Puma has released their Future 18.3 football boots promising to give better flexibility, grip and maneuverability on the field. So we decided to put them to the test to find out just how good they are and whether Puma’s latest offering is worth the price tag.
Read our opinion as we take a look at the Futures in depth in our Puma Future 18.3 football boots review.
Are Puma’s Future 18.3 football boots worth buying?
Name
Puma Future 18.3 football boots review – side view
Future. Futuristic. What is to be? What is to come? Modern innovation. Revelation. Some great connotations. But are the Puma Future football boots ahead of their time or an imagination too far-fetched? The name is unique and we like it, but calling the football boots a thing of the future is bigging itself up… So naturally, we expect big things.
Look – 8/10
Puma Future 18.3 football boots review – top view
Our first thoughts are that the Puma Futures don’t really look like typical football boots. Instead, they look a little more like rugby boots, or a table centerpiece, or even some sort of contemporary art. Whether you like this look will depend on whether you want a boot that looks like every other football boot, but for us we quite like it because who wants the standard football-boot look anyway?
Style – 4/10
Puma Future 18.3 football boots review
As we’ve just mentioned, the look of these footy boots is somewhat alternative and part of that is most definitely the style. The Puma Futures are almost a perfect triangular shape, as if paying homage to the old-fashioned boots which actually justified the term ‘boot’, as opposed to the flimsy sock-like boots we wear today.
These boots have the now-common and not-so-new ankle sock, but it doesn’t seem as normal as the rest of them. It’s high at the back of the boot by the heel and then low around the front, as if prioritising the heel. Now we’re not saying there’s anything wrong with that, some would even say the heel is the body’s Achilles… (we’ll let ourself out). But if you wanted all of the benefits of an ankle sock without carrying its stigma of overhyped winger, then these Puma Future 18.3s are the ones for you.
Away from the heel, the mesh on the sides of the boots allows for a more comfortable fit. It adds that extra dynamic to make the Pumas look interesting and less generic.
Colour – 8/10
Puma Future 18.3 football boots review – bottom view
Primarily, these football boots come in black and green, or green black and red. The light green colour reminds us greatly of Puma’s EvoSpeeds, with the fluorescent-like shade unmistakenly familiar. We prefer the black versions with the green stripe on the side. They look a lot less flashy but still scream ‘yeah I can do the business’ similarly to how assassins in movies wear suits and look professional as hell in a cool way.
Features – 4/10
Puma Future 18.3 football boots review – back view
The mesh sides are a real plus and are something that’s not too common in football boots at present. It’s a great idea, adding style and practicality, so we can see it catching on.
One feature that we don’t like about the Future 18.3s is the extra set of lace holes just on the outside of the standard laces which is called NETFIT. What’s the point? We get they’re trying to make a boot tailored to comfort, but this just seems like overkill. Never has someone not been satisfied with the current lace system and though, yeah I would actually like another choice of holes to lace my boots from.
The comical and blades studs go a small way to achieving this enhanced comfort and fit. It’s a good addition, but it’s nothing too groundbreaking and is something that is rather common now.
Value for money – 8/10
The Puma Futures were never meant to be ones that push the boat out. Puma didn’t intend them to be their best boot, but instead just went for market consolidation.
Nevertheless, the Future 18.3s are still new football boots, and considering that and also what you get for them, these represent great value for money.
Pro advocates – 6/10
With Puma being below Adidas and Nike in the football boot pecking order, they have got significantly fewer big names on their books. However, Antoine Griezmann is the poster boy for the Futures. The Frenchman plays a pivotal role in his national team’s attack as well as for club side Atletico Madrid alongside Fernando Torres and Diego Costa. Cesc Fabregas and Hector Bellerin are among other stars on Pumas books.
Final verdict on the Puma Future 18.3 football boots
It seems like we are being harsh on these boots, and we perhaps have been. The name ‘future’ built them up to be something revolutionary when in reality they’re just a very decent version of what is already out there. Not revolutionary, but not bad at all.
Puma hasn’t pushed the boundaries with this one in terms of innovation, but the Futures are still one of the most comfortable boots out there. The black-coloured edition of them is by far the nicer of the two colours. We’d go as far to say as the black boots put the Puma Futures up there as one of the most appealing on the market style-wise, yet the yellow version makes them look tacky and not as established. Almost as if they’re too different and not as generic and in-fitting with the general tone of the market. But the look does not affect performance one bit, so maybe we are talking rubbish.
The conical stud configuration and adapted ankle collar take the best generic features from other boots. Those mixed with the unique mesh outer merge together to give a solid football boot. Worth a buy, especially for the very modest price (considering they’re new boots).