,” Dr. Daughtry says. She adds that the Velocity Nitro is especially good for runners who prefer stability shoes (i.e., overpronators and some with flat feet).

Best Work Sneaker: Puma Easy Rider Vintage

If you already have a pair of Speedcats—or want something similar, but with a more rugged sole—go for the Easy Rider. It won a Sneaker Award last year, thanks to the fact that it feels as good as it looks.

“They’re very supportive and give you a little push while you walk, and they have a nice rounded bottom on the front of the shoe,” our tester said. “I even got a few compliments on them while I was out. I wore them with denim shorts and a white tee, and they really elevated an otherwise plain outfit with a pop of color.” A shoe that plays well with basics and keeps our feet from dragging on long commutes? Sounds like a solid work sneaker to us

Trendiest: Puma Mostro Fey Launch Sneakers

Ballerina sneakers are here, baby, and if you want to try a pair that doesn’t look so much like a pair of pointe shoes, we’d recommend the Mostro Fey. It has a Velcro strap that holds your foot in place and a spiky rubber outsole, giving it a more technical look that’ll help you ease your way into the trend (while still embracing it).

Best Max Cushion Option: Puma MagMax Nitro

The increasing popularity of max cushion shoes is well-deserved. For one thing, they’re undeniably comfy. For another, they can help alleviate back and knee pain, thanks to their shock-absorbing designs. Puma’s take on this style is the MagMax Nitro, which Katie Gunderman, SELF’s associate social media manager, loves for runs and long walks alike. Even among her other, similarly cushy sneakers, this one stands out for how easy and enjoyable it is to wear.

It’s also a top pick of Dr. Daughtry’s: “With its mega stack, the cushioning is top notch. But the ride is very stable, thanks to the traction offered by the wide outsole,” she says. “This shoe is ideal for long distance training and an excellent choice for a supertrainer.”

Best Sandal: Puma Shibusa

Allow us to veer away from sneakers for a moment—because everyone needs a good pair of slides. And foam padding and a minimalist vibe makes the Puma Shibusas very good indeed. They resemble a lot of popular, cloud-like slides on the market, with a few elevated details. Their wide straps have cut-outs on the inside to keep your feet from getting swampy; and their injection-molded foam midsoles feel extremely lightweight, but still cushion your steps.

How we picked the best Puma shoes

Here at SELF, we’re always testing new sneakers from big brands like Nike, Adidas, Hoka, and, yes, Puma. We try out a ton of running shoes, as well as pairs with specialized features for activities like weight lifting and walking. We ramp up our testing in anticipation of our annual Sneaker Awards, where SELF staffers, fitness experts, everyday athletes, and sneaker enthusiasts spend weeks wearing the latest, most exciting releases of the year. We took all that info into consideration when choosing the pairs listed above.

What makes Puma such a special brand?

Like Dr. Daughtry mentioned earlier, Puma shoes are uniquely stylish and practical. Its casual sneakers use time-tested designs to keep your feet happy all day long. And the running and lifting shoes can help you tackle your fitness goals with performance-driven features like airy foam midsoles and sturdy, supportive outsoles.

“Puma’s strength is the ability to offer a wide range of footwear catering to different needs and different foot shapes,” Dr. Daughtry says. “Merging style, fashion, function, and the needs of its customer, the range is excellent.”

If we had to name one downside to Puma, it’s that many of its styles are known to run small, narrow, or both. If you’re new to the brand’s sizing, try a couple pairs on IRL if you can—especially if you have wide feet.

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