Email Campaign by Puma using two of my Instagram photos (see yellow boxes)

Over the past few months Puma has released some killer shoes for fitness. They had the Formlites. Then they introduced the BioWebs. And most recently their new Mobiums. I really wanted to try the BioWebs. Sure, I was swayed a bit by the look but they seemed like a great crosstrainer.  I do a lot of crosstraining – more so than running – so I’m always interested in the best shoe for the job. My Formlites are pretty comfy but I prefer them more for running than crosstraining just because of how the sole hits the floor.

I started using my Puma Discs for my bootcamp and I really like them. They are comfy and have a lot of cushion for the jumping I do. However, they tend to be a little wide on my foot so during certain exercises they feel like they will fall off. I twist and twist to get them snug but because they are created for men they don’t fit as snug as I would like. One day, I was twisting away and my disc broke. It won’t catch anymore so I couldn’t tighten it.  Puma, of course, did my solid and replaced the discs and also included a gift card.  I was thrilled so I went right out and bought the Mobiums. The colorways are exciting and I was really interested to see what this elastic band was all about.

When I first slipped on the Mobiums I wasn’t sure what to think. I felt like my arches were falling in and that there was pressure on the insides of my shins. They had a ton of cushion though so I figured they’d be fine.  I can’t say I was impressed after my first time out. I have a tendancy to run heel-to-toe. I know that all the running geniuses out there will tell me I’m doing it wrong and what not but that’s how I run. I don’t tend to plant with my mid-sole.  The Mobiums will help you run that way if you want to change how you run.  After my bootcamp my shins did ache a bit. I was worried I was going to have shin splints after wearing the shoes but knew that one time out wasn’t enough to decide.

I have asked around to some others who bought them Mobiums. One person reported that they hurt his feet a lot while his girlfriend reported loving them. I think how you run determines how they feel. For those of us who are old school heel-to-toe runners they will not feel that comfortable. I have found that when I plant with the mid-sole part of my foot that they feel better. I probably run better as well. They are definitely very comfortable for bootcamp and jumping and landing in them is great. My Instagram friend Cici does pole vaulting in track and she found that they are great for that.

I haven’t found a good review by a dedicated runner on these shoes. I’ve looked. A lot.  I have seen many reviews of the shoes by people who haven’t even worn them. I find that curious because it seems you would need to put in a few miles in the shoe before making a determination on the band and form of the shoe. I haven’t put in a lot of miles in them (maybe 5 – I hate running long distances) and I like them. I think that if you’re looking for a running shoe with a lot of cushion and you’re willing to break in the shoe and plant mid-sole then this is the shoe for you. Also – you’ll look good and no matter what anyone says – we all want to look good while working out.

Finally – a really big thank you to Puma (thanks Katie!!) for 1 – the replacement of the discs. Their customer service is top notch! 2 – for using two of my Instagram photos in their newest email campaign for the Mobiums. It is very cool to open an email and see your photos included.  This is one of the main reasons I like Puma as a brand. They are connected to their customers and they really try hard to make you happy. Now if they could just release the leopard print suedes here in the states I’d be so happy!

written by PumaLover \\ tags: fitness, Mobium review, Mobiums, Puma Mobium, Puma sneakers, running, running shoes, shoe review

So spring has finally decided to show up. After a March that gave my state more snowfall than the rest of the winter, I am happy to say that the sun is out, the temperature is warm, and I can finally put away the heavy clothes and see what summer clothes fit.  Of course, this means fresh shoes for spring. I haven’t bought many shoes lately as I’ve been trying to save money.  I have a one-day trip to Boston planned and I plan on doing some shopping while there.

Some of the latest releases from Puma include the BioWeb and the Mobium. These are both athletic / training shoes. The BioWebs initially sold out quickly. I know that a guy at my gym said he desperately wanted some and couldn’t find any (I hooked him up with where to shop – of course).  I purchased the Mobiums myself and have been training in them (review to come).  Puma also continued their release of wedges for women. I don’t know that I would have ever bought the wedges if I hadn’t received some to review for Puma. I love the new colors they have out though. This pink/cream/peach colorway is super cute and would match a ton of my outfits. I just don’t have the $100 to drop on them. They are also introducing these wedge sandals (The Madeira’s).  At first glance I didn’t care for them but I honestly think they’d be really cute with the right outfit. I’m not sure if I’d like the mesh but if someone wanted to gift these to me I wouldn’t complain.

I was also the recipient of a great pair of First Rounds from AWOL. They had a pair that had been in their store for quite awhile. On Instagram they offered the pair for free to whoever could come and pick it up.  I couldn’t exactly get to Boston for that pick up but thankfully they were kind enough to ship them to me. They are a 1/2 size to big for me but since my daughter’s foot grew they fit her perfectly.  Thanks again AWOL – I’ll be visiting in Boston and hope you’ll have some Pumas in my size.

One of my constant complaints is that there aren’t sizes for women in the shoes I really want.  I was told recently to just be quiet about that complaint (in a much harsher way).  I guess it is easy for someone to tell me to shut it when they can find the special releases in their size. I desperately want some Discs in my own size.  The men’s size 5 fits me but runs wide (normal for the shoes I buy in men’s sizes).  There aren’t Clyde’s for women very often. And the Future Suede Lites that were just released didn’t come in smaller sizes.  I’m being patient though as I saw snapshots of some suede colorways for women that are great. *twiddling thumbs*  I’ve honestly decided that I just need to focus on other styles from Puma because I’ll never be able to purchase the shoes I want in my size.

I have picked up some Puma tanks for working out as well as a Puma soccer shirt.  The soccer shirt was for men but thankfully a size small fit me perfectly.  I may need more workout pants as well.  I’m waiting for the next great sale at the Outlet store so I can be set for summer workouts. 

Finally, one of the latest shoes I bought were for my daughter. She had seen the Rudolf Dassler ballerina flats in the main Puma store. I broke down and purchased them at the Outlet when she got A+’s on her math tests. I have never owned a pair of Puma flats or ballerinas before. They really aren’t my style but when I slipped those shoes on to test them out – wow. Total comfort.  The padding is amazing and the front part of the shoe doesn’t cut off at my toes.  Well done Dassler/Puma – well done.

For the summer I’m looking forward to saving up for another pair of Discs, suedes, and buying a special pair from Japan. The leapord print came and went from Japan and it made me sad. I keep wishing I could find a pair but I’ve looked online numerous times and they just aren’t available.

What are you looking to purchase this summer?  Any special styles?

written by PumaLover \\ tags: first round, fitness, mobium, puma shoes, rudolf dassler, running shoes, running sneakers, Shoes

I haven’t been around much. I haven’t been posting my shoes to Instagram. I haven’t been interacting on Twitter. I haven’t even updated this site or logged into the forum.  I’m not one to let negativity get to me but I had to walk away for a little bit. Twitter is an interesting place. You can find people that love what you love. Hate what you hate. Hate what you love and love what you hate. The key is to find people to follow (and who hopefully will follow back) that will be kind, funny, interesting, without always having to agree with you. It can take awhile to build that type of timeline. On Instagram the hate only comes out if you comment on certain accounts. I haven’t found hate there that is directed to me. People can choose to like a photo or not like a photo or unfollow me. I haven’t received hateful comments there so I’m still there.

For awhile I’d go through Twitter and find references to people who had just purchased Pumas, had questions about them, etc. I found it fun to see all the different styles people liked. I enjoyed seeing new releases and reading stories on different sites about those releases. Unfortunately, if you tweet wrong or have an opinion on other brands, the haters come out. It has been  now three or four times that I have been told my shoes are all a bunch of sh!t. I’m always told this by Nike lovers but the last one was by a true shoe collector who has a lot of Pumas. I guess that one bothered me the most. I wasn’t allowed to have an opinion on the new LeBron Corks that were just released (and now re-selling for $800-$1200). His response to me not liking them was to say all my recent shoes were sh!t. Juvenile, right? All of that on top of the egos I find elsewhere in regards to Puma shoes and other brands just left a bad taste in my mouth. Why bother?

On top of the hate directed at my shoe collection, the repeated unavailability of Puma shoes has been getting to me. The new Biowebs come out – I’d like to try them on but can’t. They aren’t sold anywhere near me. There are new Mobium shoes out. The Puma store near me has told me they won’t receive them in the store. Again – I can’t try them on so I won’t buy them online. I was told to expect some Biowebs but they never arrived.  There are new, really cool releases coming up but no sizes for women. The women get new releases in the form of wedges.  I get it – wedges are the new thing. But I don’t want all my sneakers to be wedges. I have one pair – that’s enough for me. So I’m left with styles that are nice but not really what I want. The new Munsters are out and they are kinda cool looking but they aren’t Suedes. They aren’t Clydes. I am left to search out Ebay or Amazon or 6pm for Clydes in my size. I won’t ever get a new  release because I can’t afford them once they get put on Ebay. I’m not about spending $100-200 on one pair of sneakers.

All of this combined hasn’t made me very excited about Pumas or shoes lately.  I honestly don’t care if someone hates my collection because they aren’t wearing them. I think I have some really awesome shoes and they are all pretty unique. I was on a Puma high for a few months and have come down off of it. I’ve even started going to Atmos Tokyo to search out shoes to get my high back but honestly can’t afford them at $120-$220.  I know. This is such a first world problem isn’t it?  Maybe the passion will return if I see if Puma starts marketing a little more to women and to the Washington DC area.  I’d be happy just seeing a release of something really special that includes women – not just men.  Eventually I’ll go back to Twitter too.  I’ll reduce my following list and hopefully remove some of the haters. I already blocked the fool who cursed out my shoes.  I had hoped the forum would take off a bit but it didn’t. It isn’t a big deal but I really did like the interaction.

I’ll be back soon. I’m sure of it.

written by PumaLover

I first read about Puma Discs in an article by Sneaker Freaker that talked about the world’s craziest sneakers without laces. I had never heard of them and honestly, the first time I saw them, I wondered why anyone would want some. I thought they looked bulky even though the colorway shown was pretty awesome. The one featured was from 1994. In 1994 I was graduating college and getting married to some idiot and moving myself to Maryland. I didn’t know anything about sneakers or shoes (nor could I afford any).

In 2011 Puma re-released the Discs.  In 2012 more styles were shown and they had a collaboration with Ronny Fieg.  The Fieg design sold out fast and is coveted by many sneaker collectors.  There was no way for me to afford that style but for Christmas I was given the white/green style was is available in the stores and online. When I opened the box my kids both said, “Wow! Those are ugly!” as I squealed with delight. I slipped them on immediately and instantly knew why people loved them – they felt like pillows on my feet.  Granted the size was wrong so I had to return them and had to wait anxiously for the new size to arrive.

The Discs aren’t made for women. They come in small sizes so I was able to get a men’s size 5 but it is clear they are definitely sized for men as they are wide. That could be how they are designed because of the wire cage that tightens as you turn the disc. Perhaps I’m not turning it enough or they are just wider than the average shoe. My foot slips around a little bit in them. I try to wear thick socks and turn the discs as much as possible so that doesn’t happen.

I have started wearing the Discs to a bootcamp I’m doing 3 x a week. I have switched between the Discs, the Formlites, and my Faas 250s. The Discs are the best ones so far. During the bootcamp I’m running, jumping, doing pushups, lunges, etc. The wide variety of exercises means I need different types of comfort for my feet and my knees. Especially my knees. The Discs offer everything I need. The downside to the Discs? The rubber part that holds the disc. You can see it circled here. I would really love it if this piece of rubber was softer somehow. When I run it bumps into my foot and is bothersome. I don’t run long distances or anything so it is fine but I’d never suggest anyone use these as a running shoe because of it. Overall though the shoe is perfect for crossing training if you can turn the disc and get a tight fit.

I definitely would like to get another pair of discs. I hate getting my shoes dirty and although I hear these are easy to clean – they will get dirty from the bootcamp. Unfortunately we don’t have a lot of options and, as usual, Puma hasn’t made any specifically for women. The colors available (except for the special Fieg release) aren’t exactly “girly colors”. I have been spending some time researching shoes in Japan and I saw that they have excellent colors.

As you can see Japan has a variety of colors. I’m very partial to the pink design because pink is my favorite color. I don’t know if we’ll ever get these colorways in the United States. I hope that Puma realizes that these shoes could be marketed to women easily and that using colors that appeal to women would boost their sales. Maybe I don’t know anything but I know fitness and I know how women think about sneakers. They want to look good at the gym. I notice that each of the women in my bootcamp have shoes that are colorful, bright, and include pink somewhere. No one has asked about my sneakers but I bet if they were pink they would!

Overall the Puma Discs are great shoes. People may find them ugly (I think it was my cousin who commented that they were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shoes) but if they tried them on they would find an incredibly comfortable shoe that is fantastic for cross training.

written by PumaLover \\ tags: blaze of glory, bootcamp shoes, cross training, fitness shoes, japan puma, puma discs, running shoes

One of the gems sent to me from Puma was the City Snow Boot for women. I like that Puma is slowly moving towards more shoes/boots for winter. Although the boots I have are a few years old I like that the newer styles are designed for winter not just fashion. This boot is no exception.

Many winter boots like these can look pretty boring or manly. Granted, they are for winter and the snow but there’s nothing wrong with being cute while being warm. I had originally worn these around the house a bit when I first got them. The faux fur was so inviting that I had to slip them on immediately. They are Comfy with a capital C. I have had an issue trying to find boots like these that have some comfort. The last pair I had (brand escapes me at the moment) just killed my feet. I would wear them while going sledding with the kids and wanted to just rip my feet off. A couple of years ago I picked up a pair of Merrel’s but never had a chance to wear them as we didn’t get any significant snow last winter.

Cue the snow!  It snowed enough that I needed to go out and shovel. I put on the Merrel’s because I honestly didn’t want to mess up the Pumas. I re-thought that because what good are they if I can’t wear them for their intended purposes? So I grabbed them and changed into them. I hadn’t yet protected them but wouldn’t be outside long.

My feet stayed warm. My feet stayed dry.The snow was very slushy as rain had started to fall and I figured my feet would end up wet because so many boots promise protection from the but few deliver.  I’m not sure I would wear these sledding as they don’t come up very high but for going to the store, shoveling, walking around, etc. they are a great snow shoe. I also wouldn’t worry about slipping because the sole has a lot of grip. Other features: leather upper, soft insole, cushioning, and adorable faux fur. If you’re looking for a snow boot that is also cute I would highly recommend the City Snow Boot - especially if you live somewhere that doesn’t get a lot of deep snow (Puma does sell boots that come higher so those would be better for deeper snow). The boot comes in oatmeal, black, and brown (on 6pm.com they also come in suede as Antique Bronze).

Where to buy:

Nordstroms, 6pm.com

written by PumaLover \\ tags: boots, fashion boots, Puma city snow boot, puma snow, snow boot

In the box that arrived from Puma I found the most delicious shoe – the Josey Winter Shoe. I was immediately taken by the shoe. The fuzziness of the top part of the shoe grabbed my attention. I honestly loved the furry McQueen shoes that Puma released this past fall and I’ve been secretly coveting some fuzzy shoes since then. The Josey shoe comes in this Army green color, ebony, and a oatmeal. I am super happy with the Army green. It is unique and although you may think it would not get attention when worn with darker jeans, I will say that my friends commented on them immediately.

I slipped on the shoes immediately. I didn’t fix the laces or anything. I sent a Kik message off to Katie S at Puma and thanked her profusely and proceeded to dance around the house in joy. The shoe also comes with two pairs of laces. The other laces are more hiking-boot like. They are thin and colorful but I prefer the fat black laces. The gray part of the shoe – the front – is suede. I plan on treating that part of the shoe with my spray. The lighter green part just under the gray (refer to the side view of the shoe) is  nylon. I think that is a great choice for winter. Nylon is easy to keep clean when treated.  The Puma stripe is the darker green and is in leather. Together they make for a pretty shoe. The oatmeal color is also really beautiful, but, I imagine much harder to keep clean.

You can see the fuzzy part inside of the shoe. This just adds to the comfort. I wore these out on a day that wasn’t very cold but I could tell the difference. My feet were toasty warm. They shoe has a little extra space in it. I presume to make way for thicker socks. I had on thinner socks and I could feel the extra room. That is a good thing because during the winter I like to wear thicker socks but sometimes my shoes feel too tight. With these, I can wear warm socks and my feel will not freeze. You may see reviews that list them as running small. I wouldn’t agree with that at all.  I am itching to get some colder weather so I can really test them out.

Right now, you can find these shoes on Amazon.com and on Nordstrom.com (although Nordie’s only offers ebony and oatmeal).

*I received this for free from Puma but the opinions and thoughts about the shoe are all mine.

written by PumaLover \\ tags: Puma boots, puma josey, Puma winter shoes, Shoes, Sneakers, suedes

Way back in late summer – maybe earlier – I saw a sneak peak at these wedges. A Puma rep on Instagram was nice enough to share a photo. At first glance, honestly, I wasn’t that excited. I wear sneakers to wear sneakers – not to wear heels. I’m not a fan of the many heeled sneakers that are out there. I prefer the type of shoe that Puma released with Sergio Rossi. My daughter saw the shoe and was excited for it.

When the time came and the MY-66s were released I couldn’t help but be intrigued. The MY-66s are designed by Mihara Yasuhiro of  Japan. Puma often collaborates with him and the shoes are always outstanding. You can read more about him online.

I had questions about these shoes. Would they be comfortable?   Would they make my ankles look fat? (yes I considered this – I have thick calves) What would I wear with them?  I had showed them to my best friend who’s response was, “Those are the ugliest Pumas you’ve ever shown me.” But he’s a man – what does he know?  I was blessed enough to receive a pair* to try out, wear around, review, etc. I was happy they came in orange too. The other choices of black and white are cute, but, I think the orange makes a statement and I like to be colorful in my shoes.

The day they arrived I was on my treadmill. I jumped off it and straight into the shoes.  I stood in front of my mirror and took a look. I liked them. I have to admit that I am totally in love with how the shoes look from the front.  I think they are way cute. The next step, of course, was deciding how to wear them with jeans. Would I roll my jeans? Cuff? Tuck? I wasn’t sure. The first time I wore them I cuffed my jeans. Rolling doesn’t work for me because I am on the shorter side. The height mixed with my legs being cut off at the roll just didn’t work. I looked even shorter. The cuff was okay but it hid the top of the shoe (my favorite part). The next time I wore the I tucked. I saw girls on Instagram with their pants tucked and that works. My jeans are generally too long for me but the shorter pair was perfect.

I wore these around while I was out shopping one afternoon.  I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get any comments on them. Often when I’m in a sneaker store (on my never-ending quest to find Pumas in my mall – always a failure) the employees will make comments. I guess with it being the Christmas season they were too busy. I posted them on Facebook and received some good feedback there too. I know more than one person said they were going to look into buying them. And the ultimate test was when I showed our friend’s 14 year old daughter. She is all about the sneaker wedges and she loved them. Her feet are too big so I didn’t have to worry about her stealing them.

The shoes are comfy. I wasn’t sure since they are wedges if they’d actually be comfortable or not. They actually do wear like sneakers – just with a little heel. For 2 hours I was able to walk around and my feet felt fine. There was no pressure on the ball of my foot nor on my arch. So comfort-wise they are awesome. I had only one problem with them and it isn’t the shoe’s fault.  My jeans rubbed off on the white leather. I was first wearing dark denim and they are new jeans. A little Magic Erasure will fix it but it is something to keep in mind if you have new dark denim jeans. I’d highly recommend tucking them so that the blue doesn’t rub off on the leather and ruin the shoes. It is always a good idea to inspect your shoes after wearing them anyway so you can quickly take care of any mud, dirt, or other mark on the shoe.

I’d recommend these shoes to a woman who’s looking to stand out. I know a lot of women who only wear heels or always want a little lift and they won’t wear sneakers because of this. Well, here’s your chance. You’ll get comfort and style in one shoe.

*I received these for free but the comments, review, and opinions are all mine.

written by PumaLover \\ tags: designer shoes, Mihara, MY-66, Puma style, sneaker style, sneaker wedges

A couple of years ago I opened this big box and what to my wondering eyes did appear?  Black fuzzy Puma boots! I didn’t even know at that time that Puma made boots. Now they are pretty common and Puma is always releasing new styles. I’ve seen a few at the Outlets but they haven’t interested me that much. They were shorter and shorter boots on me make me look stumpy. These boots are pretty! The fuzziness is terribly cute and they look fantastic. I almost always get compliments on them when I wear them.

There are a few downsides to these boots. 

•  The calf opening is small. When I first tried them on I was sure I was going to have to return them. I have thick calves. Thankfully they are lace up boots (my usual choice) and I can unlace them enough to get them zipped up! It is tough over some jeans though. It takes work. I often break a sweat (no lie!). But I shove my calves in there and they look ok.
•  They aren’t warm. They look warm. They feel like they will be but they really aren’t.  At least not in super cold weather. I can wear them for my winters though because it truly doesn’t get that cold here in Virginia. I think some of their newer styles are created more for warmth than just style.
•  The comfort level is somewhat low. Again, it could be that I have to shove these on my legs but my feet do hurt after wearing these for a couple of hours. I don’t wear them that often so it isn’t like they are worn out. They don’t have the orth-lite soles. I suppose I could replace the insoles and maybe that would help but it isn’t a big deal considering I’m never wearing them all day long.

Overall these are great boots.  I feel like they won’t ever go out of style and will always look cute! Plus my daughter’s legs are so skinny that she can’t even borrow them so no worries there. I would like to get another pair of Puma boots. Perhaps next year I’ll look for boots instead of using my cash on sneakers. Maybe.

written by PumaLover \\ tags: Puma boots, puma shoes, Pumas

Yesterday I had the day off of work so I decided to spend some time in Harper’s Ferry, WV. Harper’s Ferry is a landmark of the Civil War and much of the city is original. There are trails for  hiking all over the place and even the Appalachian Trail runs right by it. I parked and proceeded to walk over to the town but saw a sign for the Maryland Heights trail. I figured I would just  go ahead and do that trail even though I hadn’t researched it. That’s probably a good thing as I probably wouldn’t have hiked it. Once I start down a path I tend to finish that path regardless of what lays ahead. I kept climbing higher and higher and realized I was not in ‘hiking’ shape. I’m tough though and kept going.

I had put on my Faas 550s mostly because they matched my Puma capri’s and my 1/4 Zip-up Running Hoodie. They are super comfortable but have had a lot of miles put on them. They don’t grip rocks anymore so I had to be careful not to slip in some areas. When I left my house it was sunny and promised to be a beautiful day but by the time I reached the trail it had grown cloudy and windy. I was worried about being cold as I only had a tank top on under my hoodie. I bought the hoodie in Puerto Rico last November and it is not a warm piece of clothing. It is not designed to keep you warm – unless – you happen to be out moving. The material is not thick but it does shield you from the wind. Also, as you move, it warms you up. It was actually the perfect piece of clothing for the hike. I think a traditional sweatshirt would have just made me sweat and something heavier would have been too hot.

So up I climbed. At one point I had to make a decision if I’d go on the longer hike or the shorter one. I did pick the shorter one because I was hiking alone. I didn’t want to chance being 3 miles out and having a problem. It was a good choice. The end of this trail leads to the Cliffs as they are called. The rocks jut out from the mountain and you have a perfect view of Harper’s Ferry. The trees were still in full color and although it was overcast the town still looked amazing. I was lucky someone offered to take my photo.

I can honestly say that this morning as I write this, my feet do not hurt. My knees ached last night but feel good today. The Faas 550s came through for me once again. They are great shoes and really keep my feet from hurting. I worked up a sweat and wasn’t overly cold due to the hoodie. I have to say that although it sounds cheesy this is why I like Pumas gear. I can look cute (really – don’t I look cute?), be comfortable, and still have high-tech gear that works for me while I’m hiking. Thanks Puma!!

written by PumaLover \\ tags: Harpers Ferry, Hiking, Maryland Heights, Puma gear, puma shoes, Sneakers, Trails, West Virginia

Happy Birthday to me!

Turning 41 isn’t exactly my idea of a fantastic birthday. I don’t like to think of myself as 41. I don’t feel 41. I don’t really think I look 41. But I’ve come to accept it. Kind of.

Anyway…. I decided to buy myself some Pumas. Big surprise, right? I had found these Pearls on Amazon.com a long time ago. I saw them and wanted them. I love the color, the design on in the insole, and thought they were unique. It wasn’t too long ago though that Puma had announced their Puma Factory. I really want to design my own and order those so I was debating on which direction I should take. Some Puma friends said make my own. Others said to order the Pearls. I finally, obviously, decided on the Pearls. I’ll make my own Pumas soon. Now I just need to find the right shirt/clothes to wear with this mint green color.

written by PumaLover \\ tags: fashion, Forever Fresh, Puma Clyde, Puma Pearl, puma shoes, Shoes, Sneakerhead, Sneakers