PUMA Blaze of Glory Reverse Classics Review – Step Out Into the 90s

A few weeks back, PUMA South Africa announced the return of the TRINOMIC midsole. The announcement included a reimagined archived sneaker in the form of the PUMA Blaze of Glory Reverse Classics sneaker.

The PUMA TRINOMIC technology was first introduced to the brand’s range in 1990. At the time of its launch, it was one of the most innovative cushioning systems on the market. It was fitted again to the Blaze of Glory range in 2016, which relaunched the range to the market.

After a five-year hiatus, the PUMA Blaze of Glory range returns to stores with a revamped look and updated technology. The Reverse Classics collection returned with two new colourways, including the PUMA Black/Steel Gray/Fiery Coral and the PUMA White/PUMA Black/Snorkel Blue variants. I received the former for review. Here are my thoughts on the new look sneaker with its enhanced cushioning technology.

Design and Build

Being a sneaker based on the original from the 90s, you can definitely see those influences coming through. For starters, the upper is based primarily on mesh materials and synthetic leather overlays. The mesh runs from the toe all the way to the heel tab, which also offers breathability for the sneaker.

On top of the mesh upper, there are plenty of leather overlays. This includes the two sections before the cage for the laces. There is also the leather overlay which runs around the toe cap for extra protection. These are coloured in a dark grey and are contrasted by a turquoise colour (or aquamarine to be exact) on the underlay.

With the majority of the upper being either PUMA Black or Steel Grey, the contrasting PUMA White, Fiery Coral and the Aquamarine stand out quite significantly. The tongue also includes the same synthetic leather overlays in contrast to the upper. It includes the PUMA logo and text.

The laces are bunched into the two sections, which form part of the glossy TPU cage. This is reminiscent of the 90s design. Lastly, the rest of the materials includes an IMEVA midsole and rubber outsole.

The TRINOMIC logo is visible on the lateral rear of the midsole. Its hexagonal shapes can be seen on the outsole beneath the shoe behind the translucent rubber section that runs through the middle.

The PUMA Blaze of Glory Reverse Classics continues the 90s trend with modern twists and you can see the inspirations from both eras. It still has a low boot construction, which looks great. The overall design has been tweaked just enough to be different, with colour matching and contrast being the most significant aspect of the changes. It really does look aesthetically pleasing.

Comfort

The TRINOMIC technology is based on a hexagonal system in the sole to provide its cushioning. Hexagons form the basis for quite a few cushioning technologies. We’ve previously seen this on the LQD Cell system and other PUMA midsoles. And it gets the job done.

For the most part, you won’t really feel the TRINOMIC cushioning working. And this is the good part, you don’t need to. If you can go an entire day wearing a sneaker and not have any issues or notice any major changes when walking, then it has done its job successfully. Going for a few outings where plenty of walking was required put this into focus.

When under heavier load, it performs just as well. So, any heavy lifting like at the gym won’t be an issue, as it provides grip underfoot, while also providing sufficient cushioning while doing so.

Although you can go for a run in the sneakers, I won’t recommend this. There isn’t sufficient optimisation for this, with a predominately flat midsole and insole. You’re not going to get the rebound as with the PUMA Magnify Nitro Spectra, for example.

Overall, the PUMA Blaze of Glory Reverse Classics with its improved TRINOMIC technology provides great cushioning when you’re out and about.

Puma Blaze of Glory Performance and Quality

As stated above, there is sufficient comfort provided by the PUMA Blaze of Glory Reverse Classics sneaker. It feels comfortable when walking around and you won’t easily pick up any strain even after hours of wear. Additionally, it’s also very lightweight, so it makes it even more practical. The mesh upper also allows your feet to breathe, while the construction is very lightweight as well.

When it comes to the quality of the manufacturing, this is also extremely good. Unlike many other sneakers where you’ll often find a stray residue patch from the glue or some moulding remnants, there’s very little of that here.

From the synthetic leather to the TPU cage and IMEVA midsole, the quality and construction are really great. Each of the materials feels premium in hand, which is also a great sign that it will hold up for quite some time, even when used as a daily driver for activities such as gymning.

Final Thoughts on the PUMA Blaze of Glory Reverse Classics

The changes may be slight in terms of the overall design from previous models, but the PUMA Blaze of Glory Reverse Classics is a good-looking sneaker. The contrasting colour palette makes it stand out quite easily, while its materials have a premium quality feel about them.

The PUMA Blaze of Glory Reverse Classics is available online at PUMA.com for R2,400. It’s also available in-store at PUMA Select stores and other retailers across the country.