Puma Roma Fully Reviewed & Compared

Name: "Casual Thursday" Puma Roma Review/On Foot
Uploaded: 2023-01-12
Description: A retro look makes this classic sneaker the perfect accessory. The Puma Roma first came onto

Editor rating: 8.1 / 10

User's rating: based on 4 user ratings

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By Steph Coelho

All Puma Shoes

Puma Roma Fully Reviewed & Compared Review Facts

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A retro look makes this classic sneaker the perfect accessory. The Puma Roma first came onto the scene in the late ’60s and was originally intended for short distance track & field activities. This new imagining of the Roma is a casual wear shoe that incorporates improved arch support, features updated color schemes, and a faux-leather construction.

The men’s shoe is available in a ton of different styles, each prominently featuring Puma’s Formstrip logo at the side. While the shoe can be worn for general fitness purposes, it’s not quite intended to be an everyday gym wear option. Most wearers, after all, picked the Roma as a daily casual wear shoe.

Editor's Pros & Cons

Pros

Stylish retro design
Comfortable
Lightweight
Good price
Provides arch support

Cons

Narrow design
Durability concerns
Lack of ventilation

See How

What are buyers saying?

We have spent 3 hours analyzing a total of 2915 reviews.

These reviews are then categoried into "Positive" and "Negative" feedback.

Below you will read a summary of them:

Positive

Most praise for Puma Romas is for the style and classic design.
Many positive reviewers use these for casual, everyday wear.
These are reasonably priced for most buyers.
The return of the classic style attracted many buyers.
The materials are durable and can last through extensive light wear.
According to many positive reviewers, these are a practical choice for travel, work, or light activity.
The laces are solid material that doesn't loosen easily.
The color options are simple and can blend with many styles.
The materials on some varieties are more water resistant than other running shoe options.
The material of the upper is easy to wipe clean.
For many buyers, these live up to their expectations of Puma shoes.
The fit works well for narrow to average feet.
For some reviewers, the tongue feels more comfortable and of higher quality than competitors' shoes.
Several reviewers say these are a great option for their jobs in offices or as bartenders.
The tread provides decent grip even in light snow.

Negative

The narrow design led to issues in finding the best size for many buyers.
These shoes are not recommended for people with wide feet.
Buyers claim that break in time may be needed to get a comfortable fit.
Some buyers recommend buying a half to full size larger to get the right width.
Although originally a running shoe, there are very few reviews from buyers who use them for any running.
Buyers do not recommend these for distance running.
The sole has a flat design which some buyers claim is uncomfortable.
The materials are not as breathable as other running shoes.
A number of buyers experienced quality issues ordering these from third party sellers.
The lighter colors easily show dirt and scuffs.
These are not easy to fully clean.
There are mixed reviews on the ankle support.
Some buyers were disappointed by the quality of the synthetic material of the upper.
There are a few reports of quality issues in the materials. Some examples include the logo color fading quickly, the upper showing discoloration, and areas where the mid sole detached from the upper.

7.5

Outsole

The Puma Roma's outsole is made up of a run of the mill rubber. The rubber outsole provides decent traction for regular everyday wear but users did notice that the outsole was not up to par when it came to quality. Quite a few users pointed out that they experienced durability issues. Some mentioned the outsole peeled off the shoe after only a short time.

Midsole

The Roma's midsole contains EVA foam. Reviewers found the midsole well-cushioned and good for all-day wear, whether walking around town or navigating the indoor environment of the local gym. Reviewers liked that the midfoot delivered decent arch support.

Upper

The upper of the Puma Roma is made of faux-leather. Back in the day, the Roma was originally made with real leather. Some reviewers were disappointed in the choice of synthetic material.

The upper features a classic retro design and the synthetic leather is easy to wipe down, but users complained that the upper, like the outsole, lacked durability. Some pointed out that the fake leather did tend to crease and wrinkle with use, which eventually led to unsightly cracking. Reviewers also noted that the faux-leather composition of the upper reduced breathability, as well.

Weight

The Puma Roma was called lightweight by most reviewers. While we couldn't find a listed weight, reviewers repeatedly mentioned the lightweight of the shoe as being one of their favorite features.

Breathability

Unfortunately, the faux-leather construction of the Roma's upper might be stylish but it's not great when it comes to ventilation. Reviewers found the shoe a bit stifling in terms of breathability.

Comfort

Most reviewers were happy with how comfortable the Puma shoe felt underfoot and liked the EVA midsole of the sneaker. Reviewers appreciated the midfoot arch support, as well. Many users were happy to wear the Roma all-day. A few caveats, however.

The all-leather (*synthetic) upper does reduce ventilation quite a bit, which reviewers didn't like. The Puma Roma also features an extremely narrow construction, which many wearers took issue with.

Style

Probably the most notable feature of the Puma Roma, its classic design. The retro-styling of the Roma is reminiscent of the original '60s version but with fresh updates to the design including modern colorways. The men's only shoe comes in a variety of updated styles to appeal to a variety of wearers. From monochrome versions in white, grey, or black, to more colorful dual-toned styles, the Puma Roma is a great looking shoe.

Durability

Reviewers had serious issues with durability with the Puma Roma. Some mentioned the outsole peeled off quite early on and others had major problems with the faux-leather upper creasing and cracking. While the price of the Roma is affordable, users found the durability issues made it tough to justify the price of the shoe, however low.

Protection

The Roma offers protection via its outsole, which provides decent traction. The EVA midsole delivers impact protection, too. The upper keeps feet protected from the elements (but, unfortunately, does not breathe very well).

Responsiveness

The Puma Roma isn't super responsive, but since most wearers were using the shoe for walking around or daily fashion wear, they didn't have any glaring complaints when it came to responsiveness.

Support

The Roma features a supportive midfoot design, which users appreciated. The midfoot arch support and snug upper fit keep wearers secure. Reviewers did feel the narrowness of the Roma a little too excessive, however.

Terrain

Puma Roma is best used for everyday wear. The sneaker's rubber outsole works for walking but is equally suited for indoor movement.

Price

The Puma sneaker is extremely well-priced, which many reviewers appreciated. However, durability concerns were a big issue for many users. The fact that the shoe starts to fall apart quickly, according to reviewers, makes the shoe priced a bit high considering.

Traction

The rubber outsole of the Roma works just fine for its intended purpose. You're not going to be taking this shoe out for highly technical trail runs and reviewers didn't feel the outsole was lacking in terms of traction.

Flexibility

The Puma Roma isn't the most flexible sneaker out there. The midfoot is a little stiff to ensure a supportive arch construction. The faux-leather upper is also pretty inflexible, which accounts for the frequent user mentions of creasing and cracking. Overall, the shoe just isn't super bendable, but users didn't feel so strongly about it, either way.

Stability

The Puma doesn't belong to the stability category but does deliver a supportive ride for wearers. The upper fits snugly, though, perhaps a little too snugly. The outsole provides good traction to keep users upright. Overall, Roma provides an average amount of stability that's suitable for most non-overpronating users.

Drop

There's no listed drop height for the Puma Roma, although we'd venture a guess and say it's about average. Reviewers found the geometry perfect for walking or standing all day and had no issues with the height different from heel to toe.

Key Features

- Faux-leather upper design
- Traditional lacing system
- Rubber outsole for grip
- Arch support in the midfoot
- EVA midsole cushioning

Bottom Line

While the Puma Roma suffers from durability issues and does have a super narrow construction, the classic retro design does make up in part for these problems. For occasional wear, the low-price and attractive design are worth it. The shoe was cited as comfortable by most users and fairly lightweight.

Dirt is easy to quickly clean off the sleek fake leather upper and midfoot arch support makes the Roma appropriate for all-day wear. Although a lack of breathability and durability concerns are definite problems with the sneaker, it's still not a reason to completely discount Puma Roma as an addition to your fashion sneaker lineup.