Mens Puma Ferrari Drift Cat black shoes are interesting examples of the latest in fashionable footwear. Elegantly cut and with soft leather uppers they cut a dash, not only on the racing track. They would be equally acceptable worn by contestants in a reality show or a televised sporting fixture to be beamed into millions of homes worldwide. Fashionable elegance is underpinned by cold scientific research that makes the shoe ideal for a modern high performance athlete.

Human feet were not always so lucky. The Zulu dictator, Shaka, required his soldiers to stamp long thorns into the ground. These drills caused thick layers of skin to develop like the soles of a shoe. So the soldiers' feet became army boots with hardly any cost except the pain. Zulu soldiers were able to jog long distances over rough terrain without getting blisters.

Although leather must be the most popular material for making shoes, other materials such as wood and metal have been used from the earliest times. In recent time the wooden clog has been replaced by the plastic one which may be even better at coping with walking in water. Rubber, canvas and jute are also popular materials for cobbling and we should not forget Cinderella's slipper, made of glass.

Shoes with long toes graced the feet of courtiers during the Renaissance. Courtiers who apparently enjoyed swinging them about, but the design became unfashionable when some important people tripped over their own toes when trying to escape from enemies or compromising situations. More sensible shoes that actually fitted the foot and were secured by buckles, evolved.

During the industrial revolution shoes became more practical and robust. Thick soles and hard toe caps were suitable for the practical activities of working men. The Duke of Wellington noticed that his men struggled to walk through thick mud wearing leather boots. He ordered tall rubber boots for his troops and these Wellington boots are believed to have been instrumental in the Duke's famous victory over the French at Waterloo.

Two world wars occupied human intelligence and endeavour for much of the twentieth century. Army boots made of thick leather shod the feet of millions of men. Sports shoes were derived from army designs. Rugby boots were made of heavy leather and had studs screwed into the soles to prevent slippage. Long distance races were run in canvas tennis shoes with soft rubber soles. They offered very little protection from jarring or chafing and frequently tore the toe nails from athletes' feet in the course of a race.

During the post modern period after the wars beatniks and hippies made their own sandals following any design that did not seem too conventional. During this time the first shoes were designed for the specific activities such as jogging, training or playing specific games.

Specialization advanced rapidly with the growth of sports science and sports medicine. New fabrics and composite materials were used in order to improve circulation around feet and protect them from jarring and chafing. Shoes like mens puma ferrari drift cat black combine the most up-to-date research into foot health with the fashionable elegance associated with brands like Ferrari. They can be worn for both performance and fashion.