As an homage to the terrace wear culture and one of the best styles in European skateboarding, adidas gave Lucas Puig a new pro shoe: the Puig. Since I’m a fan of his smooth style and his perfect mix of creative and technical skateboarding, I had to give these skate shoes a try.
READ IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE
DE | FR | NL
Any fan of the adidas Samba and other classics will like the look of this shoe. The minimalistic design has kept durability in mind. The adidas Skateboarding Puig is a well-thought out shoe that comes with the newest adidas technologies. The AdiTuff reinforcements provide abrasion protection, while the AdiPrene insole has been designed for shock absorption. The EVA midsole gives you optimal comfort.
adidas Skateboard Puig: first impression and fit
Of course, the first things I noticed were the accented features: the bright green details of the release colorway pop out from the insole, the extended heel cup, and on the outsole of the shoe. The gold PUIG-lettering on the side is a nice touch for the classic adidas look and matches the top gold ring lace loop of the skate shoe.
The side of the shoe appeared to be surprisingly firm but not bulky. The premium suede upper lends the shoe a clean terrace wear look as well as additional durability. The side panel’s breathable mesh pairs with the iconic adidas stripes. Finally, the cupsole has a deep tread that seems to be lighter than a vulcanized shoe.
In my opinion, the adidas Puig fits true to size and is perfect for anyone who prefers a slightly wider shoe and heel. The soles’ deep grooves provide fantastic grip and the perfect amount of cushioning. The tongue is thin but form-fitted to the foot with vertical textures on the inside to prevent it from shifting. The latest Lucas Puig pro shoe felt comfortable from the beginning and is ready to skate right out of the box.
Performance – Boardfeel and Grip in the adidas Puig
The first thing I noticed is how great the sole and flick feeling are right from the beginning. The shape and the rounded edges of the sole give an „already broken in“ feeling. Flip tricks worked well throughout all sessions. The shoe feels firm, so I wasn’t worried about rolling my ankle at any time. The suede upper felt a little stiffer at the beginning than expected, but once broken in, it provided good support in key places on the side.
Durability
I skated the adidas Puig for well over 20 hours and I was more than satisfied with the durability. The shoe felt broken in right away but kept its firm fit the entire time. After about 20 hours, the sole didn’t show any signs of wear.
After about 30 hours of skating, the side of the shoe had lost some stitching along with the mesh and on its lace bar. Due to bad weather, I skated more transition than usual and expected more wear on the sole. Even after about 50 hours of skating with the adidas Puig, the sole had a long way to go before being worn through.
Conclusion
The adidas Puig is by far one of the best shoes that I’ve skated in a long time. The longevity and durability are outstanding and make up for the slightly more expensive price. The impact protection of the sole is perfect for all-around skating and the long-lasting flick was splendid. The form-fitted suede upper keeps its quality for an impressively long time. A lot of thought went into designing the adidas Puig and I have to say that it really worked out.
Advantages
- board feel and durability
- excellent flick
- heel support
Disadvantages
- thick laces untie easily
