Our verdict

For a moderately-priced basketball shoe, the Puma Basket VTG Luxe proved to be an excellent value for money. We found it to be a well-balanced option that suits various types of players. Based on our wear tests, there is no shortage of comfort, cushioning, or support in this PUMA shoe. Add to that the shoe's clean and minimalist aesthetic and you get a hoop shoe that's hard to ignore.

Stampd X PUMA 2016 Collection Pros

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  • Very comfortable step-in feel
  • Effective grip (on clean courts)
  • Breathable upper
  • Printed PUMA Cat logo on sleeve
  • Durable materials
  • Futuristic look
  • Reasonable price

Stampd X PUMA 2016 Collection Cons

  • Not for the outdoors
  • Dust-sensitive outsole
  • Heavier than average

Audience verdict

84
Good!

Who should buy

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Puma Basket VTG Luxe review

Who should NOT buy

The brand new with original box Puma Minecraft City Rider 38574801 not for hoopers who are fond of playing on asphalt and other types of outdoor courts because the outsole rubber is way too soft. For that purpose, we recommend the Jordan Zion 2 instead.

And if you are in dire need of dust-resistant outsoles, it is far better for them to get the brand new with original box PUMA COURTFLEX V2 V PS 37154315 or the Puma bringt mit dem diese Woche einen neuen Colourway vom Puma Thunder an den Start.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe lab test

Cushioning

Heel stack

Measuring its stack height with a calliper, we found that the Rise Nitro is 29.5 mm thick in the heel. It's about the same as the average.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Heel stack

Puma Football Trainingsanzug in Marineblau und Grün.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe heel cushioning

Test results
Rise Nitro 29.5 mm
Average 29.2 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
23.2 mm
Heel stack
38.4 mm

Forefoot stack

There is also an ample amount of cushioning added under the toes. We measured the shoe's forefoot stack height at 21.4 mm which is the same as the average of our lab-tested hoop shoes.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Forefoot stack
Test results
Rise Nitro 21.4 mm
Average 21.7 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
15.5 mm
Forefoot stack
26.8 mm

Drop

The difference in stack heights gave us a heel-to-toe drop of 8.1 mm, which is about a millimetre taller than average.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Drop

Based on our experience with the shoe, the full-length Nitro foam has a highly efficient shock absorption with a nice touch of court feel.

Test results
Rise Nitro 8.1 mm
Average 7.5 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
4.0 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 Rise Nitro offers a pretty comfortable underfoot experience with its Nitro foam. Pressing a durometer against it, we got a reading of 23.1 HA, which is around 20% softer than most shoes.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Midsole softness

However, this PUMA shoe is not necessarily a plush one as the foam is locked inside a rubber carrier which dampens the softness a bit.

For that reason, the shoe may feel underwhelming. It lacks the fun and bounce you might expect from a shoe of with this much cushioning. But on the bright side, the Rise Nitro made us feel nice and grounded.

Test results
Rise Nitro 23.1 HA
Average 24.7 HA
Stampd X PUMA 2016 Collection.
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
11.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
38.6 HA

has collaborated with Puma to create a special

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

Under the heel, we found an additional cushioning unit. PUMA doesn't specify what type of foam that is but it is a bit firmer than the primary Nitro foam.

Measuring its softness with a durometer, we found that this component is firmer than the Nitro by 15%. We assume that its purpose is to make heel landings more stable and protected.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe has collaborated with Puma to create a special
Test results
Rise Nitro 26.5 HA
Average 27.2 HA
Stampd X PUMA 2016 Collection.

Stampd X PUMA 2016 Collection | Insole thickness

For added cushioning, the Puma Basket VTG Luxe features a well-padded insole. Measuring its thickness with a calliper, we found it to be 4.9 mm thick. This is a little thicker than average.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Insole thickness
Test results
Rise Nitro 4.9 mm
Average 4.8 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
8.6 mm

Size and fit

Size

brand new with original box Puma Minecraft City Rider 38574801 true to size (13 votes).

Puma Rucksack in Schwarz?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Черные джоггеры Puma Football

This basketball shoe from PUMA treated us to a very accurate true-to-size fit which required no size adjustments.

Checking the toebox width in its widest part, our calliper showed 102.1 mm. It's even a couple of millimetres wider than average.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
Rise Nitro 102.1 mm
Average 101.6 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
92.6 mm
Черные джоггеры Puma Football
109.2 mm

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The shoe doesn't lose its roominess towards the toes either. We measured the toebox width around the big toe and found that at 79.4 mm, it is also a couple of millimetres wider than most shoes.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Puma Vêtements homme Collants de course
Test results
Rise Nitro 79.4 mm
Average 76.9 mm
Compared to 59 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
71.2 mm
sale puma r698 nubuck highsnob ronnie fieg kith
85.1 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Stability and lateral containment are exceptionally good in the Puma Basket VTG Luxe.

The support is coming from the shoe's sturdy base that's enhanced with a shank, the stiff and padded heel counter, and the strategically placed PWRTAPE on the upper. The latter kind of reminded us of athletic taping used on people.

Torsional rigidity

Thanks to the stiff asymmetrical shank embedded into the midsole, there is little-to-no twisting of the Puma Basket VTG Luxe. On a 1-5 scale where 5 is the stiffest, we rated the shoe as 4.

This is a major stability factor during all those fast and shifty movements.

Test results
Rise Nitro 4
Average 4.4
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

In our manual check of the heel counter, we rated its stiffness as 3 out of 5. It also provided a solid lockdown to keep our heels and ankles steady during the playtest.

Once the shoe was laced up, our feet weren't going anywhere.

Test results
Rise Nitro 3
Average 3.7
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

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Our calliper shows a notably wider-than-average base in both the heel and the forefoot. The widest part of the forefoot comes in at 119.8 mm which is about 7 mm wider than average!

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Rise Nitro 119.8 mm
Average 115.0 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
106.2 mm
puma rs x toys running system white hot coral black
124.5 mm

Midsole width - heel

The same occurs in the heel. In the widest part of the sole, our calliper shows 95.2 mm. This is a good 5 mm wider than average.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Rise Nitro 95.2 mm
Average 90.3 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
80.0 mm
Midsole width - heel
105.1 mm

PUMA Football tracksuit in black with grey panels

With all that stability packed into the Puma Basket VTG Luxe, the shoe still remains fairly flexible. Using a force gauge, we measured that it takes 36.6N to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle. That's 14% less than it takes a basketball shoe on average.

It helps to make the shoe's ride smooth and easy.

Test results
Rise Nitro 36.6N
Average 38.5N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
17.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
62.2N

Weight

Despite its seemingly minimal design, the Puma Basket VTG Luxe turned out to be heavier than average. We weighed the shoe at 15.0 oz (426g) in a men's US size 9. This is more than an ounce heavier than our lab-tested basketball shoes on average.

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Puma Basket VTG Luxe Weight
Test results
Rise Nitro 15.03 oz (426g)
Average 13.79 oz (391g)
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
11.29 oz (320g)
Weight
17.46 oz (495g)

Breathability

The brand new with original box Puma Minecraft City Rider 38574801 one of those few basketball shoes with an actually breathable upper.

Based on a smoke-pumping test illustrated in the video below, we evaluated the shoe's ventilation capacity as 4 out of 5. This is one of the most aerated shoes in our basketball catalogue.

Puma Mid Swim Shorts.

Here is a close-up view of the shoe's breathability cells taken through our microscope.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe upper microscope

Test results
Rise Nitro 4
Average 2.5
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

Seeing how soft the knit fabric of the brand new with original box Puma Minecraft City Rider 38574801, we never expected it to survive our Dremel test. But the shoe managed to surprise us by heroically withstanding the 12-second torture.

This PUMA shoe ended up with pretty moderate damage whereas the fabric on another shoe was torn completely. Due to its high resistance to abrasion, the Rise Nitro earned a solid 3 out of 5 for toebox durability.

Puma Ultra 34 TT toebox durability comparison
Puma Ultra 34 TT
Test results
Rise Nitro 3
Average 3.7
Compared to 56 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
1
Toebox durability
5

Puma Remix Montre Noir

Another pleasant surprise was the shoe's heel padding durability. Given how much rubbing is going on in this part of the shoe, we anticipate that the Puma Basket VTG Luxe will not break down that easily.

Assessing how much wear and tear the Dremel left on the shoe's heel padding, we rated its durability as 3 out of 5. That's an average result among our lab-tested hoop shoes.

Test results
Rise Nitro 3
Average 3.5
Compared to 53 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
1
Puma Remix Montre Noir
5

Outsole hardness

WARNING: This is the softest rubber in the history of basketball shoe rubbers! Stay away from outdoor courts!

We strongly recommend limiting the use of this PUMA shoe to indoors only because the rubber compound that composes the outsole is REALLY soft.

Pressing our durometer against the outsole, we found that it is only hard by 68.4 HC. This is 17% softer than our average lab result!

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Outsole hardness
Test results
Rise Nitro 68.4 HC
Average 81.9 HC
Stampd X PUMA 2016 Collection.
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
61.3 HC
Outsole hardness
91.0 HC

Outsole thickness

It seems like the brand tried to compensate for the soft rubber by making it thicker than average. Measuring the outsole thickness with a calliper, we got a reading of 4.6 mm. This is nearly a millimetre thicker than average.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Outsole thickness

But we honestly don't think that this is going to help make the shoe more durable for outdoors. The grooves making up the shoe's tread pattern are quite thin too.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe outsole tread pattern

Test results
Rise Nitro 4.6 mm
Average 4.0 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
6.9 mm

Misc

Stampd X PUMA 2016 Collection | Grip / Traction

Puma Mapf1 Rs-connect 306842 01.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe outsole

However, we must note that as soon as it gets dusty, the shoe loses its traction big time. So, you have to be prepared to do a lot of wiping with this PUMA shoe.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe side support

Tongue padding

With a thickness of 11.2 mm, we found that the tongue is extra padded in the Puma Basket VTG Luxe. It works together with the generous collar padding to provide a super cosy and secure in-shoe experience.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Tongue padding
Test results
Rise Nitro 11.2 mm
Average 9.4 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
puma speed 600 2 running schwarz
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
15.9 mm

PUMA Essentials Kapuzenpullover in Flaschengrün mit Logo

The shoe's gusseted tongue is a very welcome feature. We felt like it added an extra layer of foot lockdown.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe PUMA Essentials Kapuzenpullover in Flaschengrün mit Logo
Test results
Rise Nitro Both sides (full)

Heel tab

Puma Machts Mit Qualitat Classic Series Fall 2013.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Heel tab
Test results
Rise Nitro None

Removable insole

The insole is super easy to take out in the Puma Basket VTG Luxe. The shoe accommodates custom inserts and orthotics.

Puma Basket VTG Luxe Removable insole
Test results
Rise Nitro Yes