Concave invited Footy Boots behind the scenes to watch the filming of their new grassroots video. With a chance to see the Concave football boots in a natural environment, we took them up on their offer.

Concave chose a local football team to feature in their video, a club called Riseley Sports, who play in the Bedfordshire Premier League, UK.

We arrived on location to be welcomed with grey sky and drizzle, typical!

True to their word, Concave had not arranged any special conditions, this video was being filmed on a village playing field and the players were a selection of lads from Riseley’s squad.

The film crew were well prepared by the time we arrived as they wanted to record the lads turning up at the playing field, which they duly did.

The players had a quick knock up in their existing gear before their coach handed out the new Concave football boots. It was obvious that the players had not seen them before and they were all interested in the unique upper component.

Once the lads had the football boots on, it seemed like they wanted to take some anger out on the ball. Many of the players were smacking the ball as hard as they could, something the Concave boys explained always happens when a player first gets in a Concave. Once they settled down and stopped trying to send the football into Orbit, the players started to enjoy themselves, at the goalkeepers expense.

Concave wanted the lads to test the Power and Accuracy of the football boots. Remember, Concave independent tests say that accuracy is improved by 30% and power by 15%.

For the lads to feel the power of the football boots, footballs were placed at various lengths away from the goal and the players shot at goal repeatedly. They were raining shots at the goal and we could only feel sorry for the keeper who was trying to keep the ball out of the net.

For the accuracy test, Concave attached an accuracy net to the top right hand corner of the goal. From a distance around 5 yards outside of the penalty area, the players were asked to hit the ball into the net. We were surprised by the results.

To see how the Riseley Sports players got on, watch the video…..

Visit the Concave website

For those wanting to get an insiders view on the new Concave Football Boots, look no further…..

Adam Henry is one of the lucky few to get his hands on a pair of the eagerly awaited Concave football boots. We caught up with Adam to get an in-depth review of his findings.

Initial Thoughts

The presentation of the football boots was good. The glue attaching the box together could have been stronger as, when the boots arrived; the box had fallen apart (which may have been down to a rough delivery). Also, the booklet and the shoe bag were nice touches.

When I tried on the football boots I was very pleased at the snug and comfortable fit. I walked around my house with the football boots unlaced and my only fear was that, due to the lining, I would develop blisters. My fear went away once I had laced them up and found the football boots to be very supportive. The lacing system makes the fit snug throughout the forefoot and I found the insole to be very springy which adds to the boots’ comfort. I hardly noticed the stud pressure from the blades which is a positive sign.

The only negatives that I could find with the Concave football boots are as follows:

1 The insole makes a “squeaking” sound when the wearer walks around (it rubs against the lining material) which could irritate some.

2 The tongue is hard to put underneath the lace-cover.

All-in-all, the football boot feels stable, comfortable, durable and protective. I find them to be attractive and the materials used are of good quality. The synthetic has a matte finish, which is different to any synthetic football boot that I’ve worn before, which hopefully suggests that the football won’t skid from the football boot as much in wet weather.

The leather isn’t too soft and doesn’t feel as if it will mould as well as the Kangaroo leather that brands like Nike and Adidas use but I think that the quality of the synthetic makes up for it. As the football boot is not fully leather, I don’t think that the quality of the leather is a big problem.

I was very shocked with the protection features of this football boot. The middle of the football boot feels extremely stable and the MetaGuard is amazing. To test the MetaGuard I stepped on my own foot and I couldn’t feel a thing, very impressive.  (more…)

The all new Concave football boots will be on the shelves for sale in the UK on 22nd August. The planned launch, which was to have taken place this week, has been pushed back so that Concave representatives can complete training for JJB sales staff. JJB has the exclusive store rights to Concave in the UK.

So, with a few extra days to play with and with all of the recent hype and interest in the football boot market revolving around the debut of the Concave football boots, us Geeks here at the Footy-Boots lab decided to give them a run out ourselves.

Aesthetics- 8/10

We now know Concave have a competent design team with an artistic side that created a unique look for the brand. The logo embodies what the brand is about through the concave surface with the football. The eye-catching, yet not too flashy, Black/Red/Silver colour combination will surely turn some heads on and off the football pitch. With some new colourways soon to be released, you can expect a breath of fresh air from Concave.

Value- 9/10

The football boot market these days is filled with over the top priced boots from a range of brands. The Concave PT-1’s retail price is £99.99 and could seem a bit steep, but when compared to the top of the line football boots from some other brands, the boots seem to be well priced for their quality.

Comfort- 9/10

The Concave PT-1’s are very snug and comfortable. The innovative new lacing system is fastened to the Concave sweetspot along with elastic that keeps the upper snug to your foot. The insole is removable and features a gel insert in the heel. During the stint of time we tested the football boots, no pressure was felt from the studs on the foot and the insole provided spring and cushioning. The football boots aren’t heavy, weighing about as much as the Nike Air Legend II’s.

Performance- 9/10

To test the function of the Concave football boots in a training situation, we performed many of the same tests that Perry Groves performed for us in his series of football boot tests. Running, juggling, dribbling, passing, shooting, and volleying were what we focused on. The lace-cover is great to wear, does exactly as intended and protects very well. When the ball is struck purely with these football boots on, you won’t find a more accurate and powerful shot produced by any other boot. Despite all of the questioning about whether the Concave element would inhibit a players dribbling and juggling ability, our testing showed quite the contrary. The area at the top of the football boot near the toe and directly to the sides provided sufficient room for the two skills. The Concave lace cover did not hamper the ability to hit the ball with the instep or outstep in order to produce spin on the ball either.

Durability- 10/10

For a newcomer in the football boot market, Concave seem to have it down when it comes to quality manufacturing. From our initial inspection, it was evident that the football boots were assembled well with all of the proper techniques. We have yet to see the boots after a long period of use, but expect that they will hold up well.

Technology- 10/10

Here at Footy-Boots, we don’t believe you could find a boot on the market with as much effort put into the technological side of the boots. The Research & Development department at Concave’s headquarters must have had their hands full designing the Concave sweetspot. With all of the tests scores showing high statistics, the Concave sweetspot might yet make a fool of some of some other brands gimmicks claiming to increase power and accuracy with its realistic and simple approach to the matter. The sweetspot provided exactly the technology that we were promised. That is, unparalleled protection of the metatarsal from the MetaGuard and a much bigger strikezone, to many keepers dismay. The Shank Balance Stabiliser provides support and reinforcement to the mid-foot area to help control balance between the front and rear of the foot.

Overall- 9.15 / 10

Overall the Concave PT-1 checked all of the boxes necessary to be ranked as a fantastic boot. With the right exposure and marketing, we see no reason why the Concave PT-1 won’t be competing against the big boys in next years Football Boots Awards.

Recommended For

These boots may not be exactly what you flamboyant tricksters are looking for, but for you strikers wanting that extra edge to your shot, playmakers wanting that extra bit of accuracy, or defenders in need of more protection you may want to consider Concave next time you are buying your boots. According to Concave’s Official Website there’s no doubt goalkeepers should be most worried about Concave technology. After all, their jobs have gotten a lot harder, now they’ll be facing faster, more accurate shots on goal. However there is good news. Concave boots provide additional distance (up to 10% extra) on your current goal kick with increased precision. In addition to that, the boots were worn by goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos of the A-League side, Melbourne Victory as official tester and guinea pig for the past two years.

Room For Improvement

With Concave being the new boy on the block in the football boot market, it looks like they’re in with a chance. This product didn’t come without any hard work mind you, it has been eight years in the making. Despite all of the research put into the boot, there are still some minor flaws as expected with every pair of football boots, no matter what the brand name. Us Geeks felt that the Concave sweetspot could have been moulded a little bit shorter in length and that a little weight taken off here and there wouldn’t hurt. We are anticipating great things from Concave now and in the future. We expect to see Concave gunning with the big boys.

Pre-Order

Click HERE to sign up to pre-order the Concave PT-1’s released August 22, 2008.

Price: £99
Availability: August 22, 2008
Colour: Black/Red/Silver
Sizes: 6-12

Visit the Concave website

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give us your grade for the Concave football boot

Due to launch in the UK in just a few days time, the new Concave football boots have been causing quite a stir. We thought we’d catch up with the guys behind the scenes and get some answers to the most asked questions we’ve seen.

It’s very unusual for a new football boot to create some much discussion before it has been released, but there is something about the Concave football boots that seems to have struck a chord with those in the know. With limited information around about the football boot in advance of the release (the Concave football boot launches on August 1), we thought we’d send our roving reporter out to visit Concave’s ‘tech department’ and see what they have to say. Armed with the most asked questions in our email and comments box, off we ran… well cantered.

Footy Boots - So what’s so different about these Concave boots compared to other football boots?

Concave - Concave football boots have a unique concave shaped element along the natural ridge line of the instep of the foot (where the laces normally are).  This concave shape made of a patented 3 density TPU compound (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) acts to cup the ball, providing a shaped platform which gives greater interface for kicking the ball, which leads to greater accuracy, power and control of a ball. The concave element also provides greater protection for the metatarsal bones in the foot.

Concave boots are designed to enable more accuracy, control and power on a far more consistent basis than with a regular football boot. This means better results on the pitch.

Footy Boots - Tell us more about this now ‘infamous’ Concave sweet spot?

Concave - Most mis-kicks or inaccurate kicks occur when the ball does not strike the “sweet spot” of a football boot. The “sweet spot” on a Concave boot is approximately four times larger than that on a standard football boot, which allows for a far greater chance of accuracy, power and control; and reduced chance of a mis-kick.

The concept is similar to that of tennis racquets with oversized heads which provide a greater “sweet spot” surface area for optimum contact with the ball.

Footy Boots - Has this actually been tested though?

Concave - Yes. In a series of tests, Concave football boots were found to improve accuracy by up to 40 per cent, and increase speed and power by between 10 and 15 per cent. Testing has proven that the design and material used in the football boot can significantly increase the performance of the traditional football boot in the critical areas of velocity, power and control.

Specifically, machine testing and human testing undertaken by Australia’s largest technology consulting firm, Invetech Pty Ltd. and Monash University’s Rehab-Tech Department, found that accuracy improved by up to 40 per cent, while speed and power increased by between 10 and 15 per cent due predominantly to the four times larger sweet spot.

Footy Boots - We’ve had questions about concerns with kicking with the side of the foot, what do you make of that?

Concave - Well, independent player testing demonstrated that the integration of the concave element into the boot instep allows for flexibility of kicking on and off the concave element.

Footy Boots - Well it’s good to hear that they have been tested. Back to the kicking and the Concave element as this is interesting. What if I kick a ball on a part of the football boot other than the Concave element?

Concave - If the ball strikes the sweet spot of the concave element, it will travel with greater accuracy and power by utilising the design of the football boot. However if the intention is to kick with another part of the boot the user will not notice any difference from another pair of football boots.

Footy Boots - Does the unique external design of the football boot affect the overall comfort of Concave boots?

Concave - Great care has been taken to select the finest materials for construction and adding ergonomically correct cushioning in the heel and areas of the forefoot and above the stud configurations. In addition to the revolutionary design of the top of the football boot, the outsole, the foot bed, and the sockliner have each been crafted by an industry leading football  footwear designer to work in concert with the top of the shoe to provide a complete state-of-the-art football boot which provides exceptional comfort and performance, but of course like with all new football boots, the Concave boots need to be broken in.

Footy Boots - Do you have any evidence to back Concave’s claims that their football boots can actually improve performance?

Concave - Yes.

Footy Boots - And finally, a national crisis happens every time England prepare for a major tournament, its know as ‘the metatarsal injury’ does the Concave football boot offer the same foot protection as other leading brands?

Concave - For sure. Concave’s upper design, specifically the concave element, offers increased protection against the occurrence of metatarsal impact injuries, as the concave element provides an additional layer, a patented 3 density TPU compound, (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) with lightweight foam which covers the entire metatarsal area and better absorbs shock from striking the ball.

Click here to read more about Concave Football Boots

Visit the Concave website

Last week, we ran a story about the soon to be launched Concave football boot. Boy, did it cause a storm. We had comments coming out of our ears while industry message boards were full of little else in the days after we posted the story.

At the time, a lot of what was written was speculation and conjecture, based on just a couple of images that had found their way on to the Web.

But now, Concave has gone public and, as the saying goes, they are putting their money (and it looks like they’ve spent big on this) where their mouth is.

Looking at the blurb, it’s clear that Concave has concentrated on 3 particular aspects – power, accuracy and protection, three aspects which are pretty important to footballers.

Concave Football Boots

Upper

Having been furnished with a pair of the Concave football boots at Footy Boots HQ, we were keen to take a first hand look at the technology advances that Concave boasts.

The Concave football boot’s most revolutionary feature is the convex shape of the upper, which of course matches that of a football and has been developed to ‘cup’ the ball on contact.

This component on the upper also increases the surface area of the sweet spot, which Concave state is up to four times bigger than usual.

The football boot upper, part leather, part synthetic, has an interesting lace system too. The laces are covered by the Concave component, but they only use two eyes. When we tried the football boots we were pleased to find that this construction was most effective and the football boot felt snug and secure on the foot.

Something we regularly comment on at Footy Boots is the football boot protection, or lack of it, to the metatarsal. Concave have considered this infamous injury in their design and the upper contains an aptly named ‘MetaGuard’. The ‘MetaGuard’ is a flexible layer of TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) and reinforced cushioning foam composite. We couldn’t feel the ‘MetaGuard’ when the football boot was on, but its good to know its there.

Soft Ground Soleplate

7 screw in studs, with a configuration to even pressure across the sole and a single blade in the forefoot mid section.

On the sole, the boot is equipped with a balance stabiliser. In the middle of the sole, this stabiliser helps balance the front and rear of the foot, an area that again can cause metatarsal injury, the stabiliser prevents too much flexibility here.

Summary

We’ll be trying the Concave football boots out in match and training situations, but we did give the football boots a quick run out. In the brief knock up we were impressed by the football boot comfort and support. However, what stood out is that we felt like we’d been on mild steroids when kicking in power situations. More on that when we fully test the Concave football boots.

We liked the look of the football boots, a stylish colourway, and we were very impressed with how the football boot looks to be made. As always we pulled and squeezed and bent the boot and there was no signs of weakness - again we’ll find out more on the quality when we test them with more exertion.

Concave are looking for ambassadors, presumably in the Premier League (and no, the Carlton Cole football boots you may have seen were just a mock up – he hasn’t signed with them to our knowledge), but to add some credibility to the project, they have contracted the former Scotland and Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish.

We’ve lined up a Q&A with the Concave ‘techies’ and hope to tie up with Kenny Dalglish shortly to get a legend’s take on the football boots.

Price: £99
Availability: August 22, 2008
Colour: Black/Red/Silver
Sizes: 6-12

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Tell us what you think of the new Concave Football Boots

In any walk of life, we are always looking for the next best thing. The next iPod, computer game, self cleaning car, self cleaning child come to that or non calorific chocolate bar.

In the world of football boots, scientific advancements and stunning examples of innovation might not yet be commonplace, but are touted on a relatively regular basis.

So what can we expect next?

Well, if you’ve been scanning the football boot message boards or just keeping your ear close to the ground, the word Concave might be familiar to you.

Why? Because the newly conceived Concave football boot is promising to deliver big time.

Eight years in the making, machine and human tested by experts in Australia and with Celtic and Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish as the face of the project, the manufacturers have high hopes for their product which will be launched on to the UK market in the very near future.

Rumours abound as to its alleged performance, make up and look. Apart from a few high placed individuals who know the ins and outs, the exact details of the Concave football boot are being kept a closely guarded secret (or as closely guarded as is possible in this business) before being officially released.

But Footy Boots has gained unique access to the people behind the Concave football boot and we’ll be bringing you exclusive material and images in the days to come.

If you’re a football boot aficionado, general football fan or player, you will get the chance to make your own mind up as to the impact the Concave football boot will have, by visiting Footy Boots over the next few weeks. See all article on the Concave football boots.

Visit the Concave website