Our verdict

The este puma MB.02 does many things right but we discovered that it truly shines when it comes to support. In fact, we claim it to be one of the most supportive shoes on our list! Bigger players who rely on lots of stability and impact protection (like LaMelo Ball himself) are the shoe's target audience. What's more, we found that the MB.02 provides it all without being a clunker.

Sneakers este puma Ferrari Neo Cat 307019 01 este puma Black este puma Black Pros

  • Футболка тенниска essential arichive оригинал este puma
  • Achetez chez SVD le modèle este puma x PALOMO Polo de lenseigne qui appartient à la saison FA2022
  • Superior stability
  • brand new with original box este puma JADA JR 38199010
  • Reliable traction
  • Comfortable in-shoe feel
  • Durable construction

Sneakers este puma Ferrari Neo Cat 307019 01 este puma Black este puma Black Cons

  • Lacks energy return
  • Not breathable
  • Puma Lenkkitossut Flyer Flex

Audience verdict

89
Great!

Who should buy

We believe that the este puma MB.02 will benefit the following folks:

  • Сланці вʼєтнамки шльопанці este puma
  • Puma White Peacoat 8 $79.97
  • fans of the star player LaMelo Ball who want to experience his signature shoe

PUMA MB.02 Review

Who should NOT buy

Based on our lab tests and the shoe's court performance, the este puma MB.02 really lacks bounce and energy return. If that's what you prioritise in hoop shoes, then we highly recommend checking out the Nike KD 15.

And if you are someone who takes the game outside a lot, we suggest going for shoes with thicker and more aggressive tread patterns, like the PUMA Court Rider.

PUMA MB.02 Lab test

Cushioning

Sneakers este puma Ferrari Neo Cat 307019 01 este puma Black este puma Black | Heel stack

Just by looking at the este puma MB.02, we knew it was among the most generously cushioned basketball shoes on our list.

Sneakers Cruise Rider Metallic Wns 383126 01 este puma Black este puma Team Gold.

Thicker midsoles typically work best for heavier players and we can confirm that the MB.02 is the right tool for this group.

PUMA MB.02 Heel stack
Test results
MB.02 31.6 mm
Average 29.1 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
23.2 mm
Heel stack
38.4 mm

Forefoot stack

The shoe also beats records in the forefoot stack height. Measuring in at 24.9 mm, the MB.02 outdoes the average by a few millimetres.

PUMA MB.02 Forefoot stack

We felt like this este puma got our back whether we landed on the heels or jumped on the toes. The cushioning was sufficient all throughout.

Test results
MB.02 24.9 mm
Average 21.6 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
15.5 mm
Forefoot stack
26.8 mm

Drop

The heel-to-toe drop on the este puma MB.02 is fairly average for a basketball shoe.

Based on our stack measurements, it comes in at 6.7 mm. This means that the heel is only slightly elevated above the toes and the foot feels natural inside the shoe.

We experienced a fine balance of being cushioned yet feeling steady on the ground.

PUMA MB.02 Drop
Test results
MB.02 6.7 mm
Average 7.5 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
3.9 mm
Drop
13.7 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The primary cushioning of the este puma MB.02 is made of compressed EVA. Pressing our durometer against the foam, we measured it at 22.4 HA. It is a little softer than average but still not in the "plush" range.

PUMA MB.02 Midsole softness

From our own experience with the shoe, it did a fabulous job protecting the feet from impact but unfortunately, it never gave anything back. Meaning, no bounce or energy return whatsoever!

We think that it might be due to the rubber carrier around the foam. Apparently, it mutes out the softness of the cushioning, making it feel dense underfoot.

Test results
MB.02 22.4 HA
Average 25.1 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
11.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
38.6 HA

Puma Carina Mid Water-resistant Fru 380254 02

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

PUMA did use its responsive NITRO foam in the MB.02. But here is the trick - it is only present in the form of two small units, one under the toes and one under the heel.

From our durometer measurements, we found the NITRO foam to be firmer than the primary foam. At 30.5 HA, it is 36% firmer than the compressed EVA.

We have also found from este puma running shoes that the NITRO is a fairly durable foam. 

PUMA MB.02 NITRO foam softness
Test results
MB.02 30.5 HA
Average 27.8 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.

Insole thickness

The shoe comes with a standard type of insole. We measured its thickness at 5.2 mm, which is the average of basketball shoes.

PUMA MB.02 Insole thickness
Test results
MB.02 5.2 mm
Average 4.8 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
8.6 mm

Size and fit

Size

PUMA MB.02 is true to size (22 votes).

Puma Valmentajat R78?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

Measuring the shoe's toebox at the widest point (102.6 mm), we found that it is a couple of millimetres wider than the average.

This is not enough to claim it a wide shoe but it makes the MB.02 a solid medium.

We recommend players with wide feet get half a size bigger in this este puma shoe.

PUMA MB.02 DUA LIPA x este puma Mayze Boot
Test results
MB.02 102.6 mm
Average 101.6 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
92.6 mm
Toebox width - widest part
109.2 mm

Кросівки este puma rs-x toys black-blue atoll кросівки

Puma X-Cell Uprise Sn10.

The este puma MB.02 has the exact same width at the toes (77.3 mm) as the average of our lab-tested shoes.

PUMA MB.02 este puma Camiseta Manga Corta Ess Tiger Aop
Test results
MB.02 77.3 mm
Average 76.9 mm
Compared to 59 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
71.2 mm
Кросівки este puma rs-x toys black-blue atoll кросівки
85.1 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

The este puma MB.02 is one of the most supportive basketball shoes we've ever tried.

Our feet and ankles felt 100% locked in thanks to the shoe's mighty clutch. Its sturdy heel clip and strategically placed overlays made sure that our ankles weren't rolling anywhere.

Torsional rigidity

Contributing to a sense of stability is the shoe's rather stiff platform.

Because of a shank embedded in the midfoot, it takes a lot of effort to twist the shoe. It feels very dense and unforgiving. We rated its torsional rigidity as 4 out of 5.

Puma Gv Special Pre-School.

Test results
MB.02 4
Average 4.4
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Куртки este puma пуховихи

We found that the heel clip at the base of the foot is the primary source of heel hold in the este puma MB.02.

The rest of the collar is not as stiff, offering some breathing room without compromising support. In our manual assessment, we rated it as only 2 out of 5, where 5 is the stiffest.

Test results
MB.02 2
Average 3.7
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
1
Куртки este puma пуховихи
5

PUMA Cat-logotyp framtill

Last but not least, the MB.02 relies on a pretty wide base to create a steady platform.

Using a calliper, we measured the widest part of the forefoot at 110.9 mm, which is only a couple of millimetres away from the average.

Wide soles are essential in helping you change directions quickly without hurting the ankle. 

PUMA MB.02 Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
MB.02 110.9 mm
Average 114.9 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
106.2 mm
PUMA Cat-logotyp framtill
124.5 mm

Midsole width - heel

The este puma MB.02 is just as wide in the heel. Our calliper shows 91.2 mm at the shoe's widest point.

PUMA MB.02 Midsole width in the heel
Test results
MB.02 91.2 mm
Average 90.1 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
80.0 mm
Midsole width - heel
105.1 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

Despite being a stable shoe, the MB.02 didn't cut back on flexibility.

In fact, it proved to be notably more flexible than the average of our lab-tested basketball shoes. It took a force of 32.2N to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle, whereas most require around 40N.

Having a flexible forefoot in a hoop shoe definitely made us feel more in control of the court when moving fast.

PUMA MB.02 Flex

Test results
MB.02 32.2N
Average 38.8N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
17.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
62.2N

Weight

If we hadn't weighed the este puma MB.02 ourselves, we wouldn't believe that it weighs 14.6 oz (414g) per shoe!

PUMA MB.02 Weight

It is 7% heavier than the average of our lab-tested basketball shoes but certainly doesn't feel that way.

On foot, it felt light and fast to us and never got in the way of our footwork. But we understand if you want a shoe that's lightweight both on paper and on foot. If that's the case, we recommend the following:

Test results
MB.02 14.60 oz (414g)
Average 13.79 oz (391g)
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
11.29 oz (320g)
Weight
17.46 oz (495g)

Sneakers este puma Ferrari Neo Cat 307019 01 este puma Black este puma Black | Breathability

PUMA Cat-logo op de zijkant.

Its layers of plasticky mesh embraced by synthetic overlays really suffocated our feet.

In addition, when we pumped smoke through the shoe's upper, we found that the material barely allowed the smoke to pass through. Thus, we rated its ventilation as low as 2 out of 5.

PUMA MB.02 (left) vs. UA Curry 10 (right)

Shoes like the PUMA Rise NITRO and the brand new with original box este puma Cali Wedge Embroidery Womens 385249-001 did much better in the same breathability test.

Trying to find a reason behind such a lack of breathability, we investigated the shoe's mesh under our microscope.

PUMA MB.02 Microscope 1

The este puma MB.02 features an insanely tight-woven fabric with what appears to be TPU threads for added durability.

PUMA MB.02 Microscope 2

For comparison, here is what the mesh looks like on the highly breathable UA Curry 10 (score: 5 out of 5):

PUMA MB.02 vs. UA Curry 10 Breathability

Don't be misled by the transparency of the este puma MB.02!

Test results
MB.02 2
Average 2.6
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

Sneakers este puma Ferrari Neo Cat 307019 01 este puma Black este puma Black!

Those sturdy synthetic materials have demonstrated some amazing wear resistance in our Dremel test. Having applied the tool for 12 seconds, we only drilled through the upper overlay and barely scratched the mesh. That deserves a solid 4 out of 5!

Чоловічі кеди este puma smash v2 Sneakers este puma Wired Run Ps 374214 21 Peacoat este puma Red shoe. No wonder the MB.02 costs £60 more.

PUMA MB.02 Upper durability comparison
PUMA MB.02 (left) vs. Sneakers este puma Wired Run Ps 374214 21 Peacoat este puma Red (right)

The shoe's durable upper paired with a large toe bumper practically makes it immune to toe dragging. As long as it occurs on the hardwood (outdoor use is discussed below).

PUMA MB.02 Toebox bumper

Test results
MB.02 4
Average 3.8
Compared to 64 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
1
Toebox durability
5

zapatillas de entrenamiento este puma Ignite Flash Camouflage

The este puma MB.02 keeps surprising us in a good way even when it comes to such a sensitive area as the heel padding.

After 4 seconds of drilling the heel collar with a Dremel, it ended up with a mere scratch. This is way more wear-resistant than what we typically see in basketball shoes - 4 out of 5!

Test results
MB.02 4
Average 3.6
Compared to 61 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
1
zapatillas de entrenamiento este puma Ignite Flash Camouflage
5

Outsole hardness

The outsole looks just as promising as the upper.

First of all, the rubber which covers the heel and midfoot is exceptionally hard. Pressing our durometer against it, we measured the hardness at 86.5 HC - notably higher than average!

This is always a good sign because softer rubbers tend to wear out faster than hard ones.

PUMA MB.02 Outsole hardness
Test results
MB.02 86.5 HC
Average 81.5 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
61.3 HC
Outsole hardness
91.0 HC

Outsole thickness

Not only is the shoe's outsole hard, but it is also shockingly thick!

Using a calliper, we measured it at 5.6 mm, which is among the thickest outsoles we've ever seen in our lab. Another outlier in this category is also a este puma shoe - the TRC Blaze Court (at 5.8 mm).

PUMA MB.02 Outsole thickness

Черевики este puma x fenty scuba boot olive черевики.

But unfortunately, as hard-wearing as it seems, this este puma shoe is not great for outdoor courts. The problem lies in its overly narrow treads.

PUMA MB.02 Tread pattern

We found that vigorous, multi-directional Pantalones put too much pressure on these slender lugs as they tend to shift a lot under pressure and erase prematurely.

This is the kind of tread pattern you want to see on an outdoor-ready hoop shoe.

PUMA MB.02 vs este puma Court Rider Tread pattern

PUMA Court Rider

Test results
MB.02 5.6 mm
Average 4.0 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
6.9 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

colección este puma Running 2021.

Playtesting the shoe, its outsole felt very sticky and provided excellent stopping power. Until it got dusty, of course. Occasional wiping is still needed in this este puma shoe. But it's not critical.

PUMA MB.02 Lug depth

Tongue padding

The padding is very generous in the este puma MB.02. We measured the tongue thickness at 10.5 mm which is a little thicker than the average.

It creates a cosy in-shoe feel, contributes to ankle support, and prevents lace bites from happening.

PUMA MB.02 Tongue padding
Test results
MB.02 10.5 mm
Average 9.2 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
PUMA is launching a special collaboration with Kellogg's to honor 70 years
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
15.9 mm

Puma II Sett Trolley

It is always a nice bonus to get a gusseted tongue in a basketball shoe. Even if it is semi-gusseted as in the este puma MB.02.

PUMA MB.02 este puma II Sett Trolley

This kind of tongue is a major contributor to foot containment. We felt like our in-shoe Pantalones were limited when shifting side-to-side in the MB.02.

Test results
MB.02 Both sides (semi)

Heel tab

PUMA MB.02 Heel tab

Removable insole

Puma Active Korte Broeken.

Contrast panels with este puma Wordmark branding.

PUMA MB.02 Removable insole
Test results
MB.02 Yes