Good News, Sneakerheads: These Affordable but Scarce Throwbacks Are Now Much Easier to Get

Reissued 25 years after it rocked the footwear world, Puma’s red-hot Speedcat sold out fast. But now there’s a new way to snag a pair.

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published December 4, 2024

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Ahhh, 1999. Though Cher shocked the world by topping the pop charts with “Believe” at age 53, a bunch of younger divas were rising up the charts, with TLC, Monica, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera all cracking the top 10 of Billboard’s year-end Hot 100.

The Speedcats bridge the gap between track and everyday wear thanks to a soft and supple cow leather upper and a supportive rubber midsole and outsole. They also look juuust technical enough that you can imagine donning them to zip around Circuit de Monaco in a McLaren while still maintaining progressive street style.

Perhaps it is fitting, then, that Puma has chosen two modern divas to represent the revival of one of its most popular shoes. After all, the Speedcat OGs that Dua Lipa and Rosé rock in the brand’s new campaign first appeared in, you guessed it, 1999.

Upon re-release, most sizes and colors sold out fast, but here’s breaking news: Now you can snag them online at footlocker.com and in select Foot Locker stores, available in men’s, women’s and kids’ sizes.

puma speedcat black and red — The original Speedcat is back in two classic colorways, black and red.

Racing to the top

So, what made the Speedcats such a hit back then? As you may have noticed, we humans have a long history of latching onto footwear designed for a specific use and adopting it for everyday wear.

Highlights include Nike Air Jordans (basketball), Adidas Stan Smiths (tennis) and Hoka Just About Every Shoe They Make (running).

dua lipa rose puma speedcat — With 168 million combined Instagram followers, Dua Lipa and Rosé should help raise the Speedcat’s profile a bit.

Along similar lines, the Speedcat originated as fireproof F1 footwear, a fact that will likely come as no surprise to racing enthusiasts. Simply google “auto racing shoes,” click on “shopping” and you’ll see plenty of kicks that resemble the Speedcat.

Of course, 99.9% of these shoes never really leave the race track, for good reason. They typically have a more rigid, narrow upper structure and slim, flexible soles, features that optimize them for driving performance but leave them less comfortable for walking around.

puma speedcat black angle — A million shoes are made of leather and rubber, but none of them are quite like the Speedcats.

The Speedcats, meanwhile, bridge the gap between track and everyday wear thanks to a soft and supple cow leather upper and a supportive rubber midsole and outsole. They also look juuust technical enough that you can imagine donning them to zip around Circuit de Monaco in a McLaren while still maintaining progressive street style.

Though Puma has always kinda lived in the shadow of Adidas — which is wild considering the two brands were founded by estranged brothers Rudolf and Adi Dassler, respectively — perhaps this reissue, nicely priced at $100, can start to change that narrative.

puma speedcat red point — Though the Speedcats resemble Puma’s Ferrari collab driving shoes, these soles are made for walkin’.

When fresh shades including blue and brown launched earlier this year, they sold out quickly. This week is all about the original red and black (plus a debut pink hue), which differ from the 1999 versions thanks to a new Puma Cat logo on the toe.

Don’t sleep on these kicks, though. Like those other colors and an F1 car, they’re bound to go fast.