Puma MB.04 Low: The Low is Better Than The Mid

Traction in any version of the Puma MB.04 is a bit hit or miss. This colorway of the shoe is equipped with a solid rubber outsole with a weird, story-telling style traction pattern. At a glance, it looks solid, but because of the implementation of the traction pattern and the rubber compound used, you can encounter inconsistencies. On clean indoor courts, you’re going to get a strong bite, very dependable, solid lateral coverage, and sharp stops.

But toss in a little dust or debris, and these become skating rinks real quick. On dirty or semi-dusty indoor courts, you’ll find yourself wiping frequently to keep the shoe gripping the hardwood. Outdoors, it’s situational. On gritty, textured surfaces like blacktops or tennis-style courts, they grip just fine. But smooth concrete or dusty outdoor gyms, not so much. The rubber is decent, but not ultra-durable, so longevity outdoors may be a concern.

The Puma MB.04 Low retains the same cushioning setup as the mid, an EVA foam midsole housing Nitro foam units in the heel and forefoot. A similar setup to every Melo shoe to-date. This combo offers solid responsiveness, especially after break-in, with a good amount of impact protection and compression as well. Right out of the box, they feel more neutral, mostly due to the heavy TPU caging around the midsole. But give it a couple of runs and the foam starts to open up.

Impact protection is solid, and while it doesn’t offer the plushness of a Zoom Strobel setup or a Boost-like ride, it delivers reliable comfort with court feel. The low version features a slightly different implementation of the midsole, and it actually feels freer and more flexible. This refined construction allows the foam to feel a bit more dynamic in-game.

Here’s where the Puma MB.04 Low Alien Skin really shines. The upper has seen a significant overhaul from the mid, ditching the heavy rubberized cage and going full textile. Immediately out of the box, this shoe felt lighter, more flexible, and much more wearable. Without all that excess TPU, the forefoot has actual flex and natural movement.

The engineered mesh is lightweight, breathable, and still rather durable thanks to strategic TPU overlays in high-wear zones (like the toe drag area and eyestay). Also, shoutout to the design team for maintaining the Alien Skin’s wild visual identity without relying on bulky rubber pieces. The colors and graphics pop hard without compromising weight or comfort.

Even with the updated and less substantial build, support is still on point. You’ve got that full TPU lateral cage, which provides enough containment and torsional rigidity to keep you secure on court. The heel counter is solid, and the ankle collar sculpting hugs the foot just right. Because the upper is now softer, containment was a point of concern, but Puma wisely reinforced critical areas with TPU and layers where needed.

You still get that feeling of being locked in, especially through the midfoot and heel. Also, the platform itself is wide and flat, so there’s no real tippiness or instability, solid for quick guards or aggressive wings.

The Puma MB.04 Low fits true to size, whatever you wore in the MB.01, MB.02, or MB.03, that’s your size here. Puma uses the same last for the whole LaMelo line, which is good as far as consistency is concerned. That said, there’s a ton of internal padding, especially around the ankle and tongue. If you’re a wide-footer, you might want to try these on in-store.

The toebox feels less restrictive now without the mid’s stiff materials, but the fit is still snug overall. The only real complaint is the tongue and pull tab combo. That massive piece resting on your ankle is just a bit much. It’s bulky and unnecessary, and almost feels like a leftover design element from a different shoe. You can cut it off if you’re brave, but let’s be honest, Puma should’ve trimmed it at the design table.

To wrap it all up, the Puma MB.04 Low is better than the mid version of the shoe and a much more wearable Melo sneaker. It dials back the overbuilt design of the mid and delivers something that feels much more player-focused. Less flash, more function, without losing the bold identity that defines LaMelo Ball’s signature line.

At the end of the day, if you’re a guard, wing, or combo player looking for something flashy yet functional, the Puma MB.04 Low deserves a spot in your rotation. It is a versatile, mobile, and comfy hoop shoe. It is not a great outdoor option, and you have to be mindful of dusty courts, but in general, this is a shoe that many types of players will enjoy.