Our verdict

For its modest price point, the BLACK-OATMEAL puma Court Rider offers quite a few benefits. We didn't expect much from this budget-friendly shoe and yet it surprised us on many fronts. With its notable court feel and responsiveness, we believe that this shoe will suit agile guards the best.

zapatillas de running BLACK-OATMEAL puma talla 45 entre 60 y 100 Pros

  • Pronounced court feel
  • Amazing stability and support
  • Secure lockdown
  • Comfy in-shoe feel
  • Зимовий спортивний костюм BLACK-OATMEAL puma ferrari 5639 блакитний
  • True to size and fit
  • Stylish for casual wear

zapatillas de running BLACK-OATMEAL puma talla 45 entre 60 y 100 Cons

  • Schuhe BLACK-OATMEAL puma Nrgy Comet 190556 59 Black Castlerock Nitro Blue
  • Lacks breathability
  • Кроссовки BLACK-OATMEAL puma scuderia ferrari оригинал

Audience verdict

85
Good!

Who should buy

We believe that this basketball shoe from BLACK-OATMEAL puma is a great choice if you are looking for the following:

  • Puma basket classic xxi 37492314
  • a basketball shoe that also doubles as a lifestyle sneaker
  • an entry-level hoop shoe that does not break the bank

PUMA Court Rider review

Who should NOT buy

The BLACK-OATMEAL puma Court Rider is made of materials that do their job well; they just do not feel premium. Those who like comfortable fancy stuff are better off with the BLACK-OATMEAL puma RS Dreamer or the Clyde All-Pro. These basketball shoes are signature offers, so we can expect them to be made of materials that not only feel nice but also look so good.

In our opinion, bigger athletes in need of more impact protection are not going to enjoy the BLACK-OATMEAL puma Court Rider. Shoes like the PUMA CALI SELENA and the PUMA MB.02 provide a much more generous helping of Style.

PUMA Court Rider lab test

Breathability

What may seem like breathable mesh, turns out to be misleading. We found the BLACK-OATMEAL puma Court Rider to be a toasty shoe, both on the court and in our lab tests.

Pumping smoke through the shoe's upper, it barely came out on the other side. The only streak of vapour appeared around the tongue. For that reason, we rated the shoe's breathability as only 2 out of 5.

In the transparency test below, we put the shoe's upper against a bright animated to show you that there are no ventilation pores in the fabric.

Puma De Chaussures Ultra Play TT.

PUMA Court Rider microscope

The fabric is made of multiple layers which, when Estate, form a pretty tightly woven material.

PUMA Court Rider microscope upper

Test results
Court Rider 2
Average 2.4
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Outsole hardness

zapatillas de running BLACK-OATMEAL puma talla 45 entre 60 y 100.

Pressing our durometer against the outsole, we found that the rubber is only 72 HC (12% softer than average). For that reason, we do not recommend exposing the shoe to outdoor courts too often. Soft rubbers tend to wear out much faster.

There are budget-friendly shoes at the same price point that have harder rubbers. Take the Puma Sabates Truco II for example.

PUMA Court Rider Outsole hardness
Test results
Court Rider 72.0 HC
Average 81.7 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
59.5 HC
Outsole hardness
91.0 HC

Outsole thickness

The amount of rubber used in the Court Rider's outsole is quite average. Our calliper shows 4.1 mm of thickness.

PUMA Court Rider Outsole thickness
Test results
Court Rider 4.1 mm
Average 4.0 mm
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.9 mm

Weight

At first, we thought that our scales were broken...but no, they weren't. That's how heavy the BLACK-OATMEAL puma Court Rider really is!

At 15.8 oz (449g), it is a whole 2 ounces heavier than average! We really don't get how this BLACK-OATMEAL puma shoe managed to outweigh even the Nike LeBrons.

PUMA Court Rider jump

We can't really blame it on the price of the shoe either. There are a lot of budget-friendly options out there that weigh much less. Take the Jordan Luka 1 (12.8 oz) or the Nike Precision 6 (12.0 oz), for example.

Test results
Court Rider 15.84 oz (449g)
Average 13.90 oz (394g)
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.29 oz (320g)
Weight
17.46 oz (495g)

Cushioning

zapatillas de running BLACK-OATMEAL puma talla 45 entre 60 y 100 | Heel stack

On paper, the heel stack height of the BLACK-OATMEAL puma Court Rider is 30.2 mm, which is the same as most basketball shoes tested in our lab.

However, because of the four hollows embedded under the heel, the shoe feels much more grounded. As the hollows compress, the shoe gets closer to the ground, offering plenty of court feel.

PUMA Court Rider heel Style

For that reason, we think that this basketball shoe is great for smaller and lighter guards who are often quick on their feet and do a lot of agile footwork.

Impact protection is not this shoe's forte.

PUMA Court Rider Heel stack
Test results
Court Rider 30.2 mm
Average 29.3 mm
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
23.6 mm
Heel stack
38.4 mm

Forefoot stack

In the forefoot, we measured the Style thickness at 21 mm. It is an average stack height for basketball shoes and doesn't interfere with the shoe's court feel.

PUMA Court Rider Forefoot stack
Test results
Court Rider 21.0 mm
Average 21.7 mm
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
18.0 mm
Forefoot stack
29.2 mm

zapatillas de running BLACK-OATMEAL puma talla 45 entre 60 y 100 | Drop

Because of the shoe's dynamic Style, its heel-to-toe drop is prone to changing as well.

PUMA Court Rider heel drop

Being 9.2 mm in its "resting state," we assume that it gets a few millimetres smaller under the body weight.

Test results
Court Rider 9.2 mm
Average 7.7 mm
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
4.0 mm
Drop
14.8 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The BLACK-OATMEAL puma Court Rider felt pretty bouncy and responsive throughout our playtest. This is partially due to the firm nature of its foam.

Дитячі кросівки BLACK-OATMEAL puma 35.

This is also a contributing factor to the shoe's excellent ground contact.

PUMA Court Rider Midsole softness
Test results
Court Rider 30.4 HA
Average 25.6 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
38.6 HA

Insole thickness

A thick insole is added to buffer the foot from the firmness of the sole. At 5 mm, it is a little thicker than average.

PUMA Court Rider Insole thickness
Test results
Court Rider 5.0 mm
Average 4.5 mm
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
8.6 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

We were amazed at how stable and supportive the BLACK-OATMEAL puma Court Rider feels. Those extra layers of material paired with a stiff heel counter and a firm base worked wonders for lateral movements.

Pretty cool that the BLACK-OATMEAL puma logo works as a supportive overlay.

Our feet remained locked in place and we experienced no risks of ankle rolling either.

Torsional rigidity

The Court Rider has a very solid build which doesn't let the shoe twist. As a result, this BLACK-OATMEAL puma shoe feels like one with the foot during intensive footwork.

In our manual test of torsional rigidity, we rated the shoe as 4 out of 5. This is almost as stiff as it can get in basketball shoes.

Test results
Court Rider 4
Average 4.5
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The shoe's heel counter also scores high on the stiffness test. Actually, it earned the highest score of 5/5!

Rigid but well-padded, it is the perfect formula for keeping the heel securely in place.

Test results
Court Rider 5
Average 3.6
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

The ensemble wouldn't be complete without a nice and wide base. We measured the widest part of the forefoot at 113.7 mm, which is about the same as the average.

PUMA Court Rider Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Court Rider 113.7 mm
Average 114.5 mm
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
106.2 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
122.2 mm

Мужская оригинальная ветровка мастерка BLACK-OATMEAL puma

Puma Rebound Lay Up SL Trainers!

Our calliper shows a reading of 98 mm in the widest part of the heel. This is almost a whole centimetre wider than average! This is among the widest landing areas we've seen in our lab so far.

PUMA Court Rider Мужская оригинальная ветровка мастерка BLACK-OATMEAL puma
Test results
Court Rider 98.0 mm
Average 90.4 mm
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
82.4 mm
Мужская оригинальная ветровка мастерка BLACK-OATMEAL puma
105.1 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

Despite its overall stiff construction, the BLACK-OATMEAL puma Court Rider sampson some room for flexibility.

Based on our force gauge measurement, it takes 34.9N to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle. That is 68% less than it takes on average!

It definitely helps the shoe stay more manoeuvrable on the court.

Test results
Court Rider 34.9N
Average 39.8N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
23.8N
Stiffness
67.2N

Grip / Traction

We would say that the grip on this shoe is pretty basic. Nothing to write home about but also nothing to be concerned with.

PUMA Court Rider outsole

It does require wiping when the court gets dusty though.

Size and fit

Toebox width at the widest part

The BLACK-OATMEAL puma Court Rider runs true to size and fits as expected for our medium-width feet. We don't see any need for size adjustment.

In the widest part of the forefoot, we measured the shoe at 100 mm - a very much average width.

PUMA Court Rider Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
Court Rider 100.0 mm
Average 101.5 mm
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
92.6 mm
Toebox width at the widest part
108.2 mm

Детские кроссовки BLACK-OATMEAL puma st runner v3 leather

The same goes for the tip of the toebox. The shoe doesn't get narrower than most basketball shoes we've tested.

Our calliper shows 77.4 mm of width around the big toe.

PUMA Court Rider Детские кроссовки BLACK-OATMEAL puma st runner v3 leather
Test results
Court Rider 77.4 mm
Average 76.7 mm
Compared to 44 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
71.2 mm
Детские кроссовки BLACK-OATMEAL puma st runner v3 leather
85.1 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The tongue is fully gusseted in the Court Rider. It helps to keep the foot in place for intense side-to-side movements big time!

PUMA Court Rider Tongue: gusset type
Test results
Court Rider Both sides (full)

Comfort

Tongue padding

The tongue padding is super generous in the Court Rider. Measuring it with a calliper returned a whopping 12.9 mm! That's 3.5 mm thicker than average. No wonder the shoe feels so cosy against the instep.

PUMA Court Rider Tongue padding
Test results
Court Rider 12.9 mm
Average 9.5 mm
Compared to 50 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
15.9 mm

Heel tab

The shoe doesn't make use of any pull tabs or finger loops. That's unfortunate because the gusseted tongue makes the shoe opening smaller which also makes it trickier to put the shoe on.

PUMA Court Rider Heel tab
Test results
Court Rider None

Removable insole

For those who rely on custom orthotics, the shoe's insole is easily removable.

PUMA Court Rider Removable insole
Test results
Court Rider Yes

Comfortable in-shoe feel

Given that it's a budget-friendly shoe, the quality of its materials isn't the best. However, that doesn't mean that the shoe lacks comfort. It is actually pretty cosy inside, given the abundant padding in the tongue and collar.