Review: PUMA Mobium Ride Nightcat

Many of us are now training at night with shortened days now upon us. For those of us hitting the streets for evening runs, PUMA has released the Mobium Ride NightCat running shoe with revolutionary reflective and lighting technology. This is our world exclusive review of this new trainer.

Here are the key features of the Mobium Ride NightCat from PUMA:

• 360 degree of reflectivity and a blue LED light on the tongue for low light conditionsSpecifically designed for the everyday runner who is a heel striker
• Molded PUMA Supreme Ride EVA sockliner with forefoot flex grooves, minimal arch support, and an excellent ride underfoot
• Windlass Chassis changes in length, height, and proportion along with your foot’s natural movement
• Expansion Pods located on the forefoot outsole provide cushioning, protection, and flexibility exactly where you need it

• Finely tuned, elasticized Mobium Band runs through the outsole in a figure 8 pattern, working dynamically like your foot’s tendons: the more force applied, the more spring it returns
• Outsole utilizes PUMA’s EverRide+, now lighter and with enhanced cushioning and durability for a smoother toe-off
• EverTrack high abrasion resistant rubber featured in high wear areas of outsole for added durability
• Weight: 9.4 ounces (size 9)

Design

PUMA’s designers continue to churn out some of the best looking footwear around. While we’re quite familiar with their eye-catching soccer boots, we’re now appreciating similar brilliance from their running shoe teams.

The Mobium Ride NightCat is a case in point. It has a sleek look that is reminiscent of PUMA’s very popular motorsports-inspired footwear.  While everything in the shoe is functional (more on that later), the components of it are packaged into a totally contemporary look that will turn heads. Our favorites are the PUMA Cat logo on its instep and Formstripe on the outstep along with the speckled silver coating in the heel area.  The mesh upper used to the Mobium Ride NightCat also blends well with the rest of the shoe thanks to its reflective quality.

Fit

The PUMA Mobium Ride NightCat fit slightly on the bigger side. The standard thumb width between the tip of the big toe and front of the upper expected in well-fitting running shoes is present with just a little something extra. Not quite enough to warrant going half a size down, the extra space probably amounts to about one eight of an inch and can quickly disappear with some thicker winter running socks.

The rest of the upper offers a very snug fit on the foot with no room for slippage. At the same time, there are not hotspots on the PUMA Mobium Ride NightCat that can cause blisters. Lace them up and you’re ready for a night run.

On the Run

After a break-in period of walking in the PUMA Mobium Ride NightCat for a couple of days (standard practice) we began running in them.  What we thought follows:

Ride

The Mobium Ride NightCat is a shoe specifically designed for heel strikers. As such it does have significant cushioning towards the rear of its sole. This might seem almost stiff to some and does take some getting used to. In fact, the feeling is quite different from the rolling wave cushioning of the core Mobium Elite shoe. The wave effect is present in the forefoot of the shoe beyond the arch area. However it is absent in the heel.

Although the Mobium Ride features the inventive Mobium Band, expansion pods and windlass chassis of the Elite model we thought that the overall cushioning offered was somewhat diminished. We suspected this from the design of the shoe since the sole is noticeably thicker than that of the Mobium Elite.

There is some improvement with the spring provided by the second generation Mobium Band used for the Mobium Ride NightCat. We could tell that the band was an elasticized cord for the Mobium Elite. In the case of the Ride, the band is now flattened and coated in a plastic composite. We’re not sure what’s under there but we do like the increased propulsion that comes along with each step.

Over the course of several runs during which we logged a cumulative total of 30 miles our feet molded well with the PUMA Mobium Ride NightCat. No underfoot discomfort, supination or pronation was experienced from what we’ve concluded is a solid everyday trainer over shorter distances (3-5 miles).

Ventilation

The upper of the PUMA Mobium Ride NightCat is made of a lightweight mesh material that we found to provide excellent ventilation for our sweaty feet. It allows for good air circulation in both warm and cool conditions to aid with sweat dissipation when you are on the go. You’ll may have to wear some thicker socks if wearing the Mobium Ride in colder weather to keep your toes from getting cold however. Materials engineers have yet to find a shoe fabric that keeps your feet comfortably warm while allowing for moisture removal.

Lighting Up the Night

Safety is one of the first orders of business for the PUMA Mobium Ride NightCat thanks to its amazing 360 degrees of reflectivity and blue LED light on the tongue. This is something unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. Every piece of PUMA branding on the new Mobium is made of a reflective material. This is augmented with the same material on the entire back third of the shoe. On top of all of that you have the LED with can either flash or simply provide light at the touch of a button. It is rechargeable with a PUMA-provide micro USB cable. A value-add to the shoe is a carrying bag that has a reflective Nightcat print on it.

Value

The non-discounted price point of the PUMA Mobium Ride NightCat is $130. This is average for a running mid-range running shoe nowadays. However if you throw in the Nightcat reflective technology of the shoe then this Mobium seems like a deal for the night runners among us.

Thanks to Michelle!