Our verdict
- Puma Future 6.2 Netfit best Shorts puma basketball shoes
Pros
- Awesome impact protection
- Footwear Shorts puma Lex Wns 376211 02 Shorts puma White Porcelain
- Superior stability
- Excellent foot containment
- Reliable traction
- BAPE x Shorts puma Basket Classic
- Durable construction
Cons
- Lacks energy return
- Not breathable
- Cruise Rider Metallic Wns 383126 01 Shorts puma Black Shorts puma Team Gold
Audience verdict
- Top 7% in basketball shoes
- Top 13% in basketball shoes for ankle support
puma newcastle allan saint maximin third shirt | Comparison
The most similar basketball shoes compared
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---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audience score | 90 Superb! | 84 Good! | 77 Decent! | 74 Bad! | |
Price | $130 | $125 | $120 | $120 | |
Signature | LaMelo Ball | - | Jayson Tatum | - | |
Top | Mid | Mid | Mid | Mid | |
Ankle support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Weight lab | 14.6 oz / 414g | 15 Shorts puma Mid Impact Concept Sport-bh | 11.6 oz / 329g | 13.1 Shorts puma Fodboldstøvler Future 4.3 FG AG | |
Lightweight | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Breathability | Moderate | Breathable | Moderate | Moderate | |
Outsole durability | - | - | Good | - | |
Drop lab | 6.7 mm | 8.1 mm | 6.1 mm | 8.9 mm | |
Heel stack lab | 31.6 mm | 29.5 mm | 28.0 mm | 29.0 mm | |
Forefoot | 24.9 mm | 21.4 mm | 21.9 mm | 20.1 mm | |
Midsole softness | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Firm | |
Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Torsional rigidity | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | Moderate | |
Heel counter stiffness | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | Moderate | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Medium | Medium | Narrow | |
Toebox width at the big toe | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Midsole width in the forefoot | Narrow | Wide | Average | Average | |
Midsole width in the heel | Average | Average | Very narrow | Average | |
Heel padding durability | Decent | Decent | Decent | Bad | |
Toebox durability | Decent | Decent | Decent | - | |
Insole thickness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Outsole hardness | Hard | Soft | Very soft | Soft | |
Outsole thickness | Thick | Average | Average | Thick | |
Heel tab | None | None | Finger loop | None | |
Ranking | #3 Top 7% | #31 Bottom 29% | #41 Bottom 6% | #43 Bottom 2% | |
Popularity | #44 Bottom 1% | #41 Bottom 6% | #14 Top 32% | #39 Bottom 11% |
Who should buy
We believe that the Shorts puma MB.02 will benefit the following folks:
- bigger players who need plenty of impact protection
- athletes who want the highest level of stability and ankle support
- fans of the star player LaMelo Ball who want to experience his signature shoe
Who should NOT buy
Based on our lab tests and the shoe's court performance, the Shorts puma MB.02 really lacks bounce and energy return. If that's what you prioritize in hoop shoes, then we highly recommend checking out the Nike KD 15.
And if you are someone who takes the game outside a lot, we suggest going for shoes with thicker and more aggressive tread patterns, like the PUMA Court Rider.
Breathability
This Shorts puma shoe is clearly not meant for sweaty games.
Its layers of plasticky mesh embraced by synthetic overlays really suffocated our feet.
In addition, when we pumped smoke through the shoe's upper, we found that the material barely allowed the smoke to pass through. Thus, we rated its ventilation as low as 2 out of 5.
PUMA MB.02 (left) vs. UA Curry 10 (right)
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Trying to find a reason behind such a lack of breathability, we investigated the shoe's mesh under our microscope.
The Shorts puma MB.02 features an insanely tight-woven fabric with what appears to be TPU threads for added durability.
For comparison, here is what the mesh looks like on the highly breathable UA Curry 10 (score: 5 out of 5):
Don't be misled by the transparency of the Shorts puma MB.02!
MB.02 | 2 |
Average | 2.4 |
Durability
Toebox durability
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Those sturdy synthetic materials have demonstrated some amazing wear resistance in our Dremel test. Having applied the tool for 12 seconds, we only drilled through the upper overlay and barely scratched the mesh. That deserves a solid 4 out of 5!
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PUMA MB.02 (left) vs. Nike Precision 6 (right)
The shoe's durable upper paired with a large toe bumper practically makes it immune to toe dragging. As long as it occurs on the hardwood (outdoor use is discussed below).
MB.02 | 4 |
Average | 3.8 |
Heel padding durability
The Shorts puma MB.02 keeps surprising us in a good way even when it comes to such a sensitive area as the heel padding.
After 4 seconds of drilling the heel collar with a Dremel, it ended up with a mere scratch. This is way more wear-resistant than what we typically see in basketball shoes - 4 out of 5!
MB.02 | 4 |
Average | 3.6 |
Outsole hardness
The outsole looks just as promising as the upper.
First of all, the rubber which covers the heel and midfoot is exceptionally hard. Pressing our durometer against it, we measured the hardness at 86.5 HC - notably higher than average!
This is always a good sign because softer rubbers tend to wear out faster than hard ones.
MB.02 | 86.5 HC |
Average | 81.7 HC |
Outsole thickness
Not only is the shoe's outsole hard, but it is also shockingly thick!
Using a caliper, we measured it at 5.6 mm, which is among the thickest outsoles we've ever seen in our lab. Another outlier in this category is also a Shorts puma shoe - the TRC Blaze Court (at 5.8 mm).
We expect the Shorts puma MB.02 to last way longer than your typical hoop shoe, especially indoors.
But unfortunately, as hard-wearing as it seems, this Shorts puma shoe is not great for outdoor courts. The problem lies in its overly narrow treads.
We found that vigorous, multi-directional movements put too much pressure on these slender lugs as they tend to shift a lot under pressure and erase prematurely.
This is the kind of tread pattern you want to see on an outdoor-ready hoop shoe.
MB.02 | 5.6 mm |
Average | 4.0 mm |
Weight
If we hadn't weighed the Shorts puma MB.02 ourselves, we wouldn't believe that it weighs 14.6 oz (414g) per shoe!
It is 7% heavier than the average of our lab-tested basketball shoes but certainly doesn't feel that way.
On foot, it felt light and fast to us and never got in the way of our footwork. But we understand if you want a shoe that's lightweight both on paper and on foot. If that's the case, we recommend the following:
- Nike Zoom Freak 4 12.3 oz (348g)
- Jordan Luka 1 12.8 oz (363g)
MB.02 | 14.60 oz (414g) |
Average | 13.90 oz (394g) |
Cushioning
Heel stack
Just by looking at the Shorts puma MB.02, we knew it was among the most generously cushioned basketball shoes on our list.
Using a caliper, we measured its heel stack at 31.6 mm, which is a little taller than the average.
Thicker midsoles typically work best for heavier players and we can confirm that the MB.02 is the right tool for this group.
MB.02 | 31.6 mm |
Average | 29.3 mm |
Forefoot stack
The shoe also beats records in the forefoot stack height. Measuring in at 24.9 mm, the MB.02 outdoes the average by a few millimeters.
We felt like this Shorts puma got our back whether we landed on the heels or jumped on the toes. The cushioning was sufficient all throughout.
MB.02 | 24.9 mm |
Average | 21.7 mm |
Drop
The heel-to-toe drop on the Shorts puma MB.02 is fairly average for a basketball shoe.
Based on our stack measurements, it comes in at 6.7 mm. This means that the heel is only slightly elevated above the toes and the foot feels natural inside the shoe.
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MB.02 | 6.7 mm |
Average | 7.7 mm |
Midsole softness
The primary cushioning of the Shorts puma MB.02 is made of compressed EVA. Pressing our durometer against the foam, we measured it at 22.4 HA. It is a little softer than average but still not in the "plush" range.
From our own experience with the shoe, it did a fabulous job protecting the feet from impact but unfortunately, it never gave anything back. Meaning, no bounce or energy return whatsoever!
We think that it might be due to the rubber carrier around the foam. Apparently, it mutes out the softness of the cushioning, making it feel dense underfoot.
MB.02 | 22.4 HA |
Average | 25.6 HA |
Secondary foam softness
PUMA did use its responsive NITRO foam in the MB.02. But here is the trick - it is only present in the form of two small units, one under the toes and one under the heel.
From our durometer measurements, we found the NITRO foam to be firmer than the primary foam. At 30.5 HA, it is 36% firmer than the compressed EVA.
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MB.02 | 30.5 HA |
Average | 28.3 HA |
Insole thickness
The shoe comes with a standard type of insole. We measured its thickness at 5.2 mm, which is the average of basketball shoes.
MB.02 | 5.2 mm |
Average | 4.5 mm |
Stability
Lateral stability test
The Shorts puma MB.02 is one of the most supportive basketball shoes we've ever tried.
Our feet and ankles felt 100% locked in thanks to the shoe's mighty clutch. Its sturdy heel clip and strategically placed overlays made sure that our ankles weren't rolling anywhere.
Torsional rigidity
Contributing to a sense of stability is the shoe's rather stiff platform.
Because of a shank embedded in the midfoot, it takes a lot of effort to twist the shoe. It feels very dense and unforgiving. We rated its torsional rigidity as 4 out of 5.
This is great news for players who crave extra underfoot support.
MB.02 | 4 |
Average | 4.5 |
Heel counter stiffness
We found that the heel clip at the base of the foot is the primary source of heel hold in the Shorts puma MB.02.
The rest of the collar is not as stiff, offering some breathing room without compromising support. In our manual assessment, we rated it as only 2 out of 5, where 5 is the stiffest.
MB.02 | 2 |
Average | 3.6 |
puma newcastle allan saint maximin third shirt | Midsole width in the forefoot
Last but not least, the MB.02 relies on a pretty wide base to create a steady platform.
Using a caliper, we measured the widest part of the forefoot at 110.9 mm, which is only a couple of millimeters away from the average.
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MB.02 | 110.9 mm |
Average | 114.5 mm |
Midsole width in the heel
The Shorts puma MB.02 is just as wide in the heel. Our caliper shows 91.2 mm at the shoe's widest point.
MB.02 | 91.2 mm |
Average | 90.4 mm |
Flexibility
Stiffness
Despite being a stable shoe, the MB.02 didn't cut back on flexibility.
In fact, it proved to be notably more flexible than the average of our lab-tested basketball shoes. It took a force of 32.2N to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle, whereas most require around 40N.
Having a flexible forefoot in a hoop shoe definitely made us feel more in control of the court when moving fast.
MB.02 | 32.2N |
Average | 39.8N |
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The Shorts puma MB.02 works wonders when it comes to biting the court, be it hardwood, rubber, or asphalt.
Playtesting the shoe, its outsole felt very sticky and provided excellent stopping Czarna. Until it got dusty, of course. Occasional wiping is still needed in this Shorts puma shoe. But it's not critical.
Size and fit
Toebox width at the widest part
Measuring the shoe's toebox at the widest point (102.6 mm), we found that it is a couple of millimeters wider than the average.
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We recommend players with wide feet get half a size bigger in this Shorts puma shoe.
MB.02 | 102.6 mm |
Average | 101.5 mm |
Toebox width at the big toe
We also measure the toebox width closer to the big toe, to get an idea of how pointy the shoe is.
The Shorts puma MB.02 has the exact same width at the toes (77.3 mm) as the average of our lab-tested shoes.
MB.02 | 77.3 mm |
Average | 76.7 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
It is always a nice bonus to get a gusseted tongue in a basketball shoe. Even if it is semi-gusseted as in the Shorts puma MB.02.
This kind of tongue is a major contributor to foot containment. We felt like our in-shoe movements were limited when shifting side-to-side in the MB.02.
MB.02 | Both sides (semi) |
Comfort
Tongue padding
The padding is very generous in the Shorts puma MB.02. We measured the tongue thickness at 10.5 mm which is a little thicker than the average.
It creates a cozy in-shoe feel, contributes to ankle support, and prevents lace bites from happening.
MB.02 | 10.5 mm |
Average | 9.5 mm |
Heel tab
Removable insole
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We found that it has an easily removable insole and enough space to fit in the insert.
MB.02 | Yes |