Our verdict
Often overshadowed by other classic casual sneakers, the PUMA GV Special is a unique kick that can stand the test of time. One of its major draws is its comfortable midsole, which makes it an ideal everyday lifestyle sneaker. Buyers' remorse should not be a thing with this shoe as its collection of pros towers over its few workable misfires.
Pros
- Old-school appeal
- Durable
- Cushy underfoot
- Easy-to-clean leather upper
- Fashionably versatile
- Supportive
- Warrants a second pair
Cons
- Narrow
- Skinny tongue
Who should buy the PUMA GV Special
For a classic trainer, the PUMA GV Special wears its vintage good looks on its sleeve. It may be the shoe for you if:
- You're into all-black or all-white OOTDs, especially if you have the featured shoe in either all-black or all-white colorways.
- PUMA shoes in which you can stand all day are what you need.
- You need a vintage shoe that can withstand wear and tear for months.
Who should not buy it
If you're unsure about the width of the GV Special, particularly around the toes, take a peek inside our selection of best wide sneakers and choose from there. If you need something with a puffier tongue, try the PUMA C-Rey.
thus leaving a large budget for PUMA s Basketball division
Online reviewers like that this shoe pairs well with a variety of outfits. This quality is linked to the shoe's simplistic design.
Shorts PUMA x Animal Crossing™
Numerous online praise the PUMA GV Special for its super-durable construction.
Puma Training Strikkede joggingbukser i mørkegrå
Numerous customers like the old-school looks of the PUMA GV Special.
The GV Special's squishy toe space
Some reviewers find the PUMA GV Special too bountiful for their feet.
Puma Wired Ac Infant EU 25 Puma White High Risk Red
Riñonera PUMA Originals Urban Waist Bag 078482 01 Puma Black PUMA.
Nickelodeon x PUMA Roma Slime
The shoe's tongue could be cushier, based on a lone report.
PUMA GV Special equals pain-free arches
Sneakerheads with pronation problems find the GV Special's arch support very reassuring.
The symbolic history of the PUMA GV Special
In existence for more than 37 years, the PUMA GV Special shoes first came out in 1980. The creation of the shoes started with Guillermo Vilas, an Argentinian tennis star in the 1970s to 1980s, whose initials were forever attached to this iconic shoe.
The four-time tennis grand slam champion in collaboration with PUMA resulted in an iconic shoe that would match his winning style and plays. Known for his one-handed backhand moves and his good looks that captured the hearts of many women, Vilas successfully projected his charm onto this iconic tennis shoe.
Their collaboration, which started in the late 1970s yielded a shoe released in 1980. This sneaker was seen to have an excellent cushioning system and a durable design in original all-white classic tennis shoe looks.
With its rubber outsole, the PUMA GV Special has a solid grip on the ground. The tennis shoe also had the same promising grip on the outsole that had helped make Vilas a specialist in the clay courts as the Argentinian tennis ace had been known to play better on hard surfaces.
The shoe’s cushioning system was also helpful to Vilas in making quick movements on the tennis court, especially when the South American player popularized his signature “Gran Willy” or a shot where the player hits a tennis ball back to their opponent between the legs. Through the years, the PUMA GV Special has remained almost the same, with its all-white and all-black designs becoming popular for many sneaker fans.
