ARE you looking for premium quality basketball shoes that are not from Nike or Adidas?
Then look no further.
Puma Philippines recently unveiled the newest members of its Hoops Squad, including University of the East’s Nigerian star big man Precious Momowei and University of the Philippines rookie standout Quentin Millora-Brown, two players who are in the Top 10 of the MVP race at the end of the first round.
And these UAAP rising stars are equipped with this year’s best Puma basketball sneakers, including the Puma All-Pro Nitro.
RJ Barrett, Kyle Kuzma, Dennis Schroeder, and Michael Porter Jr. are some of the NBA stars wearing this innovative, yet under-the-radar shoe.
Puma let us try the All-Pro Nitro in the Sunset Glow-Sun Stream-PUMA Black colorway.
It did not disappoint.
It stands out with its bright colors, but it performs better than it looks.
Let’s break it down into five parts:
FIT
Trying it on for the first time, I could already feel my feet would stay firmly in place even when moving. It has a regular fit and it’s true to size. But to make sure it fits you properly, try it out at your nearest Puma store.
SUPPORT
For me, it’s between a low- and mid-cut shoe, but you’ll readily feel it’s secure enough to ease your fears of sustaining ankle sprains.
The upper is made of engineered mesh – 94% textile and 6% synthetic, including, what Puma says, are “multi-zoned materials for targeted support, breathability, and comfort.”
CUSHIONING
This is where you’ll find the shoe’s innovative technology.
That’s because the midsole is composed of Puma’s trademark Nitrofoam, a nitrogen-injected foam that’s designed to provide “superior responsiveness and cushioning in a lightweight package.”
And so far, the shoe does respond well to the shock of each step I make, all while being comfortable.
TRACTION
For me, this is the best part about the shoe.
With a solid and wide rubber outsole featuring a pattern that looks like an old-school wooden basketball floor, the All-Pro Nitro has one of the best grips that I’ve worn ever.
I’ve already tried it on cement in a pickup game and on wooden floor in an alumni league game and the shoe allowed me to execute the quick cuts to the basket and change of direction that I want to do.
PRICE
At an SRP of P7,900, it’s one of the market’s pricier basketball shoes. It’s similar to the prices of Nike’s Giannis Freak 6, Book 1, and Zion 3. But for sure, the All-Pro Nitro can match – or even surpass - what these more popular shoes can offer. The performance is certainly worth the price.
Overall, I’m impressed. Actually, it’s my first time to try basketball shoes from Puma and it left me with a great and lasting first impression.
I can even go as far as saying that this is the best basketball shoe that I’ve ever worn outside Nike and Adidas.
Don’t sleep on these ones.
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