PUMA is a global athletic brand. With unique industry perspective, it provides unexpected sport wear products through revolutionary design technical innovation. Puma Faas 500 is a typical product. If you are an everyday runner who is looking for minimal and lightweight cushioning running shoes for smooth and fast ride, Puma Faas 500 v4 is the great option for you.
Highlight & updated features and technologies
In the 4th version, Puma maintained a lot of great features in previous versions and added a couple key updates as well.
- This version has more cushioning compared to previous ones.
- The Faas 500 v4 has an unmatched step-in comfort thanks to OrthoLite® sockliner.
- Protective TPU toecap of the shoes offers added toe protection when running on different terrains.
- The overall reflective overlays are for added safety while running on low visibility.
- The EVERFIT 2.0 upper lockdown is used for security and neutral foot movement.
- Lightweight FaasFoam + One-Piece Midsole is very light that increases responsiveness but also remarkably helps reduce the weight of the shoes.
- A decoupled heel and lateral release grooves provide a gradual transition from heel strike to midfoot stance.
- Forefoot flex grooves align with flex notches for consistent flexibility and an easier toe-off.
The newest edition of Puma Faas 500 has an improved upper fit. Upper is designed to wrap the foot securely. The shoes come with a new Weave Mesh upper, which is basically very tightly woven, comfortable and super stretchy mesh giving structural support on the sides and heel section. In the upper part, you can also see a locking system to the lacing, which are called EVERFIT 2.0 upper lockdown contributing to provide a better fit and feel around the midfoot without feeling uncomfortable or too snug. Overall, the new design with lightweight materials in this unit doesn’t limit runners’ movements by using unnecessary overlays or extra layers like other versions.
Midsole
The midsole unit of the 4th version features an upgraded version of the proprietary cushioning system used by Puma. Additionally, the material used in this unit is springy and responsive but doesn’t limit the foot’s natural movement. Besides, the molded OrthoLite® Sock Liner offers plush underfoot support and a healthy environment thanks to its anti-microbial properties.
Outsole
The outsole of the shoes is made from injected blown rubber that offers durable protection to work against the abrasive nature of the roads. In addition, in the forefoot area you will find flex grooves which allow your foot to move naturally and at the same time make each stride more responsive and smoother.
Puma faas 500 v4 review
Comfort
Puma Faas 500 v4 is supper comfortable on my feet the first time I wear them. And after a number of miles later, they are still extremely comfortable. These are also perfect for people who are on their feet all day. OrthoLite® sockliner is featured in the shoes to offer optimum comfort. Besides, added cushioning with soft and stretchy materials used also brings very comfortable feels.
Fit
The fit is very great for me since I ordered a size up compared to my normal size according to many suggestions from my friends as well as reviews on the Internet. I feel that the upper part of Puma Faas 500 has been improved for better fit. The curved structure is designed to accommodate natural shape of the foot. There are plenty of sizes and widths available for both men and women.
Cushion
I looked for a trainer with good shock absorption and Puma shoes do this job for me at a very cheap price with the Faasfoam+ in the midsole. I recognized more cushioning was added into the 4th version of Puma Faas. You can receive great cushioning not only from midsole but also outsole unit. Despite all the cushioning and durable outsole, the shoes still give runners pretty good ground feel.
Support
Generally, Puma Faas 500 v4 offers enough support that most runners need for short runs. From the upper to outsole unit, all are built with supportive features to help runners run more comfortable and effective. A midsole pushes me off the ground while outsole supports me to run on different surfaces and the upper gives me a supportive fit. Once I switch to low or zero drop shoes all of my lower back pain went away and these shoes with a 4-mm drop and a slim profile also do this to me. Besides, the shoes are designed with overall reflective overlays to support runners and increase safety when running on low visibility places.
Quality and durability
On the outsole of the shoes, there is injected blown rubber EverTrack + coverage which will help provide more cushioning and importantly enhance durability. I am a little worried about how long these will last due to very little tread. Although they didn’t hold up very good as my expectation but with the price I paid for these, they are quite fine.
Breathability
Air mesh upper is not only for personalized fit and comfort but also breathability. Additionally, OrthoLite® sockliner is also breathable and has anti-microbial properties to make sure very fresh as well as comfortable feeling for runners’ feet. In fact, I have never felt any hot feet and bad smell after my runs.
Traction and terrains
The running shoes have a lot of traction on the road, track and gravel terrains. Moreover, they feature a Protective TPU toecap which provides added toe protection when you run on various terrains. However, they don’t work well on wet surfaces. Therefore, you should be careful when running in the rain if you don’t want slip.
Weight
In terms of weight, most runners are impressed with the light weight of Puma Faas 500 v4. The materials used for the units are very light and supportive. Although they have more cushioning in comparison with previous versions, they are still lighter and can be used for speed works.
Style
Puma Faas 500 v4 looks very cool with bright colors. The stylish colors can go with many types of outfit, especially jeans. These shoes are a happy median between the trendy minimalist shoes and traditional running shoes. I chose a white pair for myself; they are very beautiful but get dirty easily. You can choose other colors because Puma also releases three other ranges.
Use
I bought these for casual walking, speed work and shorter races (half marathon or less), all of which require greater concentration, especially on down hills. Up to now, they are working well for me. I would also wear them as casual shoes because of the comfort and style. Besides, these shoes also support well for gym and on treadmill. But I don’t recommend them for long running if you want them to last longer.
Puma faas 500 - like and dislike
Like
- Plenty of cushioning for more comfort as well as support.
- The price is affordable.
- Encourages midfoot striking.
- The upper is redesigned for better fit than previous model.
- There are plenty of protective features.
Dislike
- Too narrow for some, especially wide-feet runners.
- The durability of the shoes is not as expectation.
- Not enough grip on wet surfaces.
Similar running shoes to Puma faas 500
Saucony Cortana 4
Like Puma Faas 500 v4, Saucony Cortana 4 is also lightweight neutral shoe that delivers responsive cushioning and a comfortable, smooth ride. These running shoes are ideal for both roads and tracks. Besides, both have low profile design that offers free foot movement. But in terms of price, Saucony shoes are a bit more expensive than Puma’s and of course, Saucony Cortana 4 has better durability.
Asics Natural-80
In terms of usage, Asics Natural-80 is considered as versatile shoe that can be used for race or speed workouts like Puma Faas 500 v4 thanks to its lightweight. Additionally, the Asics’s have other similar features to Puma’s such as a 4-mm heel offset, minimalist design, and minimal arch support. This is a great replacement for Puma Faas 500 v4 if you want to try another shoe brand.
Brooks PureConnect
Lastly, if you are looking for lightweight and low-drop shoes to replace your Puma Faas 500, the Brooks PureConnect are an excellent option to try. Especially, these shoes also have lightweight that allows you to use them for speed works or half marathons. Generally, they are one of the best minimalist shoes on the market.
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Previous versions of puma faas 500
Puma Faas 500 v3
The Faas 500 v3 is a minimal neutral trainer with maximum amount of underfoot protection and FaasFoam cushioning for daily training. This version has a brand new upper with higher quality materials and a minimal EverFit system that helps lock the midfoot in place. The v3 of Puma Faas 500 also features lateral release grooves, a decoupled heel crash pad and flex grooves for a smoother transition from heel to toe. Molded EcoOrthoLite® sockliner is used for optimum fit, breathability, and comfort. Additionally, EverTrack high abrasion resistant rubber is added in high-wear areas of the outsole to ensure high durability for the shoes. In terms of weight, Puma Faas 500 v3 has a lot of similarities with the v4, but is still a bit heavier. However, these shoes are great choices for speed works.
Puma Faas 500 v2
Puma Faas 500 V2 is great shoe for light runs thanks to its lightweight. However, the shoes do not have much cushion so I don’t think it is designed for long runs on concrete, but on treadmill this works greatly. In comparison with the 4th version, this version of Puma Faas 500 seems to have a little bit heavier weight but less cushioning. When it comes to flexibility, it was significantly improved in this update because of the removal of rubber under the forefoot and additional flex grooves in the midsole and outsole. These shoes also come with a very affordable price, which is a big advantage for normal runners while its quality is still ensured. Puma Faas 500 v2 has a small downside, which is the slightly narrow toe box that is always hoped to be improved in next editions.
Conclusion
They are not the best running shoes but at a cheap price, they do many jobs for runners with great combination of comfort, smoother ride and protection. In fact, I want to spend money for other aspects of my life than for running shoes and I believe that there are many people do the same. I am very satisfied with quality products.
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