PUMA Oslo

• MODEL: PUMA OSLO
• MADE IN: VIETNAM
• MADE ON: 11/12
• ART.NO: 354657 04
• FACTORY: FTWPC/FVNPC

The rumors were true: PUMA brings back yet another relic from their excellent archive, showing that the German cats still got strength in their stride.

As we mentioned in our off-white on white ’89 article, the Oslo’s are back in action, accompanied by a slew of goodies to praise the good old PUMA name. For both this ‘midnight’ navy and a ‘greenlake’ version the release should be matched with much success considering the quality in their retro. I’m literally holding the ’80s version of this same pair in my hands now (little bit lighter blue though) and it’s downright identical. They’ve even replicated not only the sockliner but the magical golden circle sticker too, well placed within each shoe to shine the size into your eyes as you dig past the box tissue and discover your hidden treasure trainers. Sure, there are slight adjustments to the lace stays’ shape, the suede toe patch is more visibly laid under the white leather, and it even overlaps the formstripe a bit more (though that could be due to sizing differences) but in general it’s eye for an eye(let) on point. Oh, and of course the tongue’s got some green in it now and doesn’t say “Made in West Germany” anymore.

All that minor detailing aside, the main change that I spy is the heel tab; where the OG’s hit a white leaping puma cat, the retros blast it through in gold. Touché, nice touch PUMA. I would even stretch to call this an improvement on the model, which is hard to come by considering that it’s already quite perfected.

Funny to hear that out of my mouth though as I’ll actually admit to slammin’ the Oslo’s for their chunk-tastic sole units in my write-up of the lighter blue West German-made pair I’m holding now. I’ll admit again that I’m still, personally, not a fan of the sole when looked at off-foot. But on foot these are killers. Not only are they sturdy as all get up but they truly do look class. And actually it’s the sole that truly makes them a unique shoe for PUMA, considering they only share this aspect of their anatomy with the mysterious, and quite literally-named ‘Black and White’ model.

So what really made the German cat brand drop an unforgettable City Series shoe? In truth, it’s actually because it’s not even a City Series shoe. No, instead, as PUMA themselves are even aware, the Oslo’s strength truly comes from the 1952 Oslo Winter Games where they were worn and adored. With the glory attached them by various athletes before and after the Olympic events it’s no wonder they stayed in the public’s minds and even saw various versions through the next half-century. And finally, here they are, back on the shelves again, in all their ’80s-style swag. Kudos PUMA, now please keep diggin’ in the crates to surface some more relics for us trainer fanatics to relish as well.

written by Dylan Cromwell

photography by errol