The Puma FAAS 350 S is a lightweight and low-profile running shoe that takes a unique approach to stability with no clunky plastic inserts or dual-density materials. The FAAS 350 S features a one-piece midsole made with FAAS Foam. Stability kicks in when the shoe’s lateral release groove is engaged, allowing for a more gradual transition and slowing the foot’s rate of pronation.
The FAAS 350 S is engineered for ideal performance in faster runs, workouts, and races and with a low-profile design (6mm heel-to-toe drop) for better contact with the ground.
Weighing in at 7.3 ounces (women), the shoe is designed for the mild over-pronator (recreational to competitive runner). The midsole is a combo of EVA and blown rubber that provides a cushioned, more responsive ride. The outsole made of EverRide blown rubber for extra cushioning and EverTrack high abrasion-resistant rubber for durability.
The uppers consist of a highly breathable air mesh and an Ortholite sockliner is included to ensure added comfort and a perfect fit.
There is also a special ‘Jamaica’ edition of this shoe with the legendary Usain Bolt as the face of Puma.
So did the FAAS 350 perform to expectations?
Sophie, my wear tester who loves her Nike Free Run +2 and Altra Intuition took the task of testing this ‘stability’ shoe. She likes a little cushioning and have some reservations about what the shoes in her rotation can or cannot do. She also prefer 6mm or lower heel-to-toe differentials, lightweight, and a super flexible midsole/outsole. But she does not have a wide foot so the standard width of the FAAS 350 S toe box is not a concern.
For a couple of long runs on non-technical trails and tartan track, she immediately feel in love with them! They fit better on her feet than the Nike Free and Altra Intuition – the wider and taller toe boxes from those shoes gave her the feeling of slippage. The sipping on the midsole/outsole gave her the flex points she was looking for, something that she did not find on the Altra Intuition but better done (in her opinion) than the Nike Free! Additionally, little rocks are not getting stuck in the outsole as it does with the Nike Free.
The traction on the outsole worked great on different surfaces but will be slightly slippery on wet asphalt. The positioning of the reinforced EverTrack rubber on the outsole suited her forefoot strike but midfoot strikers may wear some exposed spots down. The amount of cushioning is in between the Intuition and Nike Free – perfect in her opinion!
Finally, maybe the only nit (and my pet peeve) – the shoe tongue slides to the lateral sides on every run. Not a major problem but an annoyance for long runs. No hot spots or anything from it though. I noticed that the color combination of the teal FAAS 350 S is almost identical to her blue Nike Free Run +2…
The Puma FAAS 350 is now available in 3 colorways (Teal, White, Black) for women:
And in three colorways (Jamaica, Blue, Black) for men:
The Puma FAAS 350 is now available at: Puma and Zappos.
*Product provided by Puma (MSRP $85). CMP.LY/1 Review
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