Creative: Pro:Direct / Photography: Pro:Direct / Words: Pro:Direct

The brand new PUMA Future 8 has arrived in The World’s Largest Bootroom at Pro:Direct Soccer & we’ve had the joy of wearing this boot before it drops so we can give you guys the ins & outs of how it performs, how it compares to the previous Future model and if these boots are the ones for you. Let’s get into it…

What's new about the PUMA Future 8 football boot?

There’s been some change between the Future 7 to the Future 8 and they catch your eye straight away when you take a look at the boots straight out of the box.

Firstly, the colourway. Purple & black are the colours that kickstart 2025 & PUMA’s Future Collection, and they’re noticeable straight away when you open the box and the moment they’re in your hands, you can instantly feel the differences between the new & old.

There’s a brand new upper on the Future 8 and it’s instantly noticeable the second you run your hand over the boot. PUMA have created the FUZIONFIT3, which is a combination of their FUZIONSKIN, FUZIONPODS & PWRTAPE technology.

It’s all fancy tech words but the short of it is that the FUZIONSKIN is the base layer of the shoe and is a knitted fit that gives you smoother entry to the boot. If you look closely, sitting on top of that are 3D pods called FUZIONPODS. These provide protection when striking the ball and also adapt to the shape of your foot. As ever with PUMA’s boots at the minute is the PWRTAPE technology, placed across the mid-foot for ultimate stability & security within the boot. The joy of this tech is that it gives you the option for either laced or laceless. Without fail, your foot is locked in and secure either way.

The upper is a high density mesh with PUMA’s grip control pro technology sitting on top it to deliver an enhanced feel and control of the ball.

Flip the boot over to look at the soleplate and you can see a brand new soleplate altogether. Bringing you the 360-degree agility plate, designed to enhance movement in the tighter spaces and makes changing directions on the pitch so much easier and quicker. The new placement and orientation of the studs are there to give you that upper hand when it comes to the agility and movement.


What are the PUMA Future 8 football boots like to wear?

Straight away from the moment you put these on, your worries of the gap in the top of the boot disappear. Instantly you notice how secure your foot is inside the boot and it feels locked in. You look down at your foot and all of a sudden the boot is now a 1 piece upper instead of 2. It doesn’t get talked about enough but we reckon PUMA have the best collars in the game. The FUTURE’s of recent years have constantly delivered with their collars and the FUTURE 8 is no different.

The change in soleplate to the boot is noticeable and we feel that the change in my movement is quicker, but that hasn’t taken anything away from the comfort and snug fit of the previous models. If anything, it’s enhanced the feel and levelled up the Future boot itself. With the PWRTAPE technology locking my foot in, the foot feels secure and as if we’re ready to perform to optimum levels throughout the 90 minutes.

One thing we love is that sockliner of the boot features a NanoGrip technology which gives you maximum & anti-slip properties when your foot is in the boot. The security you feel when moving in the boot is second to none and the sharper movements for the quick turns feel effortless because of the new soleplate that’s on the boot.

The Future feels flexible, lightweight and gives you the feeling that you are always in control on the pitch. With the Future model being PUMA’s control boot, the updated technology that’s been put in to the boot is noticeable and makes the difference in comparison to the Future 7.

How do the PUMA Future 8 football boots perform?

Controlling the play and dictating the tempo of the game has never felt so good in the Future 8. Getting the ball out of my feet and playing that instinctive pass to break lines from the pockets like James Maddison or dropping in to the deeper midfield positions to pick the ball up and spray passes from deep has never been easier.

Granted, you need the ability to execute it, but the boot doesn’t half help along the way. The raised mesh & grip control Pro texture on top of the boot gives you that enhanced grip and control of the ball gives you that added extra when taking those risks on the field.

Being on the receiving end of a pass, whether it’s been fizzed in or you’re plucking one out from the sky feels effortless. The lightweight upper gives you a close feel to the ball and the FUZIONFIT3 technology in the boot gives you the confidence that no touch of yours is going near the opponent.


Are the PUMA Future 8 football boots good for shooting?


The PUMA Future is a boot for the flair players who want to dictate the game at their own pace. The likes of Neymar, Maddison & Grealish instantly spring to mind with their ability to create, turn sharply and shoot on sight. And ball striking has never felt so good. The boot is an absolute luxury and the contact you make feels pure and that’s down to the PWRTAPE technology that keeps your foot secure and locked in when making contact with the ball. The strikes feel effortless and the ball just flies off the boot.

Are the PUMA Future 8 football boots comfortable?

Comfort wise, we don’t see too many noticeable differences between this model & the Future 7 but that’s testament to how PUMA create their Futures. They pride the boot in being a comfort boot first and add the tech on at a later date. If we’re comparing the boot to similar boots on the market like the adidas Predator & Nike Phantom, this boot wipes the floor. We feel more secure and locked in in the Future in comparison to the Phantoms & Preds and we truly believe that will be due to the PWRTAPE technology that locks my foot in.


What size PUMA Future 8 football boots should I buy?

We love a snug fitting boot and to get that, we’ve had to drop from our usual size 9 to an 8.5. If you like that little bit of space in the boot, then stay true to size with what you usually go for. We’d say that the boot is a boot for all and could easily work for both the narrow foot and also the wide foot, but we would be wary regarding entry and stretching if your feet are just that little bit too wide.

Which PUMA Future 8 football boots should I buy?

There’s a full array of options available from Ultimate down to Match with the Pro model sitting as the middle tier boot in this release in both FG & SG options. Only the Ultimate & Match versions will be available in SG form though so if you’re used to spending out on the Pro model, treat yourself and get the Ultimate model because it is very much worth it.

There will be a turf version, AG version, SG & FG version across the Future 8 model from top to bottom so there’s a boot in here for everyone, no matter your level, budget or ability.

Which players wear PUMA Future 8 football boots?

Jack Grealish, Neymar and James Maddison are amongst the lead stars to wear the PUMA Future 8 football boots. That's because the boots are built for players who want the most comfortable fitting boots that aid agility and pack extra shooting power.

PUMA Future 8 football boots review

The PUMA FUTURE is all about FIT and that’s what this boot focuses on. It’s so good because it’s its own individual boot. It doesn’t try to be a Predator or Phantom, it’s its own boot in a unique way and that’s what we love. It offers all that shooting tech but wrapped up in a more overall comfortable package and even drops in £20 cheaper than the Predator and Phantom at elite price point levels. Perfect for comfort, agility and shooting, it’s a bit of an allrounder and one of the most underrated boots on the market.

Shop the full PUMA Future 8 football boots collection at Pro:Direct Soccer.