THE HISTORY OF THE PUMA RIDER
THE ORIGINS
The Fast Rider was developed by Armin A. Dassler, the son of founder Rudolf Dassler, in 1980. Originally a jogging shoe, it was designed with the famous “Federbein” sole, known for its cushioning properties.
“The Fast Rider, a milestone in PUMA sports shoe development, was developed by shoe technician Armin Dassler, who implemented the ingenious idea for the PUMA 'Federbein' sole in a jogging shoe."
Helmut Fischer, Mr. PUMA
The original catalogues list it as:
A brand-new shoe for jogging and training, with famous “Federbein” sole. Ideal for injury-prone runners. Special high heel to reduce strain on Achilles tendon. Upper: in superlight padded nylon. Excellent air circulation. Suede leather reinforcement on toe and heel give a secure hold. Base: The soft cellular rubber midsole wedge absorbs pressure. The PUMA “Federbein” sole acts like a shock absorber. These technical features make the Fast Rider the ideal shoe for cross-country and road running alike.
The Fast Rider developed into the Future Rider and Style Rider, demonstrating the success story of the famous “Federbein” sole with a corrugated outsole inspired by the original conical studs. For these new styles, PUMA merged the best of the past and future into futro silhouettes with newly developed Rider foam for extra comfort, bold materials and playful ‘80s colour blocking. Debuting a series of vibrant colours and playful silhouettes, the shoe became an instant streetwear classic.
MILE RIDER & CRUISE RIDER
In 2020, two female driven styles joined the Rider family: the Mile Rider and the Cruise Rider. The two added height, style, and feminine touches to the classic silhouette.
The comfortable midsole and iconic “Federbein” sole made the Rider family a PUMA classic. The Rider franchise continued to evolve and grow over the next seasons.