When we made the first Footy Boots Show, we were hopeful that it would be popular but we also realised that it would probably take some time to impact on worldwide football boot consciousness.

How wrong we were. In a little over 6 weeks, the show has been viewed by an incredible number of football fans. Tens of thousands via Footy Boots and a quite astonishing 115,000 times on You Tube.

It’s clear that our hosts, Greeny and Sully are the new darlings of sports media, the Lynam & Rider or Keys & Gray of the football world. Or perhaps that should be Foot & Mouth?

Either way, the boys are back with the second Footy Boots show, better than before, packed with even more information, tech specs, on location film and opinion.

This week, the lads compare two types of Jabulani balls from adidas, try out the PUMA K-Leather v1.10 (they like a bit of leather now and again) and, before we get too Graham Norton, they take a butchers at the adiPure III.

It may have missed out on this week’s Oscar nominations, but we hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

The Footy Boots Show

If you’re a regular reader of Footy Boots then you’ll know that Mizuno football boots generally do well in our wear test reviews. The Wave Ghost continues that trend. 

Comfort/Fit

Many of the lighter football boots on the market, aimed at increasing the speed, have had a bad rap recently for not offering much in the way of comfort. But after the improvements that Nike made to the Vapor line, the v1.10 being one the finest fitting boots PUMA have ever made and now Mizuno having put forward the Wave Ghost I think it’s time that stereotype is put to pasture.

The Wave Ghost is an excellent fitting football boot; the soleplate has a slight bend to it that caters to the natural curve of the foot, and Mizuno’s always excellent Wave system makes the heel very solid and light at the same time.

One feature that isn’t as impressive straight out of the box is the upper of the boot. For the synthetic leather upper Mizuno have teamed up with Tokyo-based material producers Kuraray. Whilst this specially-engineered upper is soft to the touch, it all bends as a unit, rather than creasing like natural leather on the first couple of wears. Thankfully, after a couple of games (especially in the wet) the upper soon finds some give and becomes all the better for it.

Another interesting feature of the Wave Ghost is the interchangeable sole-linings; one for ‘Performance’ and one for ‘Cushioning’. I didn’t find there was too much difference between them; as the football boots were pretty comfortable to begin with. But I imagine that if I were playing on harder ground or artificial grass I’d probably appreciate the extra padding that the ‘Cushion’ sole affords!

Again, I had the opportunity to try the football boots in 2 different sizes, 9.5 and 10. Once again, the 9.5 was a great fit for my normally size 10 feet. Due to the boot needing a little bit of breaking in, the smaller fit seemed to mould nicely to my feet and thus bend in all the right places, meaning they took less time to get to that ‘nicely worn’ phase.

Durability

Leading on nicely from my last point, if there’s one thing the Ghost’s Kuraray Leather upper is, it’s tough as old boots (despite the obvious disadvantage of being reasonably new boots). Impact, scratching and moisture are nothing to this material; it can really take a beating!

Playing in the wet recently I’ve been really impressed by the waterproofing on the boot. In addition to this I was also pleasantly surprised by the streamlined shape and frictionless upper of the football boot somehow seem to stop as much mud sticking to the soleplate and upper. Whether this is a deliberate perk of the boot or just a pleasant side-effect, I’m not sure, but it’s certainly been useful these past few weeks!

Feel

As mentioned before, the Wave Ghost’s upper is one that definitely gets better over time. Wearing them for the first time, you might find the upper near the toes a little unforgiving, especially when making contact with the ball at speed. Once worn in though, the football boots begin to crease across the top of the toes, bend in all the right areas, and generally start behaving like real leather.

The one feature that really caught my attention is the F50-esque velcro lace cover. As this is one part of the boot that doesn’t really bend, the synthetic leather that comprises the lace cover doesn’t really break in, but surprisingly this isn’t a bad thing; as this firm section of leather is covering the laces it is firm enough to cover the laces with no lumps or bumps, giving you a big smooth area (not entirely dissimilar to the F50.9 or, taken to the extreme, the Concave PT-1) that’s really nice for putting through the ball.

On the other hand, this area isn’t completely in line with the rest of the football boot, so rather than getting a nice, sock-like fit across the front and side of the ankle, it does lump up a little bit – so if you’re not fully concentrating you can end up not making the contact you desired when snapping in a cross with a defender on your heels!

Interestingly, maybe because it’s a smaller piece of material, the instep of the boot is an absolute joy to distribute passes from. As mentioned before, the football boot has a slight curve that follows the natural slope of the foot and a stiff-rubber Mizuno Logo (similar to the CTR360’s pass pad)  so taking the sting off a pass and sliding it along the 18 yard box to your centre mid feels almost as gratifying as it does in Nike’s Maestri.

Conclusion

The Mizuno Wave Ghost is a football boot that takes a lot of influence from those who have gone before. Standing it next to the Mercurial Vapor IV or the adidas F50.9 the inspiration is clear. However, rather than be seen as a copycat or wannabe brand, Mizuno have put a lot of thought into which innovations to put onto the flashiest football boot in their line-up.

The Wave system has proven to be a big success for Mizuno across a variety of products. It’s great to see that it’s not just restricted to the Wave Shinken line for the sake of exclusivity to one of its products; it’s a really exciting prospect to see some systems making the leap from one product to another (can you imagine if adidas offered an upper for the F50i that had a Predator’s Powerspine?).

Whilst the upper isn’t a complete success, (I’d maybe liked to have seen that awesome thin K-leather from the Wave Shinken II!) it does wear in well for a synthetic upper, and competes with the uppers of the older F50’s and the v1.10’s new synthetic leather upper, but with more grip thanks to really doing it’s best to imitate leather.

All in all, the Mizuno Wave Ghost is a tremendous football boot for anyone that wants something aside from the usual suspects. It’s remarkably tough for a ‘speed’ model, has a great striking area and is superb for passing. The upper is strong and durable, and will give you more grip and a better feel than the more ‘laminated’ speed boot uppers. If you’ve got a little bit of time to give the boots a run out across a couple of training sessions before a full 90 in them, these football boots have got a lot to give in return.

Price: £100, though they have been on sale for £80

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After stirring up some interest by charting well in our Top 20 Boots of the Decade, we thought it was time to bring you the lowdown on the Mizuno Morelia.

Comfort/Fit

The Morelia ticks all the boxes you’d expect from a classically-styled football boot in this department, and then some. The K-Leather upper is an absolute joy to wear and the stitching across the toes help the boot flex in all the right places.

One feature that sets this football boot apart from the likes of the Tiempo Legend and Speciali is the distance that the laces cover on the top of the foot. The Morelia’s laces stop a mere 2 inches from the very tip of the toes (on a UK Size 10) meaning you can really adjust the fit along the full length of the boot.

The Morelia also offered me the very unusual luxury of trying them in multiple sizes, which certainly answered some of the questions that arose about Mizuno’s sizing after our test of the Wave Shinken II.

Having the football boots half a size smaller then I would usually take gave the boots a much more glove-like fit, and never felt too tight even when wearing proper socks and shinpads. So if you’re considering a pair, and don’t have particularly wide feet, I would seriously recommend getting half a size smaller.

Durability

Despite their elegant appearance, these Mizuno’s are seriously tough, like a bullet-proof Mona Lisa! The leather in the upper has been discretely treated to make it more water-repellent than your average cow-hide (Yes, we know it’s technically kangaroo!)  and a little more stud-proof too.

Also disguised in the back is an excellent heel counter. In the style of boots like the Puma King XL, the heel counter is secreted between the upper and the inner, which minimises rubbing and allows the boot to keep it’s natural-looking façade. The heel counter really is rock-solid by the way, and only seems to get firmer towards the sole-plate. This not only helps minimise the boot slipping when sprinting but should also offer your heel and Achilles tendon some protection from cynical challenges.

Feel

As mentioned before, the Morelia’s have a superb fit which translates into an excellent feel for the ball. As the weather’s been awful and all the league’s games have been called off, I’ve been taking the Morelia through its paces in games of 7-a-side on artificial turf. Sharp control, tight dribbling and neat finishing are all must-haves for 7-a-side (I have none of the above, by the way) and even on notoriously quick wet artificial ground the Morelia was supple and grippy enough to cope.

I was also really impressed with the sole-plate of these boots. Looking around the edges of the boot, there’s no potential area for weakness, you get the impression that the designers wanted to keep everything very neat and compact. The layout of the studs is equally well-considered. On the FG model the high-density studs ape the Copa Mundial in both layout and construction, with the 13 studs only slightly different to adidas’ classic 12 stud layout.

Another surprise the Morelia had in store was how much fun it is to shoot in these boots. Whoever coined the term hitting the ball ‘with your laces’ might well have had these in mind. The tight fit across the top of the foot means you can really put your foot through shots, volleys and clearances.

Conclusion

Once again, I know for the second review running I’ve gushed about the quality of some football boots (I’m not sure what’s wrong either; I must have some cheer left over from Christmas!) and despite the Laser III and the Morelia being completely different animals they’re both excellent in their own way.

The Morelia is a football boot that sets out to deliver a hard-wearing, quality boot to people who don’t want any gimmicks, and delivers in spades. A fantastic upper, incredibly handsome and surprisingly rugged; the Morelia is a boot to be reckoned with.

My only concern would be how the football boot will perform in the steadily growing ‘modern-classic’ market.

When you’re marketing a boot that’s up against competition like the adiPure, Tiempo Legend, Speciali and Puma King, operating in the same price bracket as your competitors and working to a template that actually prevents innovation, it’s got to be tough to make a boot a success.

What’s your opinion? Would you consider making the switch to Mizuno? If not, why not? Or if you already own a pair of Morelia’s what really sold them to you?

Why not let the guys from Mizuno know your thoughts? I’m sure it would make for some interesting reading if you wanted to get your opinions down in the comments below!

Admittedly, the conditions to test the Nike Total 90 Laser III weren’t exactly ideal. But, when you’ve got a pair of electric green boots, a high-vis yellow ball and a covering of perfect white snow, it should at least mean that the pictures stand out!

Comfort & Fit

Nike have obviously taken some design cues from the CTR360 line for the latest Laser. The same slightly ‘roomy’ fit graces the front end of the boot around the toes, which will frustrate some players, so if at all possible make sure you get to try on a pair before splashing out £130 on them.

Personally, much like Sully & Greeny, I could have squeezed into half a size smaller, and after wearing them in a little I reckon I could have gone down a full size and completely eliminated the roomy feeling on the toes, but then I plan on wearing two pairs of socks during the winter (because I’m a big girl’s blouse!) so the sizing turned out quite well.

The artificial upper provides little-to-no friction between the heel of your sock and the back of the boot – so there’s not going to be any blisters, even on the first wear!

Another feature that Nike have carried over from the successful CTR360 line is the inclusion of Memory Foam in the upper. However, where the Maestri had the foam on the instep; the Laser III lines the top of the foot (underneath the new ‘pods’ that have replaced the shotshield). This placement results in a really firm, true contact with the striking area of the boot (more on this later) and a snug fit throughout the middle shank of the foot and heel.

Durability

The Laser III’s feel like a perfectly solid boot when they’re on your feet. The firm synthetic upper definitely doesn’t feel like it could be compromised easily and the heel counter is wonderfully integrated into the rest of the boot.

The striking area of the boot also adds to the durability factor, with the memory foam acting as a sizable barrier across the top of the boot, to lessen the impact of any stamps on the metatarsal. Also strengthening the boot in this area is the huge rubber swerve zone on the front-instep. This rubber feels like a bike tyre, thus is pretty stubborn and won’t give, even when faced with the nastiest of studs-first challenges.

The sole-plate has been carried across almost identically from the Laser II, with the FG version having all the same blades (which I’m sure many will be thrilled to hear!) and as such is a solid part of the boot, feeling very stable underfoot and unlikely to come away from the upper in the boot’s life. In fact, I’ve tested these boots over 3 weeks and even in the snow there’s been no leakage from the sole at all, my feet got a little wet from snow coming over the top of the boots though, but that’s practically expected.

Feel

As mentioned before, the boot has a very roomy feel at the front, which makes it awesome for long matches. If you love twisting and turning around the pitch, skipping between midfielders and spinning of your marker’s shoulder, you’ll appreciate the comfort and room these will offer you over 90 minutes.

However, this same roomy nature can make the boot feel a touch clumsy round the toes, meaning it takes a little bit of time to find the best sweet spot on the boot, but again this can I reckon this can be remedied by making sure you take the time to try on a couple of pairs if possible.

Speaking of the ’sweet spot’, the biggest talking point on this model of the Laser is the decision to swap out the target-like ‘rings’ and replace them with a different system.

The first part of which is the modular series of firm pods along the top of the boot; the idea behind these pods it to provide a uniform surface along the striking area, which ensures an even area for ball no matter how bent the foot is.

Does it work? It’s a tough one to call, what I do like about the pods is they’re a great indicator on where on the foot to strike the ball like pro’s do. In recent seasons there’s been a trend of pro’s hitting the ball slightly more towards the instep of the foot and dragging the foot under the ball as contact is made to create wicked spin and dip, rather than slamming the top of the foot through the centre of the ball for an missile-like shot. These new Lasers practically beg you to try this method out, and the plastic pods make it a little easier to do so.

Another feature of the striking zone is the rubber fins that protrude out of the outside. If you’re a little disappointed in the low-profile nature of the last few Predators and are aching for a boot that’s a little more hedgehog-like then you’re going to love these! The rubber fins actually stick out a little bit more than you might expect; so much so if you’re having a quiet kickabout by yourself, you can actually hear them rubbing up the side of the ball when you make contact. Having such a grippy area has been fantastic in such wet conditions lately, with a tangible improvement in areas like first touch and control.

Again, I’m not entirely sold on them effecting spin and swerve as much as they claim, but the increased surface area and friction certainly can’t hurt. If you’re really into technology like this you’ll probably really like the new additions to the Laser range - but once again for you purists, you could tell from the colour that these boots were never going to be for you!

What really does work is the memory foam in the boot’s tongue. As mentioned earlier, it molds to the top of your foot and doesn’t shift - which means that even when you swing your leg through for a strike, clearance or tackle , the boot’s upper stays locked in place giving great contact with the ball.

Conclusion

I realise that I’ve given these boots a pretty glowing review so far - and rightly so - they’re a top pair of boots; comfortable, hard-wearing, great to look at (wait until you see them up close before you judge them too harshly!) with gimmicks out the wa-zoo. However, I would still say exactly the same for the Laser II as well. As such, I don’t feel Nike have made gigantic strides forward for the Laser range, instead, more of a sideways move. It’s almost like they’ve taken adidas’ division of the Predator Powerswerve’s power & swerve specifications to the extreme. With the Laser II being all power and the III dedicated to adding swerve and craft to your shots.

For my money, I do think the Laser III inches it as the better boot. The additional grip on the forefoot, more stable lacing system and awesome use of the memory foam technology in the tongue would be the key points that sell the boot to me. But the Laser II’s have a huge fanbase - from keepers all the way to strikers- so I do think we’ll see many professional players stick with their older models, at least until the World Cup. As for amateur players? Well the most you’ll be paying for a pair of Laser II’s now is around £60, so I’ve got a feeling it might be a while before the Laser II makes it’s final bow.

As we know, winter’s in full swing - and long range forecasts up and down the UK seem to predict that the weeks ahead are saving the worst of their weather for Saturday and Sunday.

So how do we put the odds back in our favour? And how do we make it more bearable to get out of bed and onto the pitch?  All the big manufacturer’s are telling us that baselayers are the answer to both those questions.

For the past 3 months I’ve been testing the 3 of the premier ‘layers from three of the biggest players in the market.

Comfort/Fit

adidas techfit baselayer

adidas Techfit offers, of the three on show, the longest sleeves, and a round neck for optimal comfort as it’s completely unobtrusive. The torso area is tight where it needs to be down the sides and looser towards bottom which means it’s a little easier to tuck into shorts than the other two layers.

The unique selling point of the adidas model is PowerWeb across the back, which adds compression on shoulders, and works with muscle groups in that area when sprinting. Which, in truth, you can feel stretching and retracting across your back, but I’m not sure it aids performance.  All the stitching is tapered to the outside of the garment, meaning the ‘irritating’ part of the thread doesn’t rub against the skin.

Nike Pro baselayer

The Nike Pro offers a tighter fit, designed to act more like a second skin. If you usually find products like this a little too tight it’s well worth might be worth considering a size larger than you might usually wear as it can feel a little restrictive across the chest.

In comparison to adidas’ offering the NikePro is slightly shorter in the sleeves, which keeps it ‘hidden’ under a long sleeve shirt. Another classy feature of the NikePro is the slight v-neck which, again, keeps it at a low profile on most shirts. The construction on this top is second to none, the vents and the rest of the shirt interact seamlessly, like they’re melded together so any potentially irritating stitching is kept to a minimum. The one criticism is that it is a little tight across the chest, but as I said before, this more a sizing issue than anything else.

Under Armour ColdGear Mock

Under Armour’s ColdGear Mock offers something fundamentally different in design to the previous two; rather than the sleeves being cut around the shoulders and armpit the cut of the sleeve is off the shoulders (just above the bicep) this means it doesn’t feel as tight across chest.

Sleeves are similar to the adidas, enough to pull slightly over your hands for extra warmth! Other than that, this top is supremely comfortable, no vents means no stitching and the polo neck collar is a very welcome addition to the design.

Looks

You might think this is unimportant, as baselayers are usually under your shirt…but if you’re like me and enjoy attention to detail you’ll appreciate the extra time spent on design. Besides, what player doesn’t want to look their best when they whip off their jersey after a hard fought 1-0 victory and wink at the opponents watching girlfriends? Or in my case, when I rip the shirt off and throw it to the floor when I’m subbed!

Subtlety is the name of the game with adidas’ model. The black and silver colour scheme looks very futuristic and slick, the silver elastic is like liquid metal running across the Powerweb. There’s a nice piece of branding in the middle of the chest which follows the simple colour scheme, and some intricate detailing on the vents on the small of the back and under the arms.

Meanwhile, in stark contrast to adidas’ subtle German functionality; every vent on the NikePro Baselayer has been stylised to excess – making the most simple sweat-hole into an unholy combination of cyborg and tribal tattoo! As mentioned before, the V-Neck is a great touch and always looks classy.

And at the opposite end of the scale the Under Armour design team have gone for very, very, simple. Due to it’s primary focus being to keep you warm, it doesn’t have any vents to style or be clever with. The best (and only) piece of design work comes from the placement of the logo on the polo neck - which not only looks nice, it’s a pretty clever place to put it when you think about it!

Temperature Control

In keeping with the liquid metal of the Powerweb, I cannot begin to explain how weird the material that adidas have used is! When you pull it out of your cupboard on a morning, it’s genuinely cold to the touch, like mercury is running through the threads. As you could probably guess, it does take a little while to warm up, a little bit like a super-thin wetsuit.  But when playing on a hot day, there’s very little friction between the material and your skin, so it’s great for keeping you cool and taking sweat away from your body.

Despite the futuristic styling, there’s a more traditional ‘fabric’ feel to Nike’s effort, meaning it’s slightly better for both hot and cold weather. Whereas adidas clearly aim to lower your body temperature, the NikePro aims to maintain and regulate your skin, using the vents to cool when you’re too warm and the fabric warm you when you’re too cold.

Finally, I hate to gush on about the ability of a product, but in the days of a spandex pair of pants claiming that they can ‘accelerate sprint times by 1.1%’, when you come across a product that ticks all the boxes of what it sets out to do, you’ve got to respect that. The ColdGear Mock will really do the job when it’s a freezing Sunday morning – despite not having any vents the temperature regulation capabilities are very impressive.

Somehow, I can run myself ragged for 90 minutes and not feel like I’m overheating in this top, and I’ve tested this in temperatures from 2◦C to 12◦C and consistently been impressed, barely noticing the top was there.

Conclusion

“UA practically invented the trend of baselayers in field sports”

Among these 3 base layers, there’s definitely something for everyone. If you find yourself overheating on the pitch or tend to play in warmer weather, the NikePro or adidas models are a great addition to your kitbag.

If you prefer to have a feeling of compression, and the feeling of the baselayer working with your shoulder muscles then the adidas Techfit’s PowerWeb is a great piece of kit. Whereas if looks and attention to detail are your thing, you’ll probably take great pride in donning the NikePro live before taking to the pitch.

But if you’re currently plying your trade in the northern hemisphere, the Under Armour ColdGear is probably sounding the most appealing. And rightly so!

Particularly impressive is the lining of the baselayer - rather than a single layer of lycra, or other elastic material, there’s also a thin layer of brushed, or loose, fabric that serves two purposes; firstly it wicks away sweat from the skin - and secondly it traps heat close to the skin.

UA practically invented the trend of baselayers in field sports – and with their expertise they’ve had plenty of time to craft a great bit of kit in the ColdGear range.

When our US based tester Matt first spotted the F50i being player tested by Higuain a little over a year ago in Madrid, he was so impressed he put his name down straight away to be the reviewer. Here’s how he got on….. 

I was excited about testing the F5oi. It was August 2008 when I first saw the football boot whilst watching the Real Madrid pro’s training. Ever since I’ve been looking forward to lacing up the F50i and seeing if it lived up to my high expectations.

Adidas F50i Boot Test

The F50i tested - Leather in the white / black / red colourway.

Aesthetics

The all important looks. adidas has positioned the world famous three stripes brilliantly, giving the football boot a very sleek look in design. I like the look of the F50i, I think it flows well from heel to toe. Some say the silhouette doesn’t match the streamlining effect of the stripes making the F50i look slightly bulky. I don’t see that though.

Comfort/Fit

The football boot has no defining shape that hugs the foot to the upper and sole, I found this made it a little uncomfortable first up. The soleplate was surprisingly rigid and, being on firm ground, I felt pressure points from the studs all over the sole of my foot.

I was impressed with the lace cover, it is very well designed. It allowed easy access to tighten the laces which really helped improve the fit.

Durability

The leather is thick, so there’s little chance of it wearing thin in a short time span. Having said this, the stitching does pull at the leather and cause small tears on the instep of the boot. I found the leather stretched about 1/4 of an inch after a few weeks of use, so you may need to wear thicker socks over time. That said, with a little stretching the football boot can become more comfortable.

The studs are replaceable adding longevity, no problems there. It’s also been reported that TUNiT soleplates have been prone to snapping and cracking. During and after the testing, I saw no signs of potential soleplate problems.

Touch

Having worn the synthetic version of the F50i, I was expecting a very thin ult k-leather to be used in order to mimmick the SprintSkin material. That wasn’t the case. The ult k-leather is pretty thick and importantly, provides a great feel for the ball.

In fact the ult k-leather is very plush, it covers all areas of the forefoot. In my mind it makes these football boots ideal for dribbling and cushioning the ball.

Traction

The soleplate of the TUNiT line is a bit suspect to criticism in my opinion. There is little arch support offered and whilst I’m being really picky,  the “Allesklar” material used in the heel counter and sole plate doesn’t shave off much weight.

Another big plus is the ability to change your studs to suit the surface of the playing field, it can save you having to buy specific boots for different turfs. There’s no need to worry about your studs being worn down either as you can simply buy a new set. And, in my tests, the studs stayed tight throughout, though I always recommend checking them before each use.

Conclusion

The biggest point of note for this football boot is the great touch it provides, an essential consideration for any serious footballer.

The downside for me was the comfort when first used, and the fit.

I think adidas will improve on a few features going forward and with the likes of Messi, Villa, Young, Robben and Defoe all acting as boot ambassadors, it’s easy to understand why this football boot has been such a huge hit since it’s release back in May of this year.

Have you used the F50i? If so, drop your review in the comments section below.

Despite being replaced by the v1.10 last month, it’s been interesting to see how many players have opted not to ‘upgrade’ just yet.

The v1.08 was a great success for PUMA, responsible for 65 goals in the Premier League last season on the feet of players like John Carew, Peter Crouch and golden boot winner Nicolas Anelka. Even Ashley Cole famously converted from adidas though he’s since moved on to Nike.

So what was it that made the v1.08 so special? This week, I’m looking at the K-leather incarnation, immediately after testing the v1.10 to see if I can see why certain players are sticking with their now-outdated models.

Comfort/Fit

I’ve used the v1.08 countless times as an example of a boot that isn’t instantly ‘wearable’ – and I’m not about to do a u-turn on it for this review. Whilst the K-Leather version shows a definite improvement in the comfort of the upper, the heel does rub on the first few wears. If you’re planning on picking up a pair, make sure you follow all the advice you can get on wearing them in at this time of year, as the rain will only make the damage done to your heel even worse.

Another issue I had with the boot is the length of the studs on the SG model. PUMA have clearly looked to combine their knowledge of the running track with that of the classic 6-stud football boot, as these studs are like a hybrid of a running spike and a screw-in metal stud. If you’re not playing on really soft turf, you’re likely not to have the boot ‘sink in’ fully, as the studs are just that big.

All this means that if you’re not fully embedded in the turf, you can feel the boot flexing and bowing under your feet – it’s an odd sensation, and I didn’t feel like the boot was supporting me properly, which is exactly the opposite of what you want when you’re playing on soft ground.

One the upside; I do love what the rest of the boot has to offer. After the initial breaking in period, the heel holds your foot in place really well – which is massively impressive on a boot with such a low profile. Also, whilst the upper might not be what you’d expect from K-leather (it’s thinner, smoother and a bit more ‘papery’) it’s a snug fit to your foot, and provides a ‘grippy’ surface for contact with the ball.

Durability

The v1.08 is a boot that has gained no end of durability in its switch to a full leather upper. Firstly, all that synthetic material that weaves its way across the canvas upper of the standard v1.08 has been replaced with a single consistant piece of K-leather.

Having tested these boots across October and the start of November I can vouch that these boots are consistently waterproof, even on some of the most quagmire-like pitches across Yorkshire. In addition to the this, there’s no discernible points of potential weakness across the boot.

Stitching has been kept to a minimum, and even when PUMA have deemed it necessary, the seams are often hidden in the folds of the boot - for example, the stitching down one side of the PUMA ‘Cat’ is nigh-on invisible.

Feel

When it comes to contact with the ball, PUMA have done an excellent job with the lacing of the boot. The side offset lacing pulls the upper snug onto the top of your foot, which leaves an unparalleled area for getting your foot around a ball. With no gimmicks for more power or swerve the taught leather means this area is tailor-made if, like me, you like to really get your forefoot through a ball when crossing or taking a free kick.

The toe end of the boot is a little unusual. Personally, I found that the front end of the K-leather edition is a little too ‘roomy’. Considering that the boot is such a tight fit everywhere else it just seems a little odd that there’s so much room in this area of the boot. I didn’t mind it too much as I don’t tend to strike the ball with the tops of my toes too often, but I imagine that anyone who does might find it a little more difficult to get a proper contact.

Adding to this, the looser fit around the toe end makes playing the ball off the outside of the foot a little bit trickier, as the foot isn’t as close to the ball.

Dribbling with the ball is fantastic in the v1.08, their slightly ’scooped’ shape is perfect for close control, helping give you the truest possible touch when raiding on and knocking the ball forward with the top of your foot. As I mentioned before, the tight leather upper is awesome for receiving passes and taking the sting out of driven crosses. One complaint would, again, be the studs. Being so big and cumbersome you can’t really ‘roll’ your foot over the top of the ball. So if you like changing lanes and pulling the ball under your feet - you might find it a little more difficult in the SG model.

Conclusion

The v1.08 K-leather is a boot that does an enormous amount right. The leather upper, whilst not being ‘traditional’ K-leather, works fantastically - waterproofing the teabag-like v1.08 for the winter season and bending and twisting with the boot. The lightweight construction and glove-like upper is exactly the sort of characteristics you might expect for a boot prefered by wingers and strikers.

Much like the Mizuno Wave Shinken II, I’ll happily recommend this boot for anyone that’s perhaps tried a ’speed’ boot like Vapor V, or indeed the new v1.10 and found them a little too tight around the toes.

My real flaw with the v1.08’s is undoubtedly the massive studs - I think they’re a little bit intrusive when controlling or dribbling the ball with the underside of the boot, and when you’re standing still you can notice them ‘bowing’ in the centre of the boot.

But credit to PUMA, as the only issue I have is with the SG version. You shouldn’t have any such worries if you’re in a sunnier part of the world at the moment, or ply your trade on artificial turf. There will almost certainly be a price drop coming soon to the v1.08, so if you want a nearly weightless attackers boot that’s a little different (or a bit wider if you’ve got big feet) then you’ll definitely find something for your game in these boots.

Already left in the wake of the Predator_X’s hype, its predecessor in the Predator series is in danger of becoming quickly forgotten.

But for those who were loyal fans of the 9th edition of the Predator and with some pretty good deals around now, we’ve decided to take a look back at the Predator PowerSwerve and so you can compare it with the newest generation.

Comfort/Fit

Like previous generations, this Predator PowerSwerve Control is among the most comfortable boots I’ve tested. The soft leather and molded foot bed are accommodating and  supportive even after a full practice session, though it must be said there isn’t a great deal of arch support. The multi-density plastics do a good job of balancing support with flexibility in the midfoot area, but I would have preferred k-leather to be have been used instead.

The soleplate is integrated into the k-leather upper extremely well, so there is a tight fit. The heel-counter rises high in the back and sides to lock the foot into the boot extremely well, ensuring your foot never slides in any direction.

Durability

adidas has always been known for the quality of its products and materials, and the Predator PowerSwerve adds no blemish to that reputation. The leather is fairly thin, so it does show signs of wear after a few weeks of testing, but still manages to hold up well. As you would expect, the band holding the tongue in place does fray over time and will eventually tear.

Touch

A noticeable feature that has diminished with each evolution of the Predator is the amount of k-leather used as much of it has been replaced with a synthetic. Such a change in choice of materials would obviously save adidas funds in the production of the boot, but it also sacrificed the footballers’ feel for the ball.

I say this because there isn’t a great deal of k-leather on the instep and outstep of the boot, so the cushion that would have previously been provided isn’t there. The toe box is quite small as well so the boot isn’t particularly suited for dribbling. What k-leather is on the forefoot is largely covered by the iconic Predator tongue.

Features

The rubber Predator element doesn’t provide much aid in producing a swerve effect on the ball, but does provide a nice visual reference to where you should be striking the ball to “Bend it like Beckham”.

As far as the boot being focused on ‘Control’, I fail to see how the design of the vamps helps with that. The tungsten PowerPulse technology doesn’t add any visible power to your strikes, nor does it feel as if it does.

Traction

In my opinion adidas offer the best sole plate available with their Traxion stud placement. Though the soleplate isn’t very flexible, the bladed studs interact well with any surface- hard, soft, or firm ground. You never feel any awkward engagement with the turf.

Conclusion

These boots particularly cater to players who prefer the use of “power” to that of dribbling and skills. The Predator is as good as it gets when it comes to the passing and striking but they aren’t ideal for running with the ball in my opinion.

But make no mistake, these are a quality pair of boots and you can expect to find some good deals on them in the coming months as the Predator_X replaces the PowerSwerve on the feet of global stars Gerrard, Beckham, Ballack, and Raul.

It’s been fascinating to read the comments which have come in since we revealed the first official images of the adidas Predator_X football boot.

It seems they fall in to two categories – there’s the “Oh my God, what have they done to a once great looking boot” contingent and then there are the “hats off to adidas, a brilliant job” supporters.

Of course, most are having to go on looks alone. Even with possession of all the technical data, there’s no substitute for getting a pair of boots on your feet and trying them out for yourself.  That’s exactly what we’ve been doing at Footy Boots for the past couple of weeks – putting the Predator X through its paces.

So, have adidas come up with a winner or have they created the DeLorean of the football boot world? In my view, there’s no doubt – the Predator X is a belter.

Comfort / Fit

Some things just feel right from day one and the Predator X is very much part of that category. I was trying a pair in size 8.5 and whilst the boots were ‘off the shelf’ they felt like they had been made bespoke.

The Predator X is one of the most comfortable boots I’ve tried on in many a long year. To simulate the feeling, imagine your Grandad pulling on his faithful old slippers that he bought for 10 shillings and a coupon out of the Daily Mail circa 1970! I first wore these for practice on a pretty hard surface but encountered no blistering what so ever. That’s still true 3 games in.

From the first time you lace the Predator X up, the innersole moulds itself to the foot which, when aligned with the Thermoform technology, produced an incredibly comfortable fit.

Some Predator purists will doubtless bemoan the lack of a fold over tongue but personally, with the asymmetrical lacing / wrap around collar, I felt the fit was snugger than ever.

Durability

For the Predator_X, adidas have come up with Taurus calf leather which is super soft but also boasts impressive water proof and anti-abrasive qualities. Indeed, it’s so soft that it’s possible that protection levels maybe a little lower than in previous models. Though, having not been stamped on yet I couldn’t say for certain.

As with almost all adidas boots, they are well ‘put together’ and while only time will tell, I’m not expecting them to start falling apart any time soon.

Feel

With the Predator X, adidas were keen to try and get the players foot as close to the ball as possible.

New Opitfit technology achieves that by bringing the upper materials in all areas as close as possible to the top of the foot. It seems to work too. OK, we’re not talking barefoot, beach soccer here but if you feel the need to run at pace with the ball under close control, the Predator X will give you the confidence to do so. Equally, if you’d rather knock the ball off to a team mate, you’ll get a great touch when doing so.

The new kicking zone of the football boot, which is a rugged but lightweight mix of rubber and silicon, is interesting. It looks and feels pretty similar to the material on pimpled table tennis bats and when you strike the ball cleanly on this zone you certainly feel like you’re getting a bit of grip on the ball.

The grip clearly will help enable spin and swerve and, as adidas claims, it does seem to be pretty effective when wet as well as dry. The downside for me is the positioning of the Predator element. If I am striking the ball with my body over the ball, like in a deadball situation, I regularly strike on the zone. However most of the time during open play I’m not making contact with the Predator element, so it gets minimal usage.

Swerve Lab Test

The new PowerSpine is also a welcome addition for me offering an extra level of rigidity.  And, for what it’s worth, I’m not overly sorry to see the back of the PowerPulse element. All that talk of ‘moving Tungsten powder’ brought back too many painful memories of 3rd year chemistry, which I wasn’t that good at (O level, Grade C in case you were wondering).PowerSpine Lab Test What I felt when running and striking in the Predator X was the support the PowerSpine provides. Whilst not being restrictive, it was helping to keep my foot straighter when knocking the ball about and while the increase in power wasn’t overly noticeable, I was pleasantly aware of the extra reinforcement.ConclusionI can understand some people’s initial concern with the aesthetics of the Predator X. It does have the look of a football boot which draws its inspiration from previous versions rather than standing out as a brand new model. But the more I look at it, the more it grows on me and any concerns you may have will vanish when you get the boots on your feet.

They are supremely comfortable and seem to be true to size. The new technology has purpose and succeeds where it needs to. The mantra of the Predator – power, swerve and control – has been adhered to and you certainly can’t accuse the boots of being gimmicky.

I suppose it could be argued that they could be a touch lighter and at £135 they are not cheap. But then, quality rarely is. And these boots are quality.

The PUMA v1.10 is a boot that knows how to make an entrance. After making it’s bow in a startling yellow colourway exactly a month ago it’s still a point of contention everywhere.

From the Premier League - where Nicolas Anelka has been on blistering form in the v1.10 but Peter Crouch is yet to make the switch from the .08’s; to the Footy Boots community - where comments range from ’sickest cleat ever’ to ‘what were PUMA thinking?.

So which is it? Well, lets put it like this. Every new boot has two major talking points. What it looks like and how it performs. We gave the v1.10 a hard time on the former but fair’s fair. On the latter, this is a serious contender.

Comfort/Fit

After the ankle destroying endurance tests that were synonymous with wearing the v1.06 and v1.08 for the first time, I was wary of giving the v1.10 a run-out on a Sunday match with the boots only arriving on the Saturday. But wear them I did, and I was massively impressed. PUMA have finally started to get the fit right on their premier product.

For starters, whilst it doesn’t look like much of a change on first glance, the toe area has been reduced dramatically. Rather than the ‘too-roomy’ front end of the v1.08, the v1.10 has slimmed this area, down making a much welcome nod to the toe of the v1.06.

The heel has also had a revamp; PUMA’s ‘uni’ system seems to be following the trend that many boots have started taking- providing a snug fit that reduces friction by reducing the movement of the heel itself.

Durability

PUMA have taken some big gambles from a design standpoint on the v1.10. Whereas Nike and Lotto have favoured single-piece construction recently; PUMA have gone for a radical approach, with multiple components interacting to make the boot what it is.

Firstly, the v1.10 is one of the few boots to feature 2 materials in its upper. The toes and lace cover are made from a lightweight synthetic material (that bears very little similarity to leather, despite the product description claiming it to be synthetic leather). The closest comparison I can think of is the earliest model of the adidas F50 TUNiT, with a frictionless feel and thick cut to cover the laces.

The positioning of the new synthetic works surprisingly well with the other material in the upper, the v1 series trademark micro-fibre canvas. Whilst the canvas has always been tough to rip from contact with studs and blades, I’ve always had an issue with the material rubbing away against a firm surface (like dry ground or an artificial pitch) especially on the toe area, where I drag it along the ground when stopping, turning and striking. So having the firmer synthetic material in the way completely removes this issue.

Despite these marked improvements I can’t help but feel there’s a little bit too much going on the v1.10 for its own good.

The 2 uppers, heel counter, sole plate, rubber ‘seams’ and huge plastic PUMA stripe are all held in place by a Herculean amount of stitching. Looking at the boot there are double and triple-seams running all over the place! This in truth probably means they’re going to be able to take a lot of grief - a bit like covering a jigsaw in duct tape - but compared to the elegance of boots like the Zhero Gravity Tre and Mercurial Vapor you’ve got to wonder if there was a better solution.

Feel

Once again, PUMA’s latest is proving a divisive boot, with a multitude of contrasts all over the upper.

Thankfully I think PUMA have struck a decent balance. The micro-fibre canvas is a lot more cushioned and giving than the laminate synthetic, making a it a great choice to line the instep. This area hugs the arches of your feet nicely giving you a great area to receive passes and control the ball mid bounce – and despite it not being a priority it’s also a pretty good area to distribute from.

The most noticeable change from the v1 series previous incarnations is the inclusion of a lace cover, which is pretty much as expected. The surface on the front of the boot is absolutely huge when compared to some other boots, and there’s a slight curve that hugs the top of your foot for a nice clean striking area. Similarly,  the reduced width in the toe area gives a feeling of being much closer to the ball when skimming passes with the outside of the foot.

One complaint is the near-frictionless nature of that part of the upper. As the F50 line grew from the first TUNiT to the F50.9, adidas toiled away at improving the grip of the upper – and I think PUMA could have learnt from this. It would’ve been nice to see a more adhesive coating on the upper in the style of Nomis’ WetControl to help with controlling balls coming in from high, as the triangle pattern on this model isn’t quite up to scratch.

One indesputable factor on the PUMA v1.10 is the FG sole plate. Once again the carbon fibre shank makes a welcome return - as does the nearly unchanged stud configuration. Thankfully the rear blades have been shortened a little, which gives a more even feel when stood on flat ground.

Conclusion

The v1.10 is a boot designed with the fleet-footed attacker in mind. Others need not apply.

Normally I’d like to recommend boots for certain positions and types of player, but the v1.10 is very specialized to the sorts of winger and striker that looks burn the defender and get it past the keeper.

The good news for fans of the v1 series is there’s plenty to love here. There’s a mass of features ticking away under the skin of these boots that all work well - and PUMA have done a great job of refining the fit for this year’s model.

And for everyone else, if you can look past some (very) perplexing design decisions there’s a boot with a lot to offer. It’s like having some of the classy features of a new BMW and putting them in the chassis of a Ford Focus. A bright yellow one. Covered in stitching.

However, you might want to look it at like going to see Amy Winehouse in concert. Get past the look and you’ll love the performance.

The PUMA King is a boot steeped in heritage. A boot that’s entrenched in World Cup history and that has graced the feet of titans of the game, like Pele, Maradona and Eusebio (as pictured below).

It is now tragically under-represented among top flight footballers. So has this decline in popularity come about because of a reduction in quality? No way!

Comfort/Fit

The Puma King XL is, without exception, the most comfortable boot that PUMA have in their current range. Looking at the boot you can see how well they leather’s been treated; it’s pulled taught at the stitches and is unbelievably soft in the panels around the foot of the boot.

A feature that I feel is worthy of note is the way PUMA has integrated the heel counter into the boot. Obviously dedicated to the understated and ‘clean’ look of the boot – but at the same time realising that a heel counter adds to comfort and safety – the counter is almost seamlessly hidden by texturing and colouring the plastic to look and feel like leather.

In terms of fit, the boot has a more narrow fit than other classically-styled boots available at the moment, fitting more like the first adipure. That said – the King retains the full-length centred lacing that has since left the adipure line, so unless your feet are really wide, you’ll be able to loosen the boot to accommodate.

Durability

The King XL has all the durability you’d expect from a classic leather boot. Whilst not as tank-like as its stable-mate the v-Konstrukt III, its all leather-upper will almost certainly take all the knocks you can throw at it.

Thanks to the onset of the British winter, I’ve had the opportunity to give the King’s a run out in some pretty damp conditions over the last two weeks; so I can also vouch for the boots holding up in the wet. The soleplate is integrated well into the rest of the boot, and there’s no ventilation of any sort, making them a solid choice for the winter.

Feel

As I mentioned before, the King XL’s upper has obviously been crafted with a lot of time and care from the team at PUMA. The leather is so supple you can see the creases in the panels even when the boot is not being worn. So as you can probably imagine, in terms of first touch and passing it’s up there with the best.

One design feature that’s a little odd is the leather panel that runs from the toe up to the lace eyelets. Presumably there to add durability to this often stood on area of the foot – it gives the boot a flat surface on the top, going against the very supple, rounded feel that the rest of the boot has.

This feature is something of a double edged sword; on one hand the flatter surface on the top is something that is lacking from the likes of the Tiempo Legend and adipure lines, and in my opinion gives the boot a nice big area for hitting volleys and controlling the ball.

On the other, whereas many other classic boots are rounded and hug the shape of the foot, the King XL loses that natural feel when hitting the ball with the laces.

Conclusion

The Puma King is an icon among boot lovers and designers, and after playing in these it’s easy to see why. It, like the Copa Mundial, takes many of its design features from a time before gimmicks and designing boots for particular positions. As such, it’s a boot that’s at home anywhere on the park, especially the midfield. The soft upper is great for a natural touch on the ball, whether receiving, running with or passing.

If you’re after any technological advances, the King XL was never going to be the boot for you. The Velcro tongue is probably the most ‘modern’ feature on the whole boot! It’s about putting an emphasis on getting the basics right before innovation.

My one criticism is the area around the laces being flat. It’s obviously a key area for strikers when shooting and defenders when clearing the ball, which is why I’m sticking with my recommendation for midfielders – but then, the team at Concave would argue that a large flat area on top if the boot is exactly what you need for great contact with the ball.

So depending on what your view on this debate is; this could well influence how much you feel that this could be the boot for you.

Fancy a pair of the PUMA King XL’s? You can order them here.

In the first of a series of 3 boot reviews for Lotto Sport Italia, Footy Boots has been fortunate enough to test its unique and revolutionary laceless design, exclusive to the Italian boot makers.

Aesthetics

The dynamic of the upper makes for a lethal looking boot, and teamed with the brilliant white you get the feeling you’re that half-a-yard quicker!

Comfort/Fit

These boots truly fit like a glove and are basically the next closest option to playing barefoot. That means a lot coming from me, let me assure you. For being such an avid fan of football boots, I happen to love playing the beautiful game barefoot!

The fit is very snug for being laceless, and in some aspects it provides a better fit than any lacing system can offer! The upper stays extremely tight to the top of your foot and heel, but when making sharp cuts the instep and outstep of the sockliner do tend to give a little too much for my liking.

The heel counter happens to be the “Achilles heel” of this football boot! If you wear a pair of socks that aren’t skin tight, the heel can catch the sock’s excess fabric and create friction between the boot and your skin, creating some nasty blisters!

But, all in all, the boots are very comfortable for being the only of their kind. The insole is quite supportive and the ‘Dual Fit’ system offers customizable cushioning to suit your preference.

Durability

The durability of the boots is possibly questionable because of the way the soleplate is attached to the upper. There is no reinforced stitching between the upper and the sole in order to reduce weight, so the lifespan of the boots could be shorter than most.

The graphics do tend to peel away after a few weeks of use and the upper tends to attract a lot of dirt and grass due to its rubbery feel to enhance boot-to-ball interaction. The sock liner of the boots also tarnishes quickly because of soil and sweat seeping into the fabric. These factors all detract from the worth, but that’s not to say these aren’t fantastic boots!

Touch

These boots truly are a “second skin” making for a superb feel of the ball. Skills that involve swift movements of the foot while staying in sync with the ball, such as the ‘elastico’ or ‘hocus pocus’, are made with ease because of the grip that the rubbery upper provides. The boots are ideal for flair players because of this, and are also great for freestyle juggling with the ball.

When you happen to shank a shot with the Zhero Gravity on, the last thing you’ll be able to blame is your football boots! The clean upper is the closest thing to purely striking a ball with your barefoot. There are no unnecessary vamps or stitching to potentially hamper your shooting, so if its off target, its your fault!

Traction

The outsole of the boot is essentially a mixed-stud configuration, which is a big plus in my opinion.  Coupled with the bladed studs, the interchangeable conical studs make for great engagement with the turf and ensure control and grip between the studs and the ball.

Many professional footballers have custom-made mixed-soleplates, so its rare that you come across a boot that is essentially manufactured with that type of configuration to begin with. The removable studs allow for use on firm or soft-ground, which is always a nice option to have as well.

Conclusion

Though no changes have been made to the Zhero Gravity line since it’s launch in 2006 (besides slight aesthetic modifications), credit must be given to Lotto for not falling victim to the “it’s not broken, but lets fix it anyway” syndrome.

Much to the disapproval of many football boot fans, this trait has been seen in many other brands.

I believe Lotto could make a killing in the speed boot department and maybe even rival the Vapor in terms of popularity, IF the selling price was lowered (they currently retail at around £140 in the UK and $349 in the US).

Overall I’d say these are a great pair of football boots, but they could just lack the necessary durability to justify their price tag. I’d recommend finding these boots on sale if you plan to purchase them anytime soon.

Review by Matt Dawson

Nike has long catered to a variety of players; those of pace have the Mercurial, those of Power; the Laser and if you’re focusing on touch there’s the Tiempo.

With those bases covered many have questioned where the long-rumoured new Nike design would fit into Nike’s silo – and now it’s loose we know that the designers have crafted a boot for the centre of midfield. It’s a bold move as it’s a fairly niche market; so how well does it do that job? And will it cater for any other position?

Comfort / Fit

I won’t be the only one who’s a touch wary of the fit of Nike boots; the last two incarnations of the Vapor line have been notoriously abrasive on the heels, and even my old faithful Tiempo Legends left me blistered after the first wear.

I’m thrilled to report that there’s not a hint of any of this transferring over to the Maestri, Nike have clearly taken on board the criticism levelled at them and made what is arguably their most comfortable boot yet.

One feature worthy of note is the way the design of the Maestri copes with the addition of the ‘Pass Pad’ on the instep. When you slip on the boot for the first time you’ll feel it pressing onto the arch of your foot, but after literally seconds, the sensation of pressure disappears as the memory foam around the pad moulds to the arch – it’s impressive stuff that makes me wonder whether more boots will implement this technology.

Nike have also invested a decent amount of time and thought into the sole of the boot, with the liner feeling similar to the ArmourFoam found in Under Armour’s line – but with the addition of 2 gel-like zones under the heel and ball of the foot.

Durability

Nike have opted for something completely unique for upper of the CTR360; a new material dubbed ‘Kanga-Lite’.

As the name suggests, it’s a synth-kangaroo leather that aims to be lighter than the real deal, without compromising the qualities that make K-Leather so well suited for football boots.

The upper of the boot has sort of a ‘foamy’, distinctly artificial feel (anyone who’s ever held a pair of those abhorrent ‘Crocs’ sandals will know what I mean). Also, whilst retaining much less water than natural leather, it doesn’t have that grippy feel you get from a leather upper, especially in the wet.

That’s not to say it’s not without its benefits – first of all, it is lighter. In fact – it’s remarkably lighter than you’d expect a boot of this design and shape to be.

It also feels near indestructible – Nike have come up with a process that allows the boot to be entirely produced without stitching (except for two superficial seams above the toes, which I think are there to allow the upper to bend properly along the toes), which probably explains the ‘unnatural’ feel I was getting at before.

More importantly it means that even though there are several features on the boot – they are all integrated seamlessly into the upper.

Nike have also added ‘pods’ to of extra-concentrated memory foam to key areas of the upper to help in controlling passes; but with them concentrated above the outside of the boot and around the ankle I’d say these pods do just as much to add another layer of protection to the most commonly clattered areas of the foot.

Feel

There have been a couple of interesting design decisions that affect the overall feel of the boot.

The feel of the upper has a little bit of resistance when bending your toes but this is only a minor quibble.  In fact, it’s nothing that a few wears won’t get you used to, and the aforementioned ‘foamy’ feel to the upper means it compresses nicely to any foot shape or size when running.

Moving on to the ‘Pass Pad’ on the instep of the boot – I’ve been notoriously dismissive of gimmicks like this on boots before, but on the Maestri I’ve got to say it works. The reason being its simple design doesn’t offer any lofty claims of more spin or power; it just offers a firm surface to hit passes off of. Like the vamps on a Predator or Wave Shinken, it again serves as a great reminder on where the best place is on the foot to slide through a short pass or quick one-two.

Another decision made to enhance passing is the lacing system. Whilst every boot and its cousin have offset laces that run down the outside of the foot, the Maestri’s leans in towards the inside of the foot. This provides support to the instep and keeps the boot snug to the arch and big toe.

Also on the upper are the aforementioned ‘pods’ of material around the laces and outstep, which are a nice addition that take the spin and pace off of awkward passes.

Conclusion

The CTR360 is a boot that has been engineered as opposed to made.

The ‘all in one’ upper will certainly not appeal to everyone. I don’t see the Kanga-Lite winning over many leather-lovers for the sake of a few grams and it’s low cut, modular appearance is almost futuristic, which will probably put off the ‘heritage’ crowd.

Which is a bit of shame, as I think the Maestri is great all around boot – despite being aimed at the midfield maestro there’s not a single position in the spine of the team that wouldn’t benefit from it.

For all its focus in finesse passing, the feel of the upper and pods around the laces make these awesome boots for leathering clearances and coupled with added protection, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a few defenders donning these.

And is there any striker on any weekend league pitch that wouldn’t benefit from a boot that compliments their first touch, has stud configuration designed for quick turns and a pass pad that also doubles as a reminder you can side-foot it in from close range, as opposed to blazing it over with the laces?

Check out the CTR360 video here.

Mizuno are something of an enigma this side of the channel. A force to be reckoned with most everywhere on the continent (especially Spain and Italy), and wildly popular in their native Japan - I’ve often wondered why they haven’t been able to carve out a niche in the Premier League.

Step forward then, the Wave Shinken II - a football boot that combines the light-weight chassis of a ’speed’ boot and sweet spot technology that’s not a million miles from the Predator or T90 Laser, mixed in with a few tricks from years of development.

Comfort/Fit

The Mizuno Wave Shinken II is a really unusual football boot in terms of fit. By rights, a boot with such a well crafted soleplate and K-leather upper should offer a great fit, but for some reason it just doesn’t seem to live up to expectations. Admittedly, there’s no chance this boot will give you blisters as the forefoot is so loose fitting but this was also something of a hindrance, as I just couldn’t seem to get the boot tight enough to give the glove-like fit I’d hoped it would offer. That said, slipping on another pair of socks did help somewhat, but did make the boot a too tight around the toes, suggesting that had the boots been a size bigger the problem would have been worse rather than better.

One thing the upper really has going for it is the stitching. I know a lot of people balked at the amount of thread going on – but it really does add to the comfort of the football boot. As you can see from the photos, it runs across the top of the boot and does a fantastic job of lining up with the key points where your toes bend, giving the feeling that the boot is really working with you, rather than having the elastic resistance of some synthetic-upper boots. Couple this with some of the softest leather I’ve ever played in, in the boot does go some way to compensate in comfort what it lacks in fit.

Credit to Mizuno though, the ‘Wave’ soleplate and heel counter are fantastic, it does a great job of locking your heel in place without being heavy – as part of the specification Mizuno have put gaps in most of the plastic to stop this part of the boot feeling weighty and cumbersome. This goes a long way to adding a sensation of speed, as you can rocket off your heels

Durability

The Wave Shinken II has a very light feel on your feet, its soft, thin K-leather is fantastic for comfort and touch but the boot does very little to protect your feet. Aside from the already mentioned ‘Wave’ system in the heel the boot offers no other safety features. While the boot has held up to the usual rigorous of a Footy Boots 2 week testing programme, I do have some reservations about the features, (like the heel counter and sole plate) coming away from the boot as time goes by – simply because they’re attached in a remarkably similar way to the Predators which, whilst they’ll serve you well for a season, will probably start to come loose after more than one heavy winter.

Feel

I’ve already mentioned how it feels on the ball - I love the thin, stitched K-leather which ensures no matter what position your foot’s in whilst running, you’re going to get a fantastic feel for what the ball’s doing; like playing in socks! Equally, the quilted upper and velcro-secured lace cover make first touches so pleasant that if it pings off your foot and into touch you can only blame yourself!

However, when it comes to kicking the ball; that loose fitting front end comes into play. Due to my forefoot moving around in the boot I found it somewhat tough to get a consistent contact with the ball. Maybe it’s from playing in much wider football boots recently, but when it came to really putting a foot through the ball and hammering it up the pitch; I just ended up getting frustrated at where the ball was going.

The FG sole-plate is once again, really well thought out. I had concerns over it’s unorthodox, asymmetrical design, but all the blades tied in with the ball and toes very creatively; with a special mention going to the ‘L’ shaped grouping supporting the ball of the foot, allowing for great traction when springing forward or sideways.

Features

Mizuno seem to have set out to create a feature heavy boot, looking at them from the most obvious is the ‘Bio-panels’ on the front-instep. I instantly took a liking to these – mainly because they were arranged in a way which made me nostalgic for the adidas Predator Mania. As usual, I’m a bit skeptical of the influence these panels have over ‘power, swerve and control’ like they claim to - they’re very low profile and quite understated to the touch - more like the vamps on the Predator Pulse than the Mania. That said, they serve as a nice visual reminder for anyone wearing the boot where the best place on your foot is to hit a free kick or cross.

The Wave system in the heel fully compliments the carbon fibre shank that runs through the sole - which may surprise many as a carbon fibre soleplate is often the hallmark of more prestigious, expensive football boots and brands.

There are a couple of nice details that clearly demonstrate the boot was crafted with time and care; little touches like the way the tongue acts as ‘pouch’ that keeps unruly laces in check. It’s a great example of why players who seek something a little more tailor-made than mass-produced would love a pair of boots like the ones Mizuno are turning out.

Conclusion

The Wave Shinken II’s are a boot that, on paper, any player who is willing to look past the brand that produces them would love; and as such I desperately want to like them. But after playing in them for two weeks I was frustrated with that overly roomy front end (which could be down to my stubbornness as I just don’t like wearing 2 pairs of socks!).

However, I can see this football boot being a great investment for a few types of player. If you’ve been let down by other ’speed boots’ you could really find a match in Mizuno: If you find that the Vapor or v1.08’s are too narrow for your feet I can almost guarantee you won’t have the same problem here.

Likewise, if you are aching for that ‘true’ touch on a pair of super light cleats (weighing in at a mere 250g per boot) that only comes with a leather upper then you will love putting these boots on a savouring every run, combining a soft touch with blistering speed.

You’ll also have noticed a fair few Predator comparisons in this review, and they’re not just aesthetic. If you’re looking for a lighter, thinner more unorthodox alternative to adidas’ finest -  you could indeed find a new favourite in the Wave Shinken II football boots.

Update:

Since publishing this post, Footy Boots has been contacted by Mizuno who, in response to one of Kyle’s concerns, gave us the following statement:

The way we connect the outsole / heel counter to the upper (bonding) is different to many of our competitors, we use a much stronger bonding agent and leave the boot on the last for longer.

This has several implications, firstly the boot takes longer to make and its a more expensive process but the result is a fit that is much closer to the last along with a better build quality.

We are very proud of the fact that since 2006 when the Shinken was launched we have recieved no returns for the outsole detaching from the upper prematurely.