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Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:Puma Faas 100 R Review}} The Puma Faas 100 R is a wonderful shoe, and comes close to one of my favorites, the Asics Gel Hyper Speed. While the F..."
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Puma Faas 100 R Review}}
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. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-top.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Puma Faas 100 R top]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Puma Faas 100 R bottom]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-inside.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Puma Faas 100 R inside]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-outside.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Puma Faas 100 R outside]]
|}
=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. This is a great shoe and I'd highly recommend it. It's relatively cheap, and offers great cushioning-to-weight.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:drop}}. The Faas 100 R is virtually zero-drop, with only 1mm of drop when loaded.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The lack of outsole, combined with the thin, soft midsole makes the Faas 100 R very flexible.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:shape}}. The Faas 100 R is much better shaped than most shoes, and while I did [[Shoe Modifications| cut open the toe box]] the problem was fairly minimal. .
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:lacing}}. The Faas 100 R has one other flaw - round laces. These tend to come untied, but they can be replaced easily enough.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The Faas 100 R has no heel counter, which is nice.
{{BuyShoes|RRS=T|AZ=T}}
{{ShoeGraphs}}
=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.
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==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.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R top]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R bottom]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R inside]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 top]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 outside]]
|}
==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.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R top]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R bottom]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R inside]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 outside]]
|}
==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.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R top]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R bottom]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R inside]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
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. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-top.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Puma Faas 100 R top]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Puma Faas 100 R bottom]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-inside.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Puma Faas 100 R inside]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-outside.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Puma Faas 100 R outside]]
|}
=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. This is a great shoe and I'd highly recommend it. It's relatively cheap, and offers great cushioning-to-weight.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:drop}}. The Faas 100 R is virtually zero-drop, with only 1mm of drop when loaded.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The lack of outsole, combined with the thin, soft midsole makes the Faas 100 R very flexible.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:shape}}. The Faas 100 R is much better shaped than most shoes, and while I did [[Shoe Modifications| cut open the toe box]] the problem was fairly minimal. .
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:lacing}}. The Faas 100 R has one other flaw - round laces. These tend to come untied, but they can be replaced easily enough.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The Faas 100 R has no heel counter, which is nice.
{{BuyShoes|RRS=T|AZ=T}}
{{ShoeGraphs}}
=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.
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==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.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R top]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R bottom]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R inside]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 top]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 outside]]
|}
==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.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R top]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R bottom]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R inside]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 outside]]
|}
==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.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R top]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R bottom]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R inside]]
|[[File:Puma-Faas-100-R-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Puma Faas 100 R outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
