Puma Ignite Ultimate

9.0
9.0 score
[Editors rating (8.7) + Users rating (10.0)] / 2 = (WalkJogRun) score (9.0)/10


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Editor rating: 8.7 / 10
User's rating: based on 1 user ratings
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Puma Ignite Ultimate Review Facts

Puma recently got into the habit of creating highly durable and functional shoes; the Puma Ignite Ultimate is a testament to this. The design of the Ignite is one that lasts for an incredibly long time; the upper of the shoe and the sole unit of the shoe both work in tandem to provide the wearer with an extremely high level of protection. The top of the shoe, as is becoming more and more common these days, is layered but still provides the wearer with vast breathability during use. The sole unit is monstrous; it incorporates ignite foam into its design, which is the main reason why the material provides so much functionality to the wearer.

Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Comfort
  • Sturdy design
  • Breathable upper
  • Inexpensive
Cons
  • On the heavier side

Outsole

The outsole of the Ignite has features placed throughout that improve the overall level of functionality and simply differ from the usual outsole that trainers are fitted with. To improve the range of motion provided by the thick outsole on this shoe, Puma fitted the shoe with flex grooves that run the length of the outsole; the flex grooves allow the shoe to move easily despite the cushioning that is present in the design. The outsole of the shoe itself is designed from Ever track rubber; this material is highly abrasive and protects the shoe from excessive wear.

Midsole

The midsole of the Ignite is the place where the shoe has the most in terms of responsiveness and cushioning. The shoe features a midsole that is designed from a rather thick cut of Ignite foam. This material provides the wearer with a high level of cushioning that doesn’t wear down with use of the shoe; the shoe retains the level of cushioning even with extended use. Due to the overall thickness of the material, the shoe also retains a rather high level of comfort during use; the cushioning conforms to the shape of the wearer’s foot and almost eliminates any feeling of the terrain that may be present with the shoe’s use.

Upper

As is customary with running shoes nowadays, the Ignite has an upper designed primarily from a mesh material. The mesh is layered to provide runners with a sense of security while running and to prevent the shoe from providing wearers with an overall loose feel during use. Despite the layering of the material, the shoe still provides runners with a decent level of ventilation, which is a must for runners. The shoe has overlays that come in the form of counters; these allow the shoe to provide wearers with a bit of support and cushioning while on foot and prevents the shoe from lacking structure.

Weight

The high level of cushioning that is present in the shoe’s design adds a decent amount of weight to the shoe’s overall design. The upper of the shoe is layered and, despite the amount of protection that it provides, it adds a decent amount of weight to the overall design of the shoe. On top of this, the sole unit of the shoe is cut from a rather thick piece of foam and is relatively heavy because of the addition of this material to the shoe’s design. Overall, the different parts of the Ignite come together to weigh about 12.3 oz. for a men’s size 11; this is something to consider if one is looking for a shoe to wear during the high-intensity activities.

Breathability

The upper of the Ignite is designed from a triple-layered cut of mesh. Despite this, the shoe still manages to deliver the wearer a decent level of airflow during their time wearing the shoe. The use of the mesh material in the make of the shoe allows for a decent level of air flow due to the natural quality of mesh and its ability to provide high levels of ventilation due to its porous design. The air flow provided by the shoe is a definite must because of the shoe’s ability to provide for the wearer’s foot in the hotter environments; on the flip side f this, the shoe also provides a decent level of coverage in the colder climates.

Comfort

The upper of the Ignite and the triple-layering that is present in the design allows for a decent level of comfort to be provided to the wearer during use; the triple-layering allows the shoe to provide the wearer with a snug-fitting shoe. The sole unit of the shoe is where the real comfort comes from though. The midsole of the shoe is designed from Puma’s Ignite foam material; this material is highly shock absorbent which means that it reduces the level of impact that is felt by the wearer while the shoe is on foot. The level of air flow that is achieved by the shoe also allows for a decent level of comfort to be provided during the shoe’s wear.

Style

The cut of the shoe is rather thin, despite the thick Ignite foam midsole. The sleek design in the midsole of the shoe allows for a decent level of aesthetic appeal to be provided by the shoe; this is a must for running shoe’s nowadays. The shoe also comes in a variety of colorways which allows Puma to provide their patronages with a decent level of variety to choose from. The shoe is mainly designed for use as a trainer but can be worn outside of the athletic atmosphere due to the high level of aesthetic appeal present in the shoe’s design.

Durability

The entirety of the Ignite is designed to provide the wearer with a decent level of longevity during wear. The Ignite foam in the midsole contract very little and maintains the high level of bounce that it has for several extended uses of the shoe. The grip provided by the sole unit of the shoe itself is provided to the wearer even after extended uses of the shoe this is because of the shoe’s use of Ever track rubber in the design of the outsole unit. Overall, the design of the shoe and the materials used throughout should give the wearer a decent 200 miles of use before they start to break down; this isn’t bad for a running shoe, but it’s not good either.

Protection

The use of triple-layering in the design of the upper of the Ignite allows the shoe to have a decent level of stopping power during use; the triple-layering also allows the shoe to provide the wearer with a decent amount of protection from the cold during use. The midsole unit of the shoe also allows it to provide a decent level of protection simply due to the sheer thickness of the material itself; the ignite foam used in the design of the midsole allows it to have a decent level of stopping power as well and also protects the wearer’s feet from the feel of the harsh terrains that it will be used to run on.

Responsiveness

The Ignite foam in the midsole of the shoe allows for a decent level of bounce and cushioning to be provided to the wearer’s foot while the shoe is in use. Ignite foam is known for compressing 2 times less than the average foam material while also providing for the curves of the wearer’s foot. On top of this, the material provides the wearer with a decent level of energy return during use; this allows the shoe to give the wearer a decent level of bounce while the shoe is used.

Support

The sole unit of the Ignite is highly cushioned. This is extremely important since the material in the midsole provides support for the curves of the wearer’s foot; Ignite foam, as mentioned earlier, compresses 2 times less than the standard foam material which allows it to provide the high level of support for the wearer’s foot that it does. The level of cushioning in the midsole of the shoe also allows it to provide support for the arches of the wearer’s foot during use; this is also something that is important to look for in a shoe of its style.

Terrain

The sole unit of the shoe handles very well on various terrains due to the ever track rubber that was incorporated into the shoe’s design; the ever track rubber is highly durable and provides the wearer with a decent level of grip during their time wearing the shoe. The primary terrains that the shoe can be used on are those that are o the more developed side such as tracks, roads, and the like. Another thing to note is the shoe’s ability to provide the wearer with a decent level of versatility in handling in different weather conditions; the shoe does decent in both the wet and dry conditions.

Price

The design of the shoe in its entirety is one that provides the wearer with a decent level of value during their time using the shoe. The shoe can be found at a moderate price in various locations and provides a decent level of value to the wearer of the shoe. The midsole of the shoe provides a decent level of bounce and doesn’t lose the bounce very easily either. The level of protection provided by the midsole of the shoe also allows it to provide the wearer with a decent level of protection during use. All these things combined do their best to offset the fact that the sole unit doesn’t last as long as other shoes on the market.

Traction

The Ever track rubber in the sole unit of the shoe allows it to provide the wearer with a decent level of traction during their time wearing the shoe. The effects of the rubber itself is accentuated by the multi-directional patterning on the outsole of the shoe; this patterning allows the shoe to bite the ground with a high level of ferocity and ensures that the wearer has surety in their footing while the shoe is in use.

Flexibility

This shoe provides an outstanding level of flexibility, which is something many wearers comment on. Allowing the foot to have natural movement and flexibility during the gait cycle, the Ignite Ultimate performs well and allows for a more comfortable and secure run. The heel features flex grooves which is where the flexibility stems from, and they are adequately distributed for maximum use.

Stability

The design of the Ignite is one that incorporates various features that allow the shoe to provide the wearer with a decent level of stability while the shoe is in use; the use of overlay on the shoe gives it a bit of structure and ensures that the wearer has surety in their steps while the shoe is worn. On top of this, the thick cut of the midsole combined with the outsole of the shoe, prevents rollover while the shoe is on foot; this also works to provide the wearer with a sense of surety in their movements.

Drop

Due to the thick design of the midsole of the shoe, the wearer experiences a higher than average drop while the shoe is on foot. The heel-to-toe ratio on the Ignite falls in the 12mm category; this takes away from the feel of the shoe somewhat but allows the shoe to have smooth overall transitions while the shoe is on foot.

Key features

• Flex grooves
• Ignite foam midsole
• Ever track rubber on outsole
• Triple layered upper

Verdict

Overall, the design of the Ignite is one that provides the wearer with a decent sense of comfort and surety in their movements. The midsole of the shoe lasts for a relatively long time and the Ever track rubber on the outsole of the shoe helps in this endeavor. The Ignite can be found for a moderately low price which also justifies one’s purchase of the shoe; the price of the shoe, when weighed against the features incorporated into the design allows for a decent level of value to be provided to the wearer of the shoe. The one thing to be considered by the wearer when considering the shoe is the high weight of the shoe; this may affect one’s thoughts on buying the shoe.