Everything You Need To Know About The PUMA Army Trainer

The PUMA Army trainer, also known as the GAT, was originally designed as an all purpose training shoe for the West German Army.

The original Germany Army trainer, or GAT as it is also known, is an OG training shoe that is clouded in Dassler drama. Was it the PUMA Army trainer or the adidas Army trainer? Are there any other global brands like PUMA & adidas that were led by two rival brothers? Oasis & the Gallagher brothers might be a shout from a band perspective, but as far as sportswear brands' go, the story of Adolf & Rudolph Dassler is certainly a very unique one. The Dassler brothers founded the Gebr'der Dassler Schuhfabrik (the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory) in Herzogenaurach back in 1924 & developed the first spiked running shoe that was used by Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympics. In the late 1940s, the two brothers went their separate ways. Rudolph decided to started his very own sportswear brand, PUMA, that would rival Adi's adidas. Decades of fierce competition and a bitter rivalry would follow with Rudolph & Adi looking to one up each other & create the best performance shoes from track & field to football. Above: The PUMA Army OG trainer in white/black now available from 80s Casual Classics. The very first Germany Army trainer first came on the scene back in the 1970s. However it's not 100% who actually designed the shoe. The Museum of Military History in Dresden, Germany apparently has records which prove the very first GAT was in fact designed by PUMA. Some might claim that it was actually adidas that designed the GAT, but when the Soviet Union fell in 1989, the GAT became Obsolete. Original models of the GAT from the 1970s & 1980s can be found online, however the description is usually something like "German Army Trainers By adidas/Puma". The design of the GAT was pretty simple featuring soft leather uppers with suede overlays & a gum rubber sole unit. The signature T-toe detailing also featured on a range of iconic PUMA & adidas trainer styles from the same era. Above: The PUMA Army OG trainer in white/black now available from 80s Casual Classics. PUMA have now re-released the German Army trainer as their own for the latest season. Given a nod to the original GAT from the 1970s, the revival release features premium leather uppers with the iconic suede overlays & T-toe detailing to the front. The military inspired trainer is finished off with the signature formstrip in black to the sidewalls alongside a gum rubber sole unit. Shop the classic PUMA trainer now via the links.