Puma Speedcat is a racing shoe released by Puma. The popularity of the shoe led to it becoming a lifestyle show and popularizing the low profile sneaker.

Overview

Puma had a history of designing racing shoes specifically for

Formula 1 Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...

drivers. Each shoe was made to be tailored for each driver. In 1999, Puma board member Martin Gänsler partnered with designer Rudi Hieblinger and agency Création & Focus Design to create a new racing shoe based on the one created for

Stefan Bellof Stefan Bellof (20 November 1957 – 1 September 1985) was a German racing driver. Bellof was the winner of the Drivers' Championship in the 1984 FIA World Endurance Championship, driving for the factory Rothmans Porsche team. His lap rec ...

. Specifically, his 1984/85 model. The new shoe was called the Puma Speedcat and was released in 1999. The original version made for racing came in both premium calfskin or kangaroo leather and also included fireproof lining on the shoe. The following year in 2000, Puma decided to launch a lifestyle version of the shoe in both mid-top and low top variants. The release also included a collaboration with

Sparco Sparco S.p.A. is an Italian auto part and accessory company headquartered in Volpiano near Turin that specializes in producing items such as seats, steering wheels, harnesses, racewear and helmets. Sparco branded alloy wheels are produced unde ...

. The lifestyle release replaced the stronger leather with normal leather and suede and also removed the fireproof lining. The shoe became popular in the early 2000s in Europe where motorsport fans and fashion oriented people loved the shoe for its unique design.

Popularity

The shoe had some collaborations over the years since its launched but never received another general release. In July 2024, Puma decided to re-release the shoe and partnered with NAKED Copenhagen on the release. The shoe quickly became popular thanks to its sleek design and very thin sole. The Speedcat is one of main shoes that helped popularize the trend of low profile sneakers with very thin soles that started that same year. While there had been slimmer shoes that have become popular, what set the Speedcat and similar shoes like the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 apart were the very thing soles that were similar to flats but for sneakers.

Models

Speedcat OG

The original version of the with the suede upper and very thin sole.

Speadcat Leather

The same design of the Speedcat but with a full leather upper instead of suede. It was released in August 2024.

Speedcat Ballet

A version of the Speedcat that is meant to be closer to a

ballet flat Ballet flats or ballet pumps are a style of shoe. The appearance is inspired by women's ballet shoes, with a very thin heel or the appearance of no heel at all. The style sometimes features a ribbon-like binding around the low tops of the slippe ...

. Released in March 2025, the shoe features cutouts on the upper back of the shoe and top to replicate the look of ballet flats.

Speedcat Go

The Speedcat Go was released in March 2025 and features a breathable mesh upper with an opening in the middle of the top. Instead of normal laces, it has a bungee lacing system for easier use.

References

{{Puma Puma (brand) Sports footwear Products introduced in 1999 1990s fashion 2000s fashion 2010s fashion 2020s fashion