7 September 2013Minimalist Shoe Review: Puma FAAS 100 R Zero-Drop RacerWhen Puma introduced the Mobium Elite earlier this year, it started to move into the minimalist running shoes category. The FAAS collection has been around for a while and Puma is filling in the opposite end of its spectrum with lightweight and lightly cushioned shoes. Now, the most minimal shoe in the FAAS collection, the FAAS 100 R is finally here! With the FAAS 100 R, Puma built this shoe for the runner who is looking to feel light and fast — it’s a zero-drop racer A minimal and highly breathable single layer mesh is sandwiched between bonded overlays and the internal suede forefoot support-structure to provide an extremely lightweight one-piece upper. Midsole is FAASFOAM+, Puma’s new proprietary blend of foam and rubber that is more resilient, springy, and 25% lighter. The outsole is made of high resistant carbon-rubber. There is also a “GLOW” edition of this model shipping later in the month.
On the outsole and the uppers are the glow and reflective materials, screen prints, and colors for 360 degrees of protection throughout the day and night. Beside shoes, the GLOW elements are also in some of the running apparel including aPuma Night Cat jacket which I wear running and walking at night. What I love a lot about this is the slim fit not found in a lot of outer layers from other brands. Here’s an interesting video interviewing PUMA Designer Yurri Mial about the breathable, playful, thoughtful FAAS 100 R. My pair of Puma FAAS 100 R weighs in at 6.4 ounces (U.S, Men’s 10.5). Stack height is about 18mm and zero-drop. The second I put them on, I can tell it is very different from all the other FAAS models I have tested (road and trail versions). This one is just plain comfortable, lightweight, and super-flexible. The standard width is just enough to accommodate my 2E wide feet sockless; and no hot spots or blisters. It has a sockliner that is removable but you cannot run sockless without it because the footbed has visible stitching.
The sockliner is about 3mm in the forefoot area so you can replace it with a thinner sockliner if you want to be even closer to the ground! The uppers are highly breathable, even more on the GLOW version. You can see through the uppers if you look closely and see your toes. Running early mornings, I can feel the cool morning breeze on my bare feet. The light cushioning, light weight, and super-flexibility makes this a favorite of mine for racing and speed work. It has become part of my rotation with the Merrell Vapor Glove, Topo Athletic RR, New Balance RC5000, and Newton Running MV3. I even tested the FAAS 100 R with a 20 pound weight vest on a tartan track. I ran 2 miles with it. It is for strengthening my legs for jumping and sprinting but also a way to reset my body from just long trail running. Coupled with bootcamp exercises, I hope to balance my muscles more. Contrary to traditional beliefs, heavy runners should be running with light cushioned running shoes rather than thick cushioned shoes.
I did fine with the weight vest and FAAS 100 R. I had previously been using my Altra Zero Drop ONE with the weight vest. A couple of small issues with the shoe, but some are already addressed by the product team for early 2014: The heel collar is a little too tall – I only feel this while doing long walks with the FAAS 100 R. Maybe it’s just from the walking gait with heel striking. The tongue slides around a lot for me. This is a pet peeve of mine but others might not be bothered by it. Maybe they could integrate the tongue more to the uppers. The toe box could be slightly wider. The uppers stretch a little but for those with extra wide feet (3E, 4E), it may not be enough. Overall, Puma hit a home run with the FAAS 100 R. The FAAS 100 R is an awesome pair of minimalist running shoe for those transitioning from traditional running shoes for those already transitioned and looking for something with a little cushioning. For those interested in a trail version of the Puma FAAS 100 R, there is a trail shoe coming late this fall the Puma FAAS 100 TR. Stay tuned for a full NRC review in the future.
I know we’re are always on the search for a good Parkour Shoe and we try around with lots of different ones. But every now and then we stumble on a gem we really like and that’s when we feel like sharing it with you. I got the Puma FUTURE R689 with Pasha in Mexico, after we both destroyed our shoes. We liked them more for their style than being convinced of their functionality and turned out to like them more than expected. I don’t want to get to deep into this, because shoes are so specific for each person, so here is a quick runthrough: Grip – Not the best I ever had, but it works fine for me on all walls and bars and when I did this sideflip gap it was actually a little wet, so they work well in winter conditions as well. The sole is one flat piece and very flexible, which makes movement on rails and balancing really effortless. Cushion – The only thing I would like to improve about these shoes is a little more cushion on the toes, but I also feel like the less cushion the more touch and feel you have for tricky landings and surfaces.
Having shoes with less cushion as a beginner really helps building a healthy landing technique as well ; I wouldn’t recommend them for high-impacts, though. Weight – One of my favorite parts is how light and flexible they are, especially when it comes to acrobatics it feels almost like you are barefoot. Durability – The one pair I got lasted me through Malaysia, Bosnia, Santorini and a few other stops, before I got holes on top of my toes. For my new pair I just stick some duct-tape on the weak areas from the inside, which really slows that breaking process down. Other than that the shoe was in good condition and the sole was almost untouched. Not the best durability for the price, but to me it’s worth it. Style – I really love the look, it doesn’t look like a running shoe or anything too sporty. The mint green and All-black are definitely my favorite ones. I have no problem wearing them with normal clothes anytime. Summary – If you don’t do height drops every day and feel like you can pay a little extra for the style you like, this is a good shoe for you.