Puma Ultra Ultimate

With Nike and adidas leading the way for speed boots, Puma steps up to the challenge and releases the Ultra Ultimate. First launched in 2020, the Ultra marks the successful return of Puma in the said category after the discontinuation of the iconic evoSPEED. Together with the Future Z, the Ultra helps the Wild Cat brand provide distinct choices that cater to a variety, sometimes even opposing, boot preferences.

Ultra Ultimate Page Content Summary:

The Future Z and Neymar might be hugging the limelight on the glamour of Puma boots, but the Ultra Ultimate by itself is hugely deserving of a co-star recognition. After all, it can certainly hold its ground against the Superflys, the Vapors, and the Xs.

Known Football Names and Price Options under the Puma Ultra

Antoine Griezmann comes to mind when it comes to the Ultras. He is not alone though as he is now joined by a cast of quality players like Kingsley Coman and Christian Pulisic. It’s also worth mentioning that the Puma Ultra has a dedicated women-sizing, and with the likes of Fridolina Rolfö on board, should not have any problems getting a following in women’s football.

Just when they think you couldn’t get any faster – you do 💨👀

With its fully re-engineered, lightweight ULTRAWEAVE upper, ULTRA takes its signature speed and acceleration to the next level.

The application of PWRTAPE draws from the anatomy of the human foot to provide natural… pic.twitter.com/BR5EDH1LXF

— PUMA Football (@pumafootball) June 29, 2023

Puma Ultra

Ultimate – Seems like Puma has gone down Nike’s route and now labels (instead of numbering) the tier level for its speed boot offering at least, with Ultimate representing the high-end flagship model

Women’s Ultra

Designed with the female footshape in mind, Puma have been at the forefront of designing specific women’s boots for the last few years, especially with the Ultra, launching slightly different colourways in packs for the girls game.

Ultra Match (.3)

Match refers to your budget Ultra options; interesting to see that the laceless and laced options under this tier level bear semblance to the playbook of adidas at this price point (not to mention Puma’s attempt to offer a regular option for a laceless boot)

Some Questions about the Ultra Ultimate:

• What’s new with the Ultra Ultimate?

The Ultra Ultimate overhauls the the Puma speed silo from the ground up. The outsole now has a dual structure comprised of an outer skeletal TPU layered over a Peba-base frame , with the mix of chevron and triangular stud configuration being the only carry-over element. MATRYXEVO now gives way to the ULTRAWEAVE material that is also used in Puma’s high-profile kits.

• Is the Ultra Ultimate available in other soleplate types?

At the moment, you can get the Ultra in a Cage variant that is good for the harder synthetic pitch of indoor football. Pretty sure Puma will release a soft ground version soon. In case you didn’t know, Puma’s football boots are labelled as FG/AG, so by default it should be alright for the newer generation of artificial grass pitches at least.

• Can I go laceless with the Puma Ultra?

That’s a big NO. The boot does not have any mechanism on the midfoot, unlike the Future Z, that can make the case for a laceless Ultra. Perhaps you might want to take a look at the Ultra Match LL, just not the Ultra Ultimate please.

Deep Dive into the Ultra Ultimate Review

Six Things to Know About the Ultra Ultimate:

1. Considering all leading brands and underrated options, still one  of the most affordable top-end boot at less than £200
2. Upper is a woven material, but the coating gives it a synthetic, plasticky feel
3. FG/AG label causes no worries about warranty when playing on both natural and artificial surfaces
4. Significantly restructured compared to the Ultra 1.3/1.4
5. Getting narrower in shape, as opposed to the trend of Nike and adidas speed boots of going a little bit to the opposite direction; true-to-size in length
6. Like the New Balance Furon, could be an alternative to the likes of Nike Air Zoom Mercurials and adidas X

Our Puma Ultra Ultimate Expert Review

Puma Ultra Ultimate Boots

One of the best value for money top level speed boots, you'll find these a lightweight, narrow option on your feet

Product SKU: 106868

Product Brand: Puma

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.08

Overhauled in material but not in essence, the fifth generation of the Puma is indeed Ultimate in its own development and also in relation to its competition.

Boot Rankings, Best For…

Jay Mike talks about the Ultra Ultimate:

• ULTRAWEAVE upper takes a bit more time to break-in relative to 2022 Ultra Ultimate
• Felt the presence of PWRTAPE and thinks it’s a bit too much
• Super snug and intimate fit on the midfoot, but there’s some space around the toe
• Lockdown is surprisingly good
• Super wide foot or flat foot, not the best option
• Enjoyed the dual-density speedplate
• Be wary of safety in using in AG
• One of the hardest to put on
• Heel is on the shallow side
• Wished it could have been more pliable

Ultra Ultimate or Future Z: Choosing the Right Puma Silo for You

If performance is your priority, the more secure fit of the Ultra Ultimate, in addition to its snappy dual-density outsole and raw ball touch,  can give you a better sensation in improving your reaction time, nimbleness, and acceleration. Where the Future Z is arguably better is giving you that cozy comfort in the heat of the action to keep you fresh and focused. It also helps the Future’s case that it’s a boot that has no direct competition, unlike the Ultra which has to contend with the ever popular Nike Mercurials and the surging adidas X boots. What’s good in both Puma silos is the fact that they are great value for money, costing significantly less than the £250 average price of top-of-the-line football boots.

Development of the Puma Ultra Speed Boot

Puma introduced the Ultra in 2020, replacing the versatile ONE with a line dedicated to speed. As you’ll see below, much has already happened with the Ultra line in that short span of time.

Ultra Ultimate (2022)

The current makeup of the Puma Ultra began in 2022. It had the PWRTAPE as a structural support wrapped around the heel and the ULTRAWEAVE upper contained PWRPRINT texturing on the forefoot. It was also the first time we got to see the dual density SPEEDPLATE.

Ultra 1.3 and 1.4

Before the ULTRAWEAVE made its way to the Ultra, the Puma speed boot, in its 1.3 and 1.4 generations, sported a highly-technical  ULTRACUT upper comprised of MATRYXEVO carbon yarns backed by an internal microfibre Speedcage.

The combination produced a seatbelt-like effect during motions, whereas the Ultra Ultimate has a simpler, no-nonsense snug fit. As such, most of the comfort of the current Ultra is derived from the softness and pliability of the ULTRAWEAVE itself, while the 1.3 and 1.4 relied more on having a slight breathing space because of its plain synthetic nature (despite being soft and pliable themselves). Specifically on the 1.4, the Grip Control Pro added a sticky surface finish for ball grip.

Ultra 1.1 and 1.2

When the Ultra started, it had a knitted finish that was pretty much the standard for speed boots back then. The sock-like material, foam liner, and relatively roomy volume meant that the Ultra began as a speed boot with comfort in mind.

Since the Future Z has already excelled on that point, it’s only logical that the Ultra turns to being more competitive on the performance side. The OG Ultra had the same Peba Speedunit outsole that carried over up until the 1.4. The Speedunit already had some snapback, but the addition of the outer TPU structure adds a level of energy return to the current Speedplate that puts the Ultimate on-par with the responsive outsoles like the adidas Carbitex Speedframe and Nike Aerotrak.