The Puma Ultra is the flagship speed boot of the Puma range. It’s built to be lightweight, flexible and explosive when it comes to acceleration. Unlike other releases in the market, the Puma Ultra 1.3 was the first to arrive in two variants – a unisex fit and a women’s fit. We’ve previously discussed Ida Sports football, which is a women-centric football boot.

Ultra boots have proven to be a popular release, giving grassroots players in particular an affordable option to get top tech into their game. Puma Ultra technology The biggest name slipping into Puma Future is Brazilian superstar, Neymar. His international teammates Thiago Silva and Ederson also trust them. Puma always had a reputation for pushing the boundaries of speed, culminating in their SL boots which infamously only lasted 10 games. The Puma Ultra 1.3, though is a much more balanced affair. It’s very light but does not compromise on touch and thinness nor sacrifice too much on the durability front. To further reduce weight, Puma also included transparent cut-out windows in the upper, giving it that super speedy look. To ensure that you’re not faster than the ball in wet conditions, the upper has also been coated with a GripControl Pro skin upper to ensure the grippiest touch on the ball even in wet conditions. It should come as no surprise that the tighter fit means that there is some break-in time required when you first put on the Puma Ultra 1.3.

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As we mentioned, the Ultra Ultimate is the crème de la crème of this model. But for less money (which means less tech), you can grab Pro, Match and Play takedown versions.

Step out on to your choice of pitch, thanks to the availability of FG/AG, MxSG, IT and TT soleplate options. An uber-light Peba base unit helps avoid any unwanted weight in this silo, with added support coming from the Dynamic Motion System outsole. Last year, Puma rewrote the rules of the speed boot game with the Puma Ultra 1.1. For years, the speed boot market had reached a sort of détente, with the brands distancing themselves from defining their speed boots by weight, and instead focusing on being ‘light enough’ whilst not compromising on comfort. But all that changed in 2020, with Puma igniting a new arms race for the lightest speed boot title. Need more? OK then. Jorginho, James Maddison, Jan Oblak, Julian Wiegl. Your name doesn’t need to begin with J though. Ask Milan Skriniar. Models available now Puma has continued to name the tooling as being FG/AG, and we’re still reasonably pleased with its performance on AG despite the extremely aggressive looking bladed studs. Yes, there is some cling, but it’s at the edge of being acceptable, and considering that this is a speed boot after all we think that it’s still one that we’d recommend for both FG and AG.

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The latest Puma Future goes through the numbered system of takedowns. From 1.4 being the best they have to offer, through to 4.4 containing the lowest quality materials. As with all Puma models, their FG/AG model works for both firm ground and artificial grass. You’ll also find soft ground (MxSG), multi-ground (MG), astro turf (TT) and indoor (IT) options. This model is also one of the only boots to come in a true women’s shaping, which is why they’re trusted by Nicole Billa, Cristina Girelli & Ramona Bachmann too. Models available now

At a US9 size, the Puma Ultra 1.3 comes in at a stunning 159g which is a weight that can hardly be beaten by another mass produced football boot. A speedier and streamlined fit Made with updated technology which is more suited to the speed of the modern game, this is a model for players who prefer comfort with simple style. Both PWRTAPE and PWRPRINT tech sit through the chassis, providing extra support for the player and durability for the long run.

While I’m not the biggest fan of such a move, it’s an understandable one. When it comes to speed, one of the ways to make a boot feel “faster” or more lightweight, is to have the boot fit your foot more tightly, so it feels more one-to-one. Now with multiple vegan-friendly offerings and countless collaborations with other brands, the King 21 has moved on far from the original design. Puma King technology We move on to a boot built for touch now, the Puma Future. Originally born in 2017, this adaptable design was groundbreaking from the off. Like the Ultra and Future, the King uses a Peba unit in the sole to increase responsiveness when you’re shifting your weight and dropping a shoulder or two. For one, the technology within the 1.4 (most advanced) model of Future is innovative and well thought out.