The PUMA Rocket trainer is an OG runner that was born out of the Dassler brother's competitive rivalry and the desire to "one-up" each other on the tracks & the courts.
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Casual and a cultural perspective it's usually 3 stripes this & 3 stripes that. As much as we love all things 3 stripes, we also love the trefoils' estranged sibling, PUMA. As much as Rudolph & Adi Dassler might have hated each other during their bitter, but maybe not so sweet rivalry, between them the two brothers from Bavaria brought us some of the very greatest performance trainers of all time. Imagine if the two had of joined forces with PUMA & adidas? But maybe that was actually where the whole magic happened. The fact is they clearly worked better with their own brands. The constant competition to "one-up" each other that is drilled into many brothers from a young age, actually allowed a "once in a blue moon" era of footwear to happen. Ironically enough it was the "one-up" mentality of the early Casuals that saw the likes of PUMA & adidas become their go to brands. A bit of aggro and some argyle went hand in hand with the "one-up" designs from the two German sportswear brands. OG styles like the PUMA Rocket trainer were born out of this magical era and although Rudolph had already sadly passed away in 1976, PUMA's desire to create the best sports shoes was at an all time high.
Above: The PUMA Rocket PI trainer in off white now available from 80s Casual Classics.
First introduced in the late 1970s, it was the Easy Rider that started a legacy of innovative running shoes from PUMA such as the Joy Rider, the Rockette, the Rocket, the Whirlwind & the Sky Rider which were also released throughout the same period. The Rocket, or Rockette as was it also known, had all the hallmarks of the retro running style from the "speedy cat" catalogues of the late 70s and early 80s. OG models were 'Made in Taiwan' and featured synthetic mesh uppers with suede overlays in blue with a contrasting form strip in white. Featuring the famous shock-absorbing rubber studs which minimised the overall stress put on the ankles & the heel, the Rocket was originally designed for speed, support & stability. 
Above: The PUMA Rocket PI trainer in off white now available from 80s Casual Classics. Part of the iconic "Cat Family", the late 70s shoe has remained a talking point of PUMA collectors & Casual footwear fans from the golden era of 3 stripes, formstrips & one-upmanship. The good news is the PUMA Rocket is now revived from the Herzogenaurach archives for a very special OG release. Featuring mesh & suede uppers with added ankle support and the famous studded outsole, the Rocket is the ultimate retro runner. Finished off with the classic formstrip to the sidewalls and 'Rocket' tab branding, the OG release is sure to get the classic PUMA fans talking. Shop the latest PUMA releases now at 80s Casual Classics via the links.
