The PUMA Super Team Trainer Gets A Subtle Suede Update

The PUMA Super Team was an original “tournament trainer” of the Handball World Cup in 1982 and now arrives in an updated Suede version.

Just like a lot of the OG trainers from the 1970s & the 1980s there’s usually some sort of sporting event connection. The adidas Los Angeles trainer for example first came on the scene for the Los Angeles Olympics back in 1984. The Nike Wimbledon trainer as famously worn by John McEnroe was of course designed for grass court play at London’s prestigious tennis tournament in 1980. PUMA also had their fair share of “tournament trainers” like the PUMA Super Team trainer which was famously worn by the German handball team for the Handball World Cup in 1982 which was also hosted by West Germany. PUMA’s handball heritage is now brought back to life once again with an updated Suede version of the early 80s court trainer.

Above: The PUMA Super Team Suede trainer in regal red/white/gum now available from 80s Casual Classics.

Handball, particularly in Germany & Scandinavia, had become big business in the late 1970s & early 1980s. As much as PUMA & adidas were dominating the USA with basketball & running trainers, they still hadn’t forgotten about sports closer to home. Following the death of Rudolph Dassler in 1974 and Adi Dassler shortly after in 1978, the battlegrounds of the two Dassler brothers still remained. As armies looked to take control of territories for PUMA & adidas it was dominating sports whether it was sponsoring the best athletes or making the best performance shoes for that specific sport. PUMA’s endorsement deal with the Croatian born handball goalkeeper & coach, Vlado Stenzel in 19878 gave PUMA a head start on the speedy handball courts in 1978 with adidas closely following behind with the introduction of the Handball Spezial in 1979. Ironically PUMA also released a silhouette called the ‘Handball’ around the same. The Super Team marked the next chapter of handball silhouettes for PUMA in 1982 and what a super silhouette it was.

Above: The PUMA Super Team Suede trainer in mint/gum now available from 80s Casual Classics.

Originally worn by the German National Handball team for the Handball World Cup in 1982 which was also held in West Germany, the Super Team featured mesh uppers with suede overlays as oppose to the traditional full suede uppers style of previous court shoes from the German sportswear brand. The mesh aimed to added breathability for the sweaty indoor courts of the Handball-Bundesliga with a super grippy sole for superior traction underfoot. Now introduced in an updated “all suede” version, the Super Team is treated to another very special revival release. Highlights include Super Team branding in gold foiling to the sidewalls with the signature formstripe as well as the contrasting stitching on the translucent sole just like the original trainer from 1982. Available in regal red & mint the Super Team Suede will just about compliment any “casual” outfit. Shop the very latest PUMA trainer releases snow at 80s Casual Classics via the links above.