The Puma Roma sneaker made a strong comeback recently and I was able to grab this pair in gray and black making it a good time to review its features. Various new versions have been introduced, with most of them keeping the original silhouette, one that is hard not to recognize. Back in 1968 when it was first introduced, the Puma Roma shoes were some of the top track shoes on the market. It was the same year when the brand launched the Classic suede , arguably among the most popular retro sneakers ever released. Inspired from the Olympics that took place in Rome in 1960, this style was quickly a favorite of athletes around the world. Today it’s a classic shoe that is stylish and comfortable, perfect for a laid back, sporty look.
Puma Roma embodies the classic looks of an athletic shoe back in the 70’s. Its looks remind us about another classic, the adidas Samoa, that was released over a decade later. The rivalry of the two brands was well known at the time, yet it did not stop them to get inspired from one another. This is a stylish, clean looking shoe , fairly lightweight and durable. We had a chance to take a closer look at the suede version of this shoe that was recently released, one that you can see in the pictures above.
Upper
Generally the upper part of the Puma Roma sneaker is made of leather with suede overlays but as we mentioned above and as you can see in the pictures many other versions have been released over the years. The Puma stripe that we find on most of the brand shoes could not miss, while the logo on the back heel and tongue complete the branding of the shoe. The reinforced toebox is slightly higher than we see on other classics, with the rubber bumper toe adding to it. The shoe is quite comfortable at the first try, yet slightly narrow. Therefore, if you may have wider feet (like I do), these may not work for you. If unsure about your size you can check out our Puma shoes size chart here.
Sole
The sole construction is the classic one that we find at most classics of that time; visible EVA midsole (white) and rubber outsole. The EVA midsole is a bit outdated for athletes but it’s still great for every day wear, it still offers good cushioning. The rubber sole adds traction but also durability to the sole, yet in a quite basic form, one that make classics t still have their charm in today’s market where so many new technologies have emerged.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a fashionable classic shoe, the Puma Roma sneaker is up there with the adidas Samoa and Nike Cortez, all offering style and cool looks before comfort. But if you’re not taking these for a run they make a great companion.
