Even if you’re the most pessimistic, intolerant, and sceptical person going, you can’t deny that PUMA has had a very strong year.
They’ve put out loads of fantastic releases in 2024, and what’s more, they’ve released such a wide range of different shoes that there has most definitely been something for everyone – if you went searching you could find a pair of 2024 released PUMA’s that would suit your Mum, Dad, cat, dog, fish – you get the gist.
It doesn’t matter whether its high-performance running shoes, kitschy collaboration trabs, or re-releases of archival models, PUMA has nailed every single genre this year.
When brands do things well, we like to celebrate that, and that’s the reason we’re recounting the best PUMA releases of 2024.
We’ve managed to boil it down to eight models and trust us, that was no easy task, so to rank them in order of greatness was simply out of the question.
So, in no particular order, here’s our absolutely indisputable guide to the best PUMA releases of 2024.
#1 SPEEDCAT
Somebody coined the PUMA Speedcat as the ‘It shoe of 2024’, now we don’t fully know what that means, but they are very nice, if that’s what they’re getting at.
The Speedcat was originally produced in the late ’90s and we reckon PUMA have nailed this re-release, with it still beautifully referencing the fireproof footwear donned by Formula 1 Drivers of the 1980s that originally inspired its conception.
Our pick of the bunch from the cult re-release is these brown and cream editions. Very, very good.
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#2 MOSTRO
One thing that PUMA has not shied away from in the slightest this year is a bit of madness, the good kind. Nowhere is this more evident than on these bright purple Mostro re-releases.
The Mostro, like the Speedcat, was also released originally in 1990, and for the initial release, PUMA decided to remove the spikes that cover the sole in fear that it was maybe a bit too mad. The release was met with a great deal of popularity, resulting in PUMA resurrecting the spiked edition.
The Mostro turned out to be a big hit back then, and they’ve been a big hit again this time around. Would we wear them personally? Probably not, but we can’t refute their coolness.
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#3 FAST-R NITRO ELITE 2
So ugly that they’re good. Although the people purchasing these probably aren’t all that bothered about the aesthetics.
The Fast-R Nitro Elite 2 was released this year to be PUMA’s most radical super shoe ever, and whilst we can’t so much as comment on their super running abilities, they most definitely look radical.
Even as I write this I can’t take my eyes off how mad they look, I mean just look at that weird double sole thing at the toe, what on earth is that for?
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#4 KING INDOOR
Now here’s one we don’t have to admire from afar. If there was a shoe on this list that we’ve got a soft spot for a little bit more than others, it’s the PUMA King Indoor.
We won’t bore you with why the PUMA King boot was so great, but we will say that seeing its Indoor equivalent make its return for the first time in 3285 days was certainly a high point for us this year. That tongue, with that gumsole, and that leather? Fuggedaboutit.
Pub? Club night? Coaching 5-a-side? School disco? The King Indoor has got you covered.
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#5 SKOPE FOREVER X SKEPTA
Were we really that surprised when PUMA announced a release with Skepta? Not really.
We were a bit surprised though that it took the form of a mid-top, outdoor-ready boot. Surprised, but very excited.
These are really good, right down to the colour of the laces, pair them with some baggy jeans and you’ve got yourself a solid rig-out already. The chunky midsole combined with the brown suede makes for the perfect all-season stomper, and obviously, the Skepta collaboration characteristic makes them even cooler.
CAN’T REALLY GET A PAIR ANYWHERE THEY’RE ALL SOLD OUT, MAYBE HERE THOUGH.
#6 GV SPECIAL
Few things brought as big a smile to our faces as the return of the GV Special. These are ridiculously clean, and even more importantly, are a very good homage to their original release back in the 1980’s.
For the uncultured of you, GV stands for Guillermo Vilas, the title of the great Argentine tennis player, and this shoe certainly bolsters the claim that tennis may well be the most stylish sport ever.
These easily have the best and most wearable midsole on this list. No question.
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#7 INHALE
In stark contrast to the sensibility of the GV Special, we have the shoutiness (not a word, is it?) of the Inhale.
This is a PUMA silhouette that we certainly enjoy admiring from afar – the chances of them ending up on our feet? Not likely.
With that said though, the Inhale proves that we don’t need to want to wear a pair of shoes to appreciate them.
The Inhale certainly takes a certain type of person to pull it off, and for this rendition of the release, PUMA decided that person was to be Xavi Simons, who fronted the campaign.
Totally mental looking, a bit scary, a bit goth, and for these reasons, a very good release.
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#8 MANGAL II SUEDE
Closing this list is a release in collaboration with a Kebab house, has this been influenced by it nearly being lunchtime? Maybe.
Only joking, even if I’d just eaten an entire elephant’s leg prior to writing this, I’d still be putting the PUMA Suede Mangal II collab on this list.
The colour of the suede is fantastic, the gold detailing is sublime, and it being a collaboration between a clothing brand and a not clothing brand just adds to the overall coolness of it all.
The only thing we can recommend more than purchasing a pair of these is getting yourself down to Mangal II, or Mangal I for that matter. Probably the best Turkish food north of Antalya.
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Right, there you have it, the best eight PUMA releases to have graced our feet this year. If you think differently, you’re wrong.
It’s going to be tough for PUMA to top this list in 2025, but somehow, some way, we reckon they’ve got it in their locker.
