Revision as of 13:29, 23 May 2015

The Puma Faas 100 R‏‎ is a wonderful shoe, and comes close to one of my favorites, the Asics Gel Hyper Speed. While the Faas 100 R is marketed as a 'racing flat', I believe it should be considered it an optimal shoe, providing everything most runners need without the weight penalty of the futile over engineering that traditional running shoes suffer from. The Faas 100 R provides the cushioning of shoes weighing far more, without sacrificing much comfort. The Faas 100 R is let down a little by the lack of outsole, so it may not last as long as shoes like the Hyper Speed. (I use The Science of Running Shoes as the basis of how I test running shoes and what you should look for in a running shoe.)

Puma Faas 100 R top	Puma Faas 100 R bottom
Puma Faas 100 R inside	Puma Faas 100 R outside

1 Characteristics

• Why you’d buy it. This is a great shoe and I'd highly recommend it. It's relatively cheap, and offers great cushioning-to-weight.
• Cushioning . The Faas 100 R‏‎ is quite close to the Asics Gel Hyper Speed, with virtually the same forefoot cushioning and slightly less heel cushioning. For its weight, the Faas 100 R provides wonderful cushioning, feeling soft underfoot and smooth.
• Drop. The Faas 100 R is virtually zero-drop, with only 1mm of drop when loaded.
• Structure. The Faas 100 R uses a single density, so it does not interfere with your biomechanics, nor is there any 'arch support' to cause foot problems.
• Flexibility. The lack of outsole, combined with the thin, soft midsole makes the Faas 100 R very flexible.
• Outsole. It seems like shoe designers have to do something stupid on every shoe, and with the Faas 100 R‏‎ it's the placement of the firmer outsole. There's a tiny bit of outsole under the extreme edge of the heel and under the front of the big toe, and neither of these should be high abrasion areas. There's also a small circle that's in the middle of the shoe and slightly recessed, which is even more bizarre. This design flaw means the Faas 100 R is slightly heavier than it should be and does not have the longevity benefits that some well-placed outsole would bring. In fact, the Faas 100 R wears fairly quickly, though how quickly will depend a lot on your biomechanics, the roughness and temperature of the surface. The pattern in the sole of the shoe can trap some tiny stones, but they're too small to cause many problems.
• Shape. The Faas 100 R‏‎ is much better shaped than most shoes, and while I did cut open the toe box the problem was fairly minimal. .
• Upper. The upper is inflexible, seamless, and thin enough to breathe well. There's no padding other than a tiny bit around the ankle opening. For such a minimalist upper, it's quite comfortable, though the ankle opening could do with being a little softer.
• Tongue. The Faas 100 R‏‎ has a traditional tongue, but there's no tab to attach it to the laces, so I found it tended to slide down into the shoe. The tongue has a small square of padding, but is otherwise thin fabric.
• Lacing. The Faas 100 R‏‎ has one other flaw - round laces. These tend to come untied, but they can be replaced easily enough.
• Heel Counter. The Faas 100 R‏‎ has no heel counter, which is nice.

Please support this site This review was made possible by readers like you buying products via my links. I buy all the products I review through normal retail channels, which allows me to create unbiased reviews free from the influence of reciprocity, or the need to keep vendors happy. It also ensures I don't get "reviewer specials" that are better than the retail versions. Buy Puma Faas 100 R at Zappos Buy Puma Faas 100 R at Road Runner Sports Buy Puma Faas 100 R at Kelly's Running Warehouse Buy Puma Faas 100 R at Charlotte Ultra Running Company

2 Cushioning and Shoes

It's intuitively obvious that the cushioning in a shoe will reduce the impact on your body when running. However, The Science of Running Shoes indicates that the reality is rather more complex. While slight cushioning may reduce the effort needed to run by improving your Running Economy, most scientific research indicates that more cushioning does further improve Running Economy. In addition, cushioning does not generally reduce impact and may actually increase it. This is counterintuitive, but is likely to be due to the way a runners mind and body adapts to softer cushioning. Unfortunately, the scientific evidence is far from complete and it's hard to give clear recommendations. I believe that some runners will prefer more cushioning, while others prefer less, and typically those running further have a fondness for greater cushioning. I also believe that a shoe should be as light as possible, and a shoe should justify its weight with the cushioning it provides. My advice is to decide what level of cushioning you're looking for, and then find the lightest shoes that also fit well and are comfortable.

3 Visualizing the Attributes of the Puma Faas 100 R

How Puma Faas 100 R compares showing rearfoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.	How Puma Faas 100 R compares showing forefoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.
How Puma Faas 100 R compares showing the price against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.	How Puma Faas 100 R compares showing the loaded drop against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.

4 How Far Can I Run in the Faas 100 R?

Different runners want different levels of cushioning, so this shoe may not suit everyone. Some runners want a Minimax shoe when they run a 5K, while others will run a 100 mile race barefoot. Most people find that as the distance increases, they want a little more cushioning to protect their feet from the pounding and to offset a little of the fatigue that sets in over time. You can see from the charts below how the cushioning compares with other shoes I've tested for some comparisons. Remember that a thicker, firmer shoe would have the same cushioning rating as a thinner, softer shoe, but would feel rather different. Personally, I'm happy running in the Faas 100 R for the marathon distance, and I'd probably use it in a 50 mile road race. For longer distances I'd probably use the Hoka Clifton, either for the entire race or for the last portion.

5 Comparisons

Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.

5.1 Puma Faas 100 R‏‎ and Asics Gel Hyper Speed

These two shoes are remarkably close, and I recommend them both. The Hyper Speed has an edge in longevity and forefoot cushioning, but it's not a huge deal. Buy either of them and run happy.

Puma Faas 100 R top	Puma Faas 100 R bottom	Puma Faas 100 R inside	Puma Faas 100 R outside
Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 top	Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 bottom	Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 inside	Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 outside

5.2 Puma Faas 100 R‏‎ and New Balance RC5000

Few shoes can compare with the ultralight New Balance RC5000. The RC5000 is a better shoe if you can handle the limited cushioning, but the Faas 100 R is going to work better for most folks.

Puma Faas 100 R top	Puma Faas 100 R bottom	Puma Faas 100 R inside	Puma Faas 100 R outside
New Balance MRC 5000 top	New Balance MRC 5000 bottom	New Balance MRC 5000 inside	New Balance MRC 5000 outside

5.3 Puma Faas 100 R‏‎ and Asics GT 2000

I tend to compare shoes against my benchmark "normal running shoe", the Asics GT 2000. The GT 2000 really shows how good the Faas 100 R is, weighing just over half as much while providing almost the same cushioning. The Puma lacks the over engineering and complexity of the GT 2000 and its simplicity is a key benefit.

Puma Faas 100 R top	Puma Faas 100 R bottom	Puma Faas 100 R inside	Puma Faas 100 R outside
Asics GT2000 top	Asics GT2000 bottom	Asics GT2000 inside	Asics GT2000 outside

6 A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories. Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity. Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game. Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g. Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk. Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well. All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close. Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.

For a more detailed on running shoes see the Recommendations for Best Running Shoes. This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison.

It's not a running shoe, but I love the Hoka Tor Ultra hiking boot and I've tested the Altra Lone Peak Boot, the Hoka Tor Speed 2, and the Inov-8 Roclite 325 hiking boots
Older shoe reviews: Saucony Hattori Review, Mizuno Cursoris Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, Hoka Clifton Review, Saucony Virrata 2 Review, Brooks PureCadence 3 Review, Brooks PureConnect 3 Review, Brooks PureFlow 3 Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, New Balance 980 Review, Brooks Transcend 2 Review, Hoka Huaka Review, Patagonia EVERlong Review, Asics 33-DFA Review, Hoka Conquest Review, Saucony Cortana Review, Puma Faas 100 R Review, Saucony Fastwitch Review, Nike Free Review, Asics Gel Lyte 33 Review, Skechers GOmeb Speed Review, Skechers GOrun Ultra Road Review, Nike LunaRacer Review, Altra Paradigm Review.