Puma King Ultimate Review
In the 2023 version of the King Ultimate, Puma transitions from traditional k-leather to a synthetic K-BETTER material, which provides a thin upper with a lightweight construction. The newly designed soleplate features conical studs for use on firm natural grass as well as artificial grass surfaces. Retailing for $200, the Puma King Ultimate is one of the best value Elite-level cleats on the market.
Touch
The newly designed K-BETTER upper provides a thin leather-like feel with added texture around the top and inner part of the boot for improved grip. The upper is fairly simple as you would expect from a Puma King, providing a clean, consistent touch when passing, trapping, and dribbling. I didn’t notice anything special when shooting, but I have no complaints either.
I am a big fan of this new upper overall. My only real complaint is that the cleats felt a bit slick on wetter days.
(Most of the newer colorways have gotten rid of the hexagon texture, but otherwise the upper feels more or less the same.)
Fit - Comfort
These cleats were very tight in the toe box initially, and I was worried they weren’t going to stretch at all. However, after the first few training sessions the toe area stretched a little bit and now they fit me perfectly.
Once they were broken in, I found the boots very comfortable. I had very little slippage and the heel padding felt like just the right amount. I wouldn’t mind if the fit around the ankle was more snug.
If you have narrow or regular width feet, I recommend going true to size. If you have wide feet you may want to consider sizing up, or try the Puma Future, which tends to run a bit wider. I do recommend breaking them in for a few sessions before wearing them in a match.
Weight
My Puma King Ultimate’s weigh in at 7.01 oz (199g), which is just about in speed boot territory.
For comparison, the previous King model weighs 7.94 oz in the same size.
Traction
Puma have updated the soleplate for this version of the King and it feels lighter and more low profile than the previous model. The boots have a conical stud pattern which I’ve found to work very well on both artificial grass (AG) as well as natural grass (FG).
Durability
I’ve been wearing these for the last 3-4 months primarily on turf and they have minimal stud wear and no sole separation so far.
Cons
Not natural leather
May not be suited for wide feet
Slick in rainy conditions
Pros
Lightweight
Thin/Comfortable upper
Versatile stud pattern for AG and FG surfaces
Good mix between a speed and control boot
Overall I have been very pleased with these cleats and hope they continue to hold up for a long time. I think they provide an excellent value and are one of the better options if you find yourself switching between natural and artificial grass often.
