The Best PUMA Thunder Releases

PUMA Thunder Spectra OG

First unveiled early 2018, the original Thunder Spectra laid the groundwork for all the Thunder drops that followed. Inspired by old school retros and past PUMA collaborations, including the brand’s work with the late Alexander McQueen’s namesake label, the OG Thunder Spectra offered the perfect combination of sleek lines and chunky IMEVA tooling with a panel-heavy upper of mesh, leather and suede. The predominately black look and its bold accents were perfectly paired. After four months of hype, the kicks finally launched – and PUMA’s lifestyle lineup has been Thunder-heavy ever since.

PUMA Thunder Spectra ‘Triple Black’

Following the OG colourway, PUMA crafted the perfect pair of Thunders for retro-loving ‘heads looking for something a little more understated. Naturally, the ‘Triple Black’ colourway was clad in black from head to toe, and even switched up the construction with the likes of faux scales for a lux upgrade.

PUMA Thunder Spectra in Grey/Orange/Yellow/Blue

Ahead of the transition from Summer to Fall 2018 in the northern hemisphere, PUMA brought a colourful new look to the silhouette. Like the OG, these were marked by a neutral colour base that was juxtaposed with bolder accenting hues throughout. In this case, light grey was joined by orange lining, a matching leather heel, bright splashes of yellow, and metallic royal blue applications to the midsole. And wrapping it all up? A classic gum rubber outsole.

PUMA Thunder Desert

PUMA prepped a muted Desert rendition of the Thunder right around the same time that the Grey/Orange/Yellow/Blue version of the kicks hit shelves. Unlike the aforementioned pair, this trio toned down the palette to emphasise the construction itself, and went with dusty green and blush hues. A ‘Triple White’ pair capped off the drop, echoing the luxurious, scaly aesthetic of its all-black predecessor.

PUMA Thunder 4 Life

2018’s Thunder 4 Life drop essentially confirmed that the chunky silhouette was in it for the long haul. True to previous iterations, these went all-in on the panel-heavy upper and aggressive tooling, highlighting the design in the best fashion yet by employing everything from bright blue, deep purple, and neon red to stark black and white across a neoprene/mesh/nylon/leather/suede/nubuck build.

END. x PUMA Thunder ‘Shadow Rise’

The Thunder has only been the canvas for a few collaborations since its debut in 2018 and END.’s ‘Shadow Rise’ may very well be the best of them. Dubbed the ‘Shadow Rise’, the collaborative kicks went with an unimpeachable combination of neutral hues, pairing black nubuck with matching leather, beige suede, white hits to the midsole, and a gum rubber outsole. Cork footbeds were even thrown into the mix with just the right amount of co-branding.

PUMA Thunder Spectra ‘Italy’

If you’re looking for the most fashion-forward colourway of the OG Thunder, look no further than this year’s unofficial nod to the Italian flag. Swathed in cream and white, the kicks sport just a touch of colour with both red and green handling the glossy applications to the shoe’s midsole. The result is the cleanest Thunder yet, and one that would be right at home on the runway in Milan.

ABC-MART x PUMA Thunder Spectra Disc Premium

This March, PUMA gave the Thunder its biggest overhaul yet with the Thunder Spectra Disc. Just as the name suggests, the kicks see PUMA’s modern-day favourite collide with an old icon as the Disc Blaze’s signature apparatus replaces the Thunder’s lacing. Of the pairs that have dropped thus far, PUMA’s colab with Japan’s ABC-MART is the clear frontrunner as it takes on the OG colourway and adds pony hair to the package.