Our verdict

For its modest price point, the PUMA Court Rider offers quite a few benefits. We didn't expect much from this budget-friendly shoe and yet it surprised us on many fronts. With its notable court feel and responsiveness, we believe that this shoe will suit agile guards the best.

Pros

  • Pronounced court feel
  • Amazing stability and support
  • Secure lockdown
  • Comfy in-shoe feel
  • Great value for money
  • True to size and fit
  • Stylish for casual wear

Cons

  • Heavier than average
  • Lacks breathability
  • Not much impact protection

Audience verdict

85
Great!

Who should buy

We believe that this basketball shoe from PUMA is a great choice if you are looking for the following:

  • a guard shoe that offers a lot of court feel
  • a basketball shoe that also doubles as a lifestyle sneaker
  • an entry-level hoop shoe that does not break the bank

PUMA Court Rider review

Who should NOT buy

The PUMA Court Rider is made of materials that do their job well; they just do not feel premium. Those who like comfortable fancy stuff are better off with the PUMA RS Dreamer or the Clyde All-Pro. These basketball shoes are signature offers, so we can expect them to be made of materials that not only feel nice but also look so good.

In our opinion, bigger athletes in need of more impact protection are not going to enjoy the PUMA Court Rider. Shoes like the PUMA Rise Nitro and the PUMA MB.02 provide a much more generous helping of cushioning.

PUMA Court Rider lab test

Breathability

What may seem like breathable mesh, turns out to be misleading. We found the PUMA Court Rider to be a toasty shoe, both on the court and in our lab tests.

Pumping smoke through the shoe's upper, it barely came out on the other side. The only streak of vapor appeared around the tongue. For that reason, we rated the shoe's breathability as only 2 out of 5.

In the transparency test below, we put the shoe's upper against a bright light to show you that there are no ventilation pores in the fabric.

We also turned to our microscope to take a closer look at the mesh.

PUMA Court Rider microscope

The fabric is made of multiple layers which, when combined, form a pretty tightly woven material.

PUMA Court Rider microscope upper

Test results
Court Rider 2
Average 2.5
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Outsole hardness

For some reason, PUMA tends to choose soft rubber for its more affordable basketball shoes.

Pressing our durometer against the outsole, we found that the rubber is only 72 HC (12% softer than average). For that reason, we do not recommend exposing the shoe to outdoor courts too often. Soft rubbers tend to wear out much faster.

There are budget-friendly shoes at the same price point that have harder rubbers. Take the Nike LeBron Witness 7 for example.

PUMA Court Rider Outsole hardness
Test results
Court Rider 72.0 HC
Average 81.8 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
59.5 HC
Outsole hardness
91.0 HC

Outsole thickness

The amount of rubber used in the Court Rider's outsole is quite average. Our caliper shows 4.1 mm of thickness.

PUMA Court Rider Outsole thickness
Test results
Court Rider 4.1 mm
Average 4.0 mm
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.9 mm

Weight

At first, we thought that our scales were broken...but no, they weren't. That's how heavy the PUMA Court Rider really is!

At 15.8 oz (449g), it is a whole 2 ounces heavier than average! We really don't get how this PUMA shoe managed to outweigh even the Nike LeBrons.

PUMA Court Rider jump

We can't really blame it on the price of the shoe either. There are a lot of budget-friendly options out there that weigh much less. Take the Jordan Luka 1 (12.8 oz) or the Nike Precision 6 (12.0 oz), for example.

Test results
Court Rider 15.84 oz (449g)
Average 14.18 oz (402g)
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.29 oz (320g)
Weight
17.46 oz (495g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

On paper, the heel stack height of the PUMA Court Rider is 30.2 mm, which is the same as most basketball shoes tested in our lab.

However, because of the four hollows embedded under the heel, the shoe feels much more grounded. As the hollows compress, the shoe gets closer to the ground, offering plenty of court feel.

PUMA Court Rider heel cushioning

For that reason, we think that this basketball shoe is great for smaller and lighter guards who are often quick on their feet and do a lot of agile footwork.

Impact protection is not this shoe's forte.

PUMA Court Rider Heel stack
Test results
Court Rider 30.2 mm
Average 30.1 mm
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
25.2 mm
Heel stack
38.4 mm

Forefoot stack

In the forefoot, we measured the cushioning thickness at 21 mm. It is an average stack height for basketball shoes and doesn't interfere with the shoe's court feel.

PUMA Court Rider Forefoot stack
Test results
Court Rider 21.0 mm
Average 21.7 mm
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
18.2 mm
Forefoot stack
25.2 mm

Drop

Because of the shoe's dynamic cushioning, its heel-to-toe drop is prone to changing as well.

PUMA Court Rider heel drop

Being 9.2 mm in its "resting state," we assume that it gets a few millimeters smaller under the body weight.

Test results
Court Rider 9.2 mm
Average 8.4 mm
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
4.4 mm
Drop
14.8 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The PUMA Court Rider felt pretty bouncy and responsive throughout our playtest. This is partially due to the firm nature of its foam.

Using a durometer, we measured the foam at 30.4 HA, which is 9% firmer than the average.

This is also a contributing factor to the shoe's excellent ground contact.

PUMA Court Rider Midsole softness
Test results
Court Rider 30.4 HA
Average 26.2 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
35.9 HA

Insole thickness

A thick insole is added to buffer the foot from the firmness of the sole. At 5 mm, it is a little thicker than average.

PUMA Court Rider Insole thickness
Test results
Court Rider 5.0 mm
Average 4.4 mm
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
8.6 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

We were amazed at how stable and supportive the PUMA Court Rider feels. Those extra layers of material paired with a stiff heel counter and a firm base worked wonders for lateral movements.

Pretty cool that the PUMA logo works as a supportive overlay.

Our feet remained locked in place and we experienced no risks of ankle rolling either.

Torsional rigidity

The Court Rider has a very solid build which doesn't let the shoe twist. As a result, this PUMA shoe feels like one with the foot during intensive footwork.

In our manual test of torsional rigidity, we rated the shoe as 4 out of 5. This is almost as stiff as it can get in basketball shoes.

Test results
Court Rider 4
Average 4.5
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The shoe's heel counter also scores high on the stiffness test. Actually, it earned the highest score of 5/5!

Rigid but well-padded, it is the perfect formula for keeping the heel securely in place.

Test results
Court Rider 5
Average 3.5
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

The ensemble wouldn't be complete without a nice and wide base. We measured the widest part of the forefoot at 113.7 mm, which is about the same as the average.

PUMA Court Rider Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Court Rider 113.7 mm
Average 113.9 mm
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
106.2 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
122.2 mm

Midsole width in the heel

The heel, on the other hand, is insanely wide!

Our caliper shows a reading of 98 mm in the widest part of the heel. This is almost a whole centimeter wider than average! This is among the widest landing areas we've seen in our lab so far.

PUMA Court Rider Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Court Rider 98.0 mm
Average 91.6 mm
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
82.4 mm
Midsole width in the heel
105.1 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

Despite its overall stiff construction, the PUMA Court Rider finds some room for flexibility.

Based on our force gauge measurement, it takes 34.9N to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle. That is 68% less than it takes on average!

It definitely helps the shoe stay more maneuverable on the court.

Test results
Court Rider 34.9N
Average 40.8N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
29.9N
Stiffness
67.2N

Grip / Traction

We would say that the grip on this shoe is pretty basic. Nothing to write home about but also nothing to be concerned with.

PUMA Court Rider outsole

It does require wiping when the court gets dusty though.

Size and fit

Toebox width at the widest part

The PUMA Court Rider runs true to size and fits as expected for our medium-width feet. We don't see any need for size adjustment.

In the widest part of the forefoot, we measured the shoe at 100 mm - a very much average width.

PUMA Court Rider Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
Court Rider 100.0 mm
Average 100.9 mm
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
92.6 mm
Toebox width at the widest part
108.2 mm

Toebox width at the big toe

The same goes for the tip of the toebox. The shoe doesn't get narrower than most basketball shoes we've tested.

Our caliper shows 77.4 mm of width around the big toe.

PUMA Court Rider Toebox width at the big toe
Test results
Court Rider 77.4 mm
Average 76.8 mm
Compared to 30 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
71.2 mm
Toebox width at the big toe
85.1 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The tongue is fully gusseted in the Court Rider. It helps to keep the foot in place for intense side-to-side movements big time!

PUMA Court Rider Tongue: gusset type
Test results
Court Rider Both sides (full)

Comfort

Tongue padding

The tongue padding is super generous in the Court Rider. Measuring it with a caliper returned a whopping 12.9 mm! That's 3.5 mm thicker than average. No wonder the shoe feels so cozy against the instep.

PUMA Court Rider Tongue padding
Test results
Court Rider 12.9 mm
Average 9.2 mm
Compared to 36 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
14.9 mm

Heel tab

The shoe doesn't make use of any pull tabs or finger loops. That's unfortunate because the gusseted tongue makes the shoe opening smaller which also makes it trickier to put the shoe on.

PUMA Court Rider Heel tab
Test results
Court Rider None

Removable insole

For those who rely on custom orthotics, the shoe's insole is easily removable.

PUMA Court Rider Removable insole
Test results
Court Rider Yes

Comfortable in-shoe feel

Given that it's a budget-friendly shoe, the quality of its materials isn't the best. However, that doesn't mean that the shoe lacks comfort. It is actually pretty cozy inside, given the abundant padding in the tongue and collar.