A forward-thinking, environmentally conscious take on an iconic boot
Pros
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No animals were harmed in the making of this boot
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Stylish
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Comfortable
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Just as robust as a classic Puma King
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Cheaper option
Cons
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White, green and black are a jump way from classic Kings
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Quite tight on the feet
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May need one size up
If anything's going to disrupt the Puma King's beloved reputation as an old-school, no-nonsense football boot, it's this. Yet FourFourTwo was thrilled to hear Puma had created their first ever pair of "vegan" Kings and swiftly ordered a pair for review.
The socially-aware, futuristic new design retains much of the Puma King's traditional style, but with a refreshing new spin on the iconic range. Players who are vegetarian or vegan, or those who are merely inclined to use fewer meat products in their every day life, will be particularly interested but, given how fresh these are, plenty of carnivores will be seduced too.
Let's take a proper, erm, butchers, at the most forward-thinking boot on the market.
How we tested the Puma King Platinum 21 Vegan football boots
(Image credit: Future)
For this review, FFT wore the boots to several training sessions on artificial grass to loosen them up a little, before donning them for 90 minutes during a competitive 11-a-side match on natural grass. The pitch was a nice, big, well-watered surface. Ideal for a spring-time kick about. Perfect conditions to test the studs and to get stuck in to testing.
FFT's first thought when squeezing into these boots was that they felt quite snug. They push the foot in and feel tight and it's possible you'll want to buy half a size up (a problem we've encountered with Puma football boots in the past). However, after they've loosed up a little they soon felt very good.
Towards the end of our first training session, the Vegan Kings began to soften up, yet still maintained the robustness we love about classic Kings. And, after getting into a few tackles, FFT was satisfied that the vegan leather remains just as waterproof and durable as the originals. No soaking wet socks or damage to the new wheels, thankfully.
Overall, a comfortable boot. But they'll need a little wearing in.
• RRP: £125
• Gender specification: No difference in gender specs
• Sizes available: 3.5 -12
• Colors: White, black and green
• Recommended for environmentally conscious players
First let's address the elephant in the room: are vegan boots actually any good? It's all well and good championing an environmentally-friendly leap forward, but does this impact the quality of the football boot?
The short answer is a resounding 'no'. Upon the Puma King Platinum 21 Vegan's launch, the brand promised "All the key benefits and performance properties of the King" and, to be fair, they've absolutely delivered. The Vegan Kings feel durable and robust, yet light on the feet, just like the classic Kings did. The animal-free "leather" upper is supple, comfortable and slightly spongey, while the knitted tongue and laces are smart, too.
The old-school stud pattern, which mirror the iconic range, means the Vegan Kings don't offer the supreme traction of a New Balance Furon or a Nike Mercurial but that doesn't really matter. Kings were always built for defenders and midfielders rather than speedy wingers and these feel on-brand in that regard.
Looks-wise – and that's always important in this day and age – we're big fans. The "ivory glow, green glare and Puma black" might not be for the more old-school fans of the Kings, but the new direction demanded a fresh look in FFT's opinion.
Overall this is a solid boot, which were just as enjoyable while playing as they were while unboxing.
The Puma King Platinum 21 Vegan football boots feature a "rib structure" that fuses to the vegan "leather" upper in key contact areas to deliver superior touch and increased responsiveness.
A super lightweight soleplate is built around a stability spine to provide optimal traction and support without the use of any animal-based adhesives, with all prints on the boot utilizing only vegan pigments.
The boots incorporate soft padding for heel lockdown and optimized fit. The "dimples", seen all over the outer, are designed to help players with their touch. Additionally, the Vegan Kings feature multi-directional conical studs for enhanced agility and a moulded sock liner with NanoGrip technology to ensure they remain breathable without slipping off.
Summary
Time will tell if they're just as robust – and beloved – as the undisputed kings of Sunday League football, but the Puma King Platinum 21 Vegan football boots made an excellent first impression on us.
The world is changing, with experts advising us all to take greater care over our meat consumption, so why should football be exempt. The Puma King Platinum 21 Vegan is a great way to do your bit, without sacrificing style and comfort.
Ed is a staff writer at FourFourTwo, working across the magazine and website. A German speaker, he’s been working as a football reporter in Berlin since 2015, predominantly covering the Bundesliga and Germany's national team. Favourite FFT features include an exclusive interview with Jude Bellingham following the youngster’s move to Borussia Dortmund in 2020, a history of the Berlin Derby since the fall of the Wall and a celebration of Kevin Keegan’s playing career.
