We put these gold-heeled babies through three different but equally grueling workouts
Photos: Weekender/Puma
First impressions? These all-new Puma Ignite Dual running shoes are as good as gold.
Its two-tone premium flexible mesh upper comes in minimalist white, all the better for the gold coloured heel to stand out. Plus, the outsole is all glittery gold, we kid you not.
However, I worried a little about soiling these pretty shoes and nearly questioned its performance.
Would these shoes withstand the most grueling workouts? We just had to try it for ourselves.
6km Night Run
With a “If I don’t see it, it won’t matter” mentality when it comes to potentially dirtying these pair of gorgeous white shoes, I broke into them with a 6km run in the evening.
As with the other models in the Puma Ignite series, these kicks are engineered to provide flexibility and cushioning. The comfort level became more apparent once I hit the 4km mark in my run, where my tired feet felt supported with every step.
This was possible thanks to the articulated chevron grooves in the shoe, which are designed to compress during landing and rebound.
Zumba Fitness
Just for fun, I decided to don the Puma Ignite Dual running shoes for a Zumba Ftness class, just to see how well it performed with multi-directional movements.
A notch more vigorous than the usual Zumba classes, the Zumba Fitness class saw us performing high energy aerobic steps followed by body conditioning exercises. As my heart rate increased, so did the intensity of the moves.
Despite being made for runners, the shoes functioned equally well for dance-inspired workouts like Zumba. Its deep forefoot flex grooves offered a good range of movement no matter the steps.
HIIT Workout
For its final test, I wore the shoes for a 30-minute HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) work out.
After repeated jump squats and mountain climbers, I can safely say that these shoes are as functional as they’re pretty.
Throughout the session, the molded EVA sockliner of the shoes cradled the contours of my feet nicely and provided support and balance for bodyweight exercises.
The new Ignite Dual ($159) and running apparel range is available at PUMA stores and authorised retailers.
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