After about 20 years away from the game, Puma finally got back into hoops last year with the Clyde Court. Their third model is now on shelves and a fantastic mix of technology and style.
First things first: if you liked the Kyrie 4s, you’ll probably love these. They have a similar fit and feel, while being a little softer, lighter, and more flexible. The grip is a modified herringbone design and is phenomenal, even on a dirty court. You should have no problem stopping on a dime, pivoting, and changing direction. The cushion is great, using Puma’s Hybrid (similar to Boost) inside of Ignite foam. We couldn’t find out if the Hybrid foam was just in the heel or throughout, but there wasn’t much discrepancy in the way the forefoot felt, compared to the heel.
The fit is narrow. Those who liked the Clyde Courts may feel claustrophobic in these. The mesh up front is breathable enough, while still being adequate at lockdown during cutting. On the other hand, the ankle cuff is a tad over-developed. So even though it’s comfortable, it feels a little bulky.
So compared to the Clyde Court, which also uses Hybrid foam, the Legacy is softer and more flexible, due to not having the outsole completely encapsulate the midsole (this basically means the Legacy has greater room to displace or “smoosh down”). On the other hand, there’s a lot more foot containment. The Courts have greater wiggle room and those with feet on the narrow side had to really tighten down those laces. The Legacy, as stated previously, has a more narrow last and mesh upper, compared to the knit of the Court.
At $100 from Dick’s Sporting Goods (and $110 elsewhere, for some reason), the Puma Legacy is a budget shoe that punches way above its weight class.
Sun and Sole 