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Puma Future Rider: the heel that sticks out behind the shoe

Look at a Future Rider from the side and something’s off at the back. The heel extends past the sole, like a loose block hanging off the back of the shoe that doesn’t touch the ground. That’s not a styling mistake but a reference. In 1980 Puma built the Fast Rider with a sole called Federbein, German for ‘veerpoot’, and that protruding part is what’s left of it.

So the shoe you see here is not a reissue but a redesign. Armin Dassler, son of Puma’s founder, designed the original as a running shoe for the moment running moved from the track to the street. The Future Rider takes that shape and puts modern foam under it, with a thick wedge that tapers toward the front and a gum-colored outsole full of fine teeth that curls up at the toe.

Above that, mesh and suede alternate in soft panels. The wordmark appears in block letters on a colored label on the flank, with the curved formstrip sitting separately beneath it. The whole is deliberately light and soft: there’s nothing stiff about this shoe.

What sets this model apart in the range is how far it dares to go with color. On this page are versions called Splash, Neon, Galaxy and Unicorn, alongside collaborations with SpongeBob, Peanuts, Animal Crossing and Tinycottons. Where most retro running models stick to earth tones, this branch does the opposite.

At the same time Puma introduced the Style Rider, which interprets the same origin in a quieter way. Those looking for the classic Puma silhouette in suede should look at the Suede; those wanting more volume, at the RS-X.

On this page you can see which versions of the Puma Future Rider are hottest right now according to the Hypescore, from what price they’re available and in how many shops they are in stock.