PUMA continues its comeback trail to the basketball industry
With this recent release of the sleek low-top version of the Clyde All-Pro Kuzma, Puma continues to impress in their mission to return to the top of the basketball sneaker industry. It was in 2018 when Puma signed young budding NBA players like DeMarcus Cousins, Terry Rozier, Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, Kyle Kuzma, and the most recent, LaMelo Ball.
Among those PUMA athletes, there’s no doubt that Kuzma has gained the most attention. The Los Angeles Lakers forward’s swag on the court carries over to his fashion sense off the court. That unique blend of style is evident in how his signature designs with PUMA are being structured.
How does the PUMA Clyde All-Pro Kuzma Low perform on the court?
Materials
Just from the looks of it, you can already tell that the PUMA Clyde All-Pro Kuzma Low has integrated some premium touch on its materials. The gum rubber midsole is immediately noticeable, and that’s right below the pair’s Matryx EVO Tech Knit frame.
The Matryx EVO Tech Knit technology has become the flagship feature of PUMA’s performance shoes. The Matryx tech is popular for providing a higher level of lightweight comfort. On top of that, the material is carefully-knitted and durable, two features that prevent abrasion especially on the uppers.
Those black lines that you see on the Kuzma Low uppers are actually carbon threads that cover almost the entirety of the pair’s uppers. This feature helps bring more durability to the uppers, and take note that it doesn’t do anything to negatively affect the lightweight feel of the shoe. Interestingly, these carbon threads were not utilized in the All-Pro Kuzma Mid.
The downside of the inclusion of the Matryx EVO Tech Knit in the All-Pro Kuzma Low is that it feels a bit stiff when you first use it, although you can address that problem through numerous break-ins. But there’s no doubt that the materials are topnotch in this PUMA pair.
Traction
The gum rubber outsole immediately stands out in the Puma Clyde All-Pro Kuzma Low. It doesn’t just stand out from an aesthetic standpoint, but it is also one of its best features. It’s a shame that only a few basketball sneakers make use of the gum sole because it really impressed in the Kuzma Low.
The gum sole is great for playing outdoors, but it’s even better when used on indoor courts. The traction of the Kuzma Low offers a balanced blend of grip and bite that not even the more expensive signature shoes from other brands can provide. There are lots of good things to say about the Puma Clyde All-Pro Kuzma Low, and its incredible traction stands at the top of that list.
CUSHION and SUPPORT
One of the main selling points of the PUMA Clyde All-Pro Kuzma Low is its ProFoam+ cushioning technology. PUMA integrated the ProFoam+ in its full length, giving the Kuzma Low just the perfect amount of energy return and responsiveness.
The ProFoam+ is also the same exact type of foam used in the original version of the Clyde All-Pro. There’s nothing to complain about here because the ProFoam+ tech is already one of the best types of midsoles out there. It’s really a good thing that PUMA decided to retain that feature in the midsole of the Kuzma Low.
However, one thing to take note of is that the step-in comfort may be a bit tighter in the Kuzma Low as compared to the original iteration of the Clyde All-Pro. This is probably caused by the tighter lacing system that the Kuzma Low has, as well as its full-leather tongue.
Don’t worry about this too much, though. You’ll achieve more breathability and comfort in this Kuzma Low pair after a number of break-ins. Overall, the ProFoam+ cushioning technology is as good as advertised. The PUMA Clyde All-Pro Kuzma Low passes with flying colors in terms of its cushion and support.
SIZE and FITTING
There’s no problem in going true to size when you purchase the PUMA Clyde All-Pro Kuzma Low. Again, the tighter lacing system and full-leather tongue may make it feel like there is little to no level of airflow in the shoe, but that is not the case after multiple break-ins.
OVERALL RATING
Don’t look now, but PUMA is roaring back into contention among the best basketball sneakers released during the latter part of 2020 up to this year. This low-topped version of the Clyde All-Pro Kuzma offers a balanced blend of just about everything you want from a go-to basketball shoe.
The lightweight material of the Matryx EVO technology and the bouncy ProFoam+ midsole combine to help push this pair to its peak form. The Kuzma Low’s lightweight feel and excellent cushioning technology gives this pair the unique ability to cater to basketball players of every position, whether you play as a shifty point guard or dominant center down low.
The only downside of this PUMA pair is that it needs quite a significant amount of time before you can completely break it in. We don’t recommend that you use it in a competitive basketball game right away as it will hinder you from performing at your best. Instead, try it out a couple of times first in pick-up games so you can properly break it in.
Still, this new PUMA pair should be one of the best that the 2021 basketball sneaker landscape has seen when the year has come and gone. Its materials are premium, and the cushioning technology are state-of-the-art.
The PUMA Clyde All-Pro Kuzma Low nets an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5.
The PUMA Clyde All-Pro Kuzma Low is already up for grabs at selected PUMA stores for US$140.
