“Less weight, more faas” has been the backbone of the Puma Faas line since its inception.
The line is primarily known for its lightweight minimalist racers and neutral daily trainers. However, the Puma Faas lab has taken its natural philosophy of shoe construction and created the new Puma Faas 800.
The 800 aims to prevent overpronation through the use of geometry driven stability rather than the use of dual densities or inserts. This use of geometric stability hopes to create the most lightweight natural feeling stability trainer possible.
Puma Faas 800 First Impressions.
First glance at this shoe it is very simple and reminds me a little of the throwback shoes of the 70’s like the Saucony Jazz, Nike Elite, or NB 420. The shoe is very brightly colored as those of us familiar with the Faas line have come to expect. As promised the shoe possesses virtually no plastic other than overlays at the heel and the eyelets (of course!). The big shock came when I picked the shoe up out of the box and how light it was for a stability trainer. So, upon first glance the Faas 800 seems to make good on its claims.
Puma Faas 800 Upper Unit.
The entire upper of the Faas 800 is constructed of open breathable air mesh. The mesh not only helps keep the shoe light but very flexible as well. The overlays are kept very very simple and functional. Synthetic suede caps the toe and is laid midfoot from the laces down to the sole.
The midfoot overlay is one piece so it also extends back and into the heel. Overlaying the midfoot Suede from the heel to just posterior of the toebox is a reflective TPU foam stripe bearing the Puma logo. The combination of the overlays creates stability and structure for the upper along with protection where it is needed.
The toe box of the shoe was roomy and allowed for ample movement of my toes. In my few initial runs I did notice some stiffness and rubbing near the rear of the toe box where the overlays come close together. However, this did subside after a few 5 –7 mile runs and never seemed to be an issue after that.
The heel of the shoe continues on with the same theme as the rest of the shoe remaining very minimal. The structure of the heel comes from an exoskeleton plastic overlay as opposed to a rigid plastic heel cup hidden inside the shoes layers. The overlay is very flexible but does provide good stability and structure. The lining of the heel is surrounded in a comforting layer of memory foam that held my heel in place without causing any discomfort or pressure.
Tubular oval laces secure the whole upper and remained tied on all my outings with the shoe.
Puma Faas 800 Sole Unit.
The sole of the 800 is engineered around the Faas Bio Ride technology, which is comprised of three basic elements: rocker, flex, and groove.
The lack of a groove to the medial side helps to naturally support against overpronation. The medial side of the sole is also built up slightly higher that the lateral to also aid against overpronation. This slight build up was not uncomfortable or awkward during running.
All of these features put together did give a more natural movement, as opposed to a stiff ride that some stability shoes have been guilty of in the past. I am a slight overpronator and did feel that the shoe helped to correct this rather than control it, which is what I think Puma is trying to achieve.
The midsole is one piece and comprised of lightweight Faas foam. I found the ride to be very plush and comfortable and not overly stiff. The sole has a traditional 12mm drop that consists of a 29mm heel and 17mm forefoot. The additional heel cushioning was noticeable, and should be appreciated by those runners out there that are moderate to heavy heel strikers.
Puma Faas 800 Outsole
The outsole is comprised of blown rubber and one uniform piece.
Puma Faas 800 Opinion
I must say that I was initially skeptical if this shoe would hold up to its claims. After my first couple of runs my worries were erased, and I was really impressed that a stability shoe could be so plush and flexible.
It is nice to see that there is finally a paradigm shift of what a stability shoe should be.
Puma has done a great job of constructing a lighter more flexible stability shoe that should also be fairly durable. I logged approximately 40 miles in the shoe over primarily paved and concrete surfaces, and found them to be comfortable and enjoyable.
We thank the nice people at Puma for sending us a pair of FAAS 800 to test. This did not influence our review of the shoes, written after logging more than 40 miles in them
price comparison
 | Puma - Faas 800 (dark Shadow/aged Silver/butter) - Footwear Zappos Free shipping both ways (free return shipping), 365 days returns | $80.00 |
 | Puma Bolt Faas 800 Shoes (classic Green/white) - Men's Shoes - 9.5 M shoes.com Free shippings, Free returns | $85.00 |
 | Puma Faas 800 (men's) - White/puma Silver/snorkel Blue Shoebuy Free shipping, free return shipping, price guarantee and no sales tax | $99.95 |
 | Puma Men's Faas 800 Running Shoe endless.com FREE overnight shipping, FREE return shipping (for 365 days). Ships internationally (FREE over 100$) | $100.00 |
Written by Jim Coulson
Jim Coulson is a career firefighter, husband, and father of two children hailing from the foothills of Colorado. Jim has been an avid road and trail runner since the age of 12, and loves to race locally and around the state a much as possible. A native Coloradoan Jim enjoys its trails, mountains, and outdoors taking advantage of all they have to offer as much as possible.
Thanks for the review on the Puma Faas 800. I’ve got 100 miles on a pair of the more neutral 550′s and absolutely love them. This Faas line of shoes is definitely for “real runners”.
Glad that you enjoyed it. The Faas line is pretty impressive and innovative. I have also ran in the 300 and really enjoyed them as well. They were an excellent interval/tempo shoe and short distance race (5k, 10k) shoe.
I am a brand spanking new runner, much heavier build, definite overpronating. I am trying to get started with a program called Couch-to-5K, a training program for brand new runners using a combination of brisk walking and alternating jogs every 60-90 seconds and gradually increasing so that after 3-4 weeks I should be able to hit a mile hopefully without needing to walk. Of course the goal and motivation is for weight loss. I have already had a torn miniscus in my right knee back in 1992 when I was much younger so impact on joints, gait and stride are all concerns as I don’t wish that kind of pain on anyone.
In my research over and over again across the internet one name keeps coming up – The Brooks Beast. More than likely I will purchase a pair as the almost rabid fanatical testimonies I have read make this shoe seem to have a cult following among heavier runners and they say word of mouth advertising is the best kind.I am curious if this shoe is a viable alternative to the standard Brooks Beast. Just so I have something to consider to compare against it and see maybe if one feels better than the other. Thanks for any guidance in helping out the noob.
Thanks for your inquiry and reading the review. The beast is definitely an excellent shoe for the heavier runner as it appears you have read. As for the 800 I don’t know that I would call it a comparable as it is a different creature. Its construction is completely different than that of the beast. It is my opinion that it would be a good shoe for a heavier runner in that it has a very well built and cushioned midsole and promotes natural foot movement. So I guess to answer question yes it would be another shoe to consider. It would be the best if you could seek out your local running shop and try both of them on before buying. Hope this helps and good luck with your training. Running is truly a a wonderful and rewarding sport just don’t push to hard to fast and make it miserable.
I’m a 22 y.o. 145 lb. runner with good form and mild-moderate pronation. I log about 30-50 miles a week and do my distance runs at 7-7:30/mi pace. I have been wearing the Brooks “Adrenaline” for several years now and haven’t had any problems with the shoe, but I’m intrigued by the Faast line– “minimalist” running has always appealed to me, although I’ve never tried it. My arches are medium-high and I use superfeet in my Brooks to prevent arch flexing.
If you were me, which Faast shoe would you experiment with first?
Hey Ben!
Thanks for reading the review and your reply. by the sounds of things I would start with the 800 first and see how you like them. If your body responds well then you can progress into the 550 and so on. Moving towards minimalism takes steps and a slow methodical progression if you are really interested. Do your homework and don’t rush it. Sounds like you’re starting to take the right steps. Hope you like the shoes I really did.
thank you for the excellent reveiw on the FAAS 800.
I’m a 155 lb 8 min mile runner. I don’t have any specific feet problems and run in all sorts of shoes from asics, adidas, NB, mizuno. I was very skeptical of the PUMA FAAS series, especially the lack of a traditional heel cup. However, after trying them, WOW. I do feel a faster turnover due to the shape of the sole and PUMA’s claims are actually true. Excellent shoes.
I have multiple pairs of the FAAS 500 cos I love them.
I am very interested in purchasing these Pumas. I currently run in the Mizuno Wave Alchemys and am looking for something with less weight. My only problem is that there are no puma dealers in my area. I wear 10.5 in New Balance, Mizuno, and Asics. Would the Pumas run similar in size? Thanks.