Puma RS100 review

The rise of Sneaker tech...

I truly believe that the eighties set the tone for all what's hi-tech and gadgety in the shoe industry. In 1984, Adidas released the Micropacer, a running shoe with a pedometer tucked into a pocket on its tongue. In 1985, Puma launched the RS-Computer, a running shoe which was the brand's answer to the adidas micropacer. In 1987, Nike launched its first shoe with a see-through 'air' sole unit and finally in 1989, Reebok launched the 'pump' technology, which made its debut in a hi-top basketball shoe. In between, there were some blink and miss efforts like the Adidas APS in 1986, (Anti-pronation system) and the Nike Air Pressure in 1989, which was somewhat similar to the Reebok Pump in what it did. And not to forget, the futuristic Nike Air Mags were the cool kicks which Marty McFly wore in the 1985 movie 'Back to the Future' part II.

Ahead of its time: In an era when Tetris dominated computer games and a high end personal computer meant 1 MB of RAM and a 5.25 inch floppy drive, the RS Computer was nothing short of a technological marvel. (Picture source www.digibarn.com and talkaboutdesign.com)

The Puma RS Computer could do all what the Micropacer did, and much more. Not only did it measure the pace, calories and distance of the runner, it could also hook up directly with a Apple II computer and upload data so that the person using it could track his or her progress. One could set weekly, monthly and annual goals and you had to run 15 times to calibrate the RS computer to customised settings. These days it might seem easy, but consider the fact that Puma probably started the RS project in 1983, two years prior to its launch, so for its time the high tech wonder could have well been a part of the Star Trek Enterprise prop. Though it was a very original concept, the RS Computer died a quick death due to limited availability, extremely high price ($200 in 1985!) and nagging technical issues. A similar fate befell the Adidas Micropacer, so both these ahead-of-their-time trainers faded into oblivion as quickly they had arrived. Two decades later, Nike launched the Nike+Apple technology with a new spin to the RS Computer concept, but that is a different story altogether.

The Puma RS100: Inspired by the RS Computer, minus the cables and the microchip.

Though Puma discontinued the RS Computer soon after its launch, they were smart enough to cash on the hype generated by the RS concept by releasing a regular running shoe which was inspired by the original RS concept. So in 1986, Puma launched a stripped down version of the RS Computer in form of the Puma RS100. Over the years, it became one of Puma's best selling retro kicks and probably the brand's only iconic running shoe silhouette. The RS100 has been released in many versions since and the edition we review today is called the RS100 Circuit, a leather and mesh version with printed graphics inspired by eighties type pixel texts and electronic circuits. While the graphic story on the upper attempts to evoke the spirit of its long gone ancestor, the shape and the patterns are near identical to the original RS100 shoe released in 1985.

Back to the eighties: The graphic and the font is reminiscent of the eighties, when Tetris, Pacman and Super Mario dominated the world instead of Counter Strike and Half Life! RS100 is prominently mentioned on the collar area - for those of you who don't know what RS stands for, it is an acronym for 'Running Shoe'.

Similar graphical treatment for the Puma logo on the tongue top.

R-system: Puma named the technology in the original RS computer shoe 'R-System' and the molded callout in the present day RS100 as a connection to its retro-tech history.

The circuit story: The printed graphics on the sockliner blends in with the tech theme on the rest of the shoe.

The RS100 sells in India at a retail of INR 3499, and even for someone doesn't know the history of the RS100 and simply wants a cool pairs of sneakers to lounge around in, these shoes are good value. The upper is mostly made of printed leather panels, with some mesh in the front and on the sides so this shoe seems to be as durable as they come. The retro pixel themed prints on the leather may appear to some as aesthetically challenging, but that is what gives it a quirky flavor. Puma has also taken care not to overdo it - while the black panels has glossy graphics, the grey areas have muted prints which tones down things a few notches.

Lace these shoes on, and the leather and mesh upper snugly wraps around your foot. The fit is just right - no loose areas or flabby excess materials. Everything from the forefoot width and the padded collar worked together perfectly. The upper also has a soft synthetic fabric lining, so that was a plus on the comfort. The printed sockliner/insole is covered with synthetic leather, so slipping in and out of the shoe was a breeze. The only grouse I had was how the midsole felt - the RS100 seems to be using Polyurethane in its midsole instead of the conventional compression molded EVA, so the ride felt rather stiff. But I guess this is a limitation of retro running shoes; back in the eighties and early nineties most running shoes used Polyurethane instead of molded EVA, so all of such shoes will end up feeling the same. Another reason is that Puma would have wanted to keep the molded 'Puma' and 'R-system' logo on the midsole, and use of Polyurethane as a material would have allowed them to do that. So I would tend to forgive the RS100 for the slightly stiff ride since Polyurethane midsoles seem to be an inseparable part of a retro running shoe. But nevertheless I thought I should point that out for anyone who wants to know.

The sole story: The design of the RS100 outsole is near identical to the RS Computer.

Flashbacks of a shoe: Retro graphics story brings back old memories; the latest avatar of the RS100 packs in reflective piping around the Puma Form strip logo and eighties type lacing.

When I was buying this shoe, I came across another model inspired by the RS series - the RS 100 Injex, which I see as Puma's answer to Crocs. If you are getting bored of having too many Crocs in your wardrobe, you can walk across to the Puma store and pick up a pair of the RS100 Injex. I personally think the Injex is an eyesore, but like they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You might be tempted to pick one up - I remember it was around Rs.1200 or so...

Crocy cat: Puma's version of the Crocs. Single piece injected foam is combined with the iconic RS100 upper design to create this strange beast. Love it or hate it, you can't ignore it!