Puma has brilliantly succeeded in the world of sneakers since the early 2020s. Among his flagship models, we find of course the Lamelo Ball line which was a real commercial card.
In parallel, the German brand achieved a huge blow in 2021 by choosing Breanna Stewart to relaunch the fashion of signature shoes for female athletes. We hadn't seen it since Candace Parker ten years earlier.
Four years later, it is clear that Puma was the source of a small revolution. Indeed, the “signature shoes” of female athletes are more than ever in fashion, with the hatching of new models such as the Sabrina of Sabrina Ionescu, the aon of A'ja Wilson and while waiting for the signature of Angel Reese with Reebok.
Breanna Stewart always keeps a step in advance while her Stewie 4 was released last March, with a very specific guideline: comfort, supported to the extreme and an outsole which always hooks as well, all without neglecting the design aspect and detail treatment in terms of finishes.
>> Buy the Stewie 4 on basket4ballers
General comfort
The shoe size to perfection. The pair is easy to put on, including a generously padded tab and you quickly feel well with it. The first thing that comes out is this feeling of height due to the dose of Profoam foam as an intermediate sole, where the Stewie 3 seemed much more “low”.
Then, it is the ultra -fine laces that contribute to the singularity of the model. A detail that surprises at the beginning but from which you get used to it fairly quickly. They allow you to tighten very hard and compress the foot at best, with the different eyelets (also very fine) which come to act on the maintenance of the entire foot.
The general comfort remains of good quality, this from the first strides. As on previous models, it was an aspect that seemed to be a priority for Breanna Stewart and Puma, and the result is there.
Note: 8.5/10
Cushioning
At a time when the intermediate soles are full of specificities and new gadgets to try to find the best compromises between dynamism and comfort, Puma has opted for a composition of the most basic. Exit the foam “Nitro Foam +”, and make way for a “simple” “profoam” foam to compose the intermediate sole.
What makes the specificity of this sole is its thickness, which makes it possible to absorb the shocks with the ground well, and offer enough comfort at the heel in particular, the “Profoam” foam gradually refined towards the foot to maintain reactivity on the lively supports and the rebound.
The result is quite satisfactory and confirms that an arsenal of fireworks is not necessarily essential to have a good cushioning.
Note: 8/10
TRACTION
As with the previous models of the Stewie line, the traction is very good. Adhesion is ensured by a classic but effective chevron outsole outsole.
And as for the other Stewie, the result is there. The pair perfectly hangs on the ground, whatever the type of support, whether it is the front departures where the lateral supports. As with the intermediate sole, no frills, apart from the different patterns drawn under the sole like the logo of the player present under the front of the foot.
Note: 9/10
Maintenance and stability
This is undoubtedly the strong point of the pair, and one can think that it is a desire of the player, who arrives slowly on her 31 years and who has already had to compose with big wounds, such as her rupture of the Achille tendon or more recently a knee operation.
It is therefore a “wisdom” asset not to be overlooked, the sum of the eyelets, present to the back of the shoe, acting on the compression of the entire foot. Paradoxically, it is perhaps the maintenance of the heel that is the least “insured”. For once, the eyelets present at the back of the shoe serves as a “gadget” than anything else.
Stability level also, there is nothing to complain about. The imposing sole also plays its role in this direction with a round tip at the front of the foot which also participates in the good stability of the whole, as well as the weight of the shoe, quite “heavy” compared to the average (beyond the 400 grams).
Note: 9/10
Finishes and lifespan
As with previous models, the Stewie 4 has been treated in terms of finishes which offer a singularity for each pair.
This year, the emphasis was placed on the double -walled rod, mainly in mesh, on which the eyelets come to act on the maintenance, with the specificity of the eyelets which are found until the back of the shoe.
Among the finishes, we can mention the choice of particularly fine laces, and of course a few “personal” touches, such as of course the logo of the player on the tongue, the inscription “Stewie” under the puma at the heel but also on the intermediate sole and under the outsole or even “Tell Your Story” on the translucent part at the front of the shoe
The Stewie 4 has only two colors available for the moment: the “Prism” version, which the player carried yesterday against the Indiana fever, and which is supposed to reflect the “infinite possibilities” contained in a radius of light, in a rainbow style predominantly blue, red, purple and the “night vision”, with a rod in dark blue is stained with pale red. The choice is light but the collection could expand during the WNBA season, while Breanna Stewart remains a headliner in the female league, as the best score, second best rebounder and third best passer for the best team of this start to the season, the New York Liberty, reigning champion.
Regarding the lifespan, we can question the resistance of the eyelets which seem quite fragile. For the rest, the pair should normally resist the wear of time
Note: 8.5/10
Verdict of Puma Stewie 4
Puma kept the DNA that made the success of the “Stewie” collection on this fourth version, with a neat model in terms of design and finishes, but also high -end technical characteristics.
The stem has been worked, the sole is classic but checks all the criteria in terms of comfort and reactivity at full speed. The “security” aspect has not been neglected with optimal maintenance of the entire foot in the main strong point.
The first three models have found their audience and there is no reason why Stewie 4 derogates from the rule. The Stewie 3 had been particularly highlighted last year between the title of champion of the New York Liberty and the Victorious Olympic Olympic campaign at the Paris 2024 Games. Suffice to say that Breanna Stewart will still have to shine to ensure her promotion. For the moment, the former emblematic player of the Seattle Storm is off to!
Note : 
Shoe weight (size 45): 440 grams
Price : available on promo at 96 and 108 euros on Basket4ballers
Rating scale
- – Less : not recommended
- – Between and : defects that can stop some but qualities that will charm others
- – : Approved and recommended pair
- – : Exceptional pair!
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