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Review: PUMA Mobium Trainers

Gear Reviews

Review: PUMA Mobium Trainers

With the 2013 Spring soccer season upon us it’s time to get match fit again! When it comes to getting ready to last a full 90 nothing compares to hitting the road or treadmill for runs. Enter new running / training footwear from PUMA – the Mobium Elite and Bioweb.

PUMA Mobium

In our latest product review we will be taking an in-depth look at the Mobium Elite (available soon at World Soccer Shopsoccer.com and Kitbag). Our review of the Bioweb is coming soon.

Technology

The PUMA Mobium offers some incredible footwear innovations that could be game changers in the running shoe space. Here’s are the specs of the shoe from PUMA.

PUMA Mobium

The PUMA Mobium Elite adapts to you. (Welcome to the world of Adaptive Running™.) Mobium offers midfoot and forefoot strikers something completely new: a running shoe that expands and contracts right along with your foot, without constraints. The shoe’s three main components work together through your entire gait cycle: Windlass Chassis, Expansion Pods, and Mobium Band. The give-and-take technology maximizes energy and propels you forward past your every notion of running.

PUMA Mobium

Features:

  • Specifically designed for the neutral runner who is a midfoot or forefoot striker
  • Open air mesh upper for breathability
  • Lace closure and synthetic overlays for a snug fit
  • moveCELL designation for its highly flexible, adaptive design engineered to enhance and maximize your body’s natural movement
  • Windlass Chassis changes in length, height, and proportion along with your foot’s natural movement

PUMA Mobium

  • 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
  • EverRide and EverTrack rubber at the outsole for added grip
  • PUMA Formstrip at lateral side
  • PUMA Cat Logo at medial side forefoot
  • PUMA Cat Logo at tongue and heel

PUMA Mobium

Design

Love the PUMA Formstripe and Cat (sometimes called the PowerCat) but can’t find them prominently displayed on the same shoe? Look no further! The PUMA Mobium has both in a combination not often offered by the German sportswear giant with the Formstripe on the outside of the shoe and the PUMA Cat on the inner front and creeping onto the front of the shoe.

PUMA Mobium

If that isn’t eye-catching enough, the technology of the Mobium is put together in an ultra-modern package that makes it one of the best running shoes around. The Mobium’s launch colorway Jasmine Green and Black, it is sure to catch the attention of onlookers anywhere you wear them. It is also available in more subdue color combinations such as Black and White.

Fit

I got a PUMA Mobium Elite in my normal size running shoe (size 10). However, I did find that it fit slightly large (perhaps like a 10.25 if there were such a thing). Nothing to balk at but I would recommend maybe going half a size down from your usual shoe size if you want to eliminate a little room at the front between the big toe and front of the shoe.

From the heel and all around the foot, the Mobium fits incredibly snug and you do have to loosen up the top two rows of lacing to get your foot in it. For soccer players, this is quite reminiscent of putting on one of today’s speed boots.

PUMA Mobium

A final “Fit” item that I’d like to point out is the fact that the tongue on the PUMA Mobium is very thin and lightweight. Again while this is common in today’s soccer shoes, it is not as prevalent with running shoes. I thought that this was a great feature as it eliminates weight from the shoe and can avoid the top of the foot getting hot during long runs in warm weather.

On the Run

After walking round in the PUMA Mobium for couple of days to get used to its feel, I took it out for a 5 mile run that included asphalt, concrete and rubberized track surfaces. This is what I found:

  • The Mobium offers an incredible level of heel cushioning – Even on the most unforgiving of concrete sidewalks, this absorbs much of the force transfer when the heel hits the ground.
  • The Mobium’s cushioning seems to be “rolling” – By this I mean that the high level of cushioning you feel when the heel strikes the ground feels like it moves along the sole of the shoe to the midfoot and then forefoot areas as you stride along while running. The only area of the PUMA Mobium where I did not feel the cushioning wave moving to was the toe area. I believe that this effect is because of the Mobium Band and Expansion Pods of the shoe. Whatever the engineering behind this effect, it works well!

PUMA Mobium

  • No slippage – Gaps in running shoes can cause slippage that leads to blistered feet and the premature wearing out of linings. Given the PUMA Mobium’s sock-like fit, all slippage is eliminated. This adds to the overall comfort of the shoe.
  • Cooling Effect – The Mobium’s upper is made of a very lightweight, ventilated fabric. I noticed that this provided a great cooling effect when running indoors on a treadmill. However, when running outdoors in wind and sub-zero temperatures my feet did feel a bit cold. I’d stick to using them indoors in the winter time or outdoors only if the temperature is above 60 degrees.

PUMA Mobium

Durability

I’ve logged 30 miles in the PUMA Mobium Elite so far. They’re holding up great through my abuse as I get ready for the upcoming soccer season and don’t look much different from when I took them out of the box. They do show slight some creasing towards the front but this is to be expected and is minimal because of the upper material used.

PUMA Mobium

Value

The price point for the PUMA Mobium Elite is $110. This is average for a running shoe but on the lower side for a shoe as good as and with the advanced technology of the Mobium. Similar shoes are running as high as $165 nowadays. If you are in the market for some excellent new trainers then I definitely recommend giving them a try!

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