Take your training to light speed with the Puma Speed Star! Also would look great on the street. Abrasion resistant tech suede upper for lightweight durability. Cushioned EVA foam insole with ID cell cushioning board for comfort and support. Non-marking abrasion resistant rubber outsole.
Comfort/ Fit
From the first time that you hold the Puma Speed Star in your hand, you can tell that this is a unique soccer shoe. I’d never seen anything like it, and it really does follow the line up of unique soccer shoes from Puma. The first thing that strikes you is the upper. It feels like a harder canvas material but with the texture of paper, called “tec suede”. I know that sounds a little strange, but it is almost impossible to explain how it feels. Check out the up close pictures above to get a better idea of what I am talking about. With all of that being said, when you put this shoe on your foot, the upper feels pretty good. It is definitely a little stiff at first, but it loosens up fairly quickly and I had no issues with comfort. It reminded me so much of the upper on the high end Vapor series from Nike, just not quite as soft. The upper has no stitching, so is therefore a pre-molded shape, but still fits really well. I would say that the front of the boot has a little bit of a tighter fit in the toe area and then a normal to wide fit through the mid foot. The heel is lined with a mesh material that is nice and soft, and also makes for a very minimal break in period. The sole is Puma’s id cell material, which I would equate to the Nike5 Lunar Gato Lunarlon material, where the idea is to be low profile like an indoor soccer shoe, while maintaining a higher amount of cushion in order to increase comfort. I found that this did help and they did provide a little extra cushion that you would not normally get. In terms of sizing, I wore my usual size 9US for review and they fit perfectly. If you intend on using these for soccer, go with your regular size, but if you are looking to wear these more for casual use, I would order a half size up for a more comfortable fit.
Weight
The word “speed” in the name of the boot would have one assume that these are lightweight shoes, and that they are. These shoes weigh in at a very light 8.6oz, which is very lightweight for an indoor soccer shoe. I really don’t think that the weight means as much in an indoor shoe, but if you are looking for something a little more lightweight than what you are currently wearing, these may be something to consider. They will also make for a very lightweight street shoe.
Traction
This is where this shoe makes you make a decision. The sole of this shoe is more of something that you would find on a street shoe, and that’s not a bad thing, it just isn’t ideal for what an indoor soccer shoe is intended to be used for, which is a gym floor surface. They will provide adequate traction on a gym floor, but the harder rubber sole is really more geared towards use on the street. I find that you get the best traction on the street, or any cement surfaces. Since the rubber is harder, it will not wear down as quickly if you do use them on the street. You can use them as a dedicated indoor, but I feel that you do have some better options for a dedicated indoor soccer shoe. As a street soccer shoe, these are definitely a pair to consider.
Touch
I described the feel of the upper to be similar to that of the high end Vapors from Nike. The upper is very unique, and is probably my favorite feature of this boot. It provides the best “close to the foot” feel, that I have found from any indoor soccer shoe. They are thin, but not too thin. The upper also has no cushioned qualities, like the Vapor. The way that you touch the ball will be very similar to the way that you would touch the ball barefoot. My one gripe that I have with this boot, as well as most indoor soccer shoes is the tongue. The tongue is not the same material as the upper, and is instead a piece of cloth-like material. While this tongue is good for comfort, I just didn’t think that it was up to par in terms of quality with the rest of the boot. It doesn’t kill the boot by any means, it is just a minor complaint that I usually have with indoor soccer shoes.
Shooting
Shooting in these shoes is pretty straight forward. They are thin for indoor soccer shoes, so that may be a little different, but other than that, there is nothing that stood out to me that needs to be mentioned. They are soccer shoes and you will be able to kick the ball just fine in these. Enough said.
Durability
I am very confident that this is a shoe that is built to last. The upper seems like one of the strongest materials that I have ever felt on a soccer shoe. They will not stretch much at all and it definitely won’t tear either. The rubber sole is pretty rugged and will not wear away very quickly, even if you do use them on the street. These are shoes that are built to last, and will do so in whatever you choose to use them as.
The Verdict
The Puma Speed Star is a street soccer shoe. I would compare it directly to the Nike5 Street Gato, in that you can use it as a dedicated indoor shoe, but was designed and intended to be used in the street. Puma have combined the style and comfort from their casual line of shoes, and tweaked that formula into a really solid soccer shoe. It’s really comfortable, offers a great touch and looks really good too. If you are on the market for a street soccer shoe, or even some new casual, the Puma Speed Star is a great option.
| Comfort/Fit | 9 out of 10 |
| Weight | 9 out of 10 |
| Traction | 8 out of 10 |
| Touch | 8 out of 10 |
| Shooting | 8 out of 10 |
| Durability | 10 out of 10 |
| FINAL SCORE | 52 out of 60 or 87% |
