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.Conclusion

I 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.

Looking out the window, many players will notice that winter’s coming up a bit quicker than we’d all like it to.

So, if you’re an optimist like me and like to think about football as a game that’s best played on a field that looks more like a snooker table than a pitch, with glorious sun in the sky then you’ve probably gone and bought some firm ground football boots.

Odds are, then, you’ll turn up to a match one soggy weekend morning and realise that those FG’s aren’t gonna cut it until the ground dries up a bit. So you’re going to look at something with more traditional studs, but you don’t want to spend another 3-figure-sum on these as well.

So many players opt for ‘entry-level’ versions of popular football boots - things like the T90 Shoot, the Predator Absolado or in this case - the PUMA v-Kon III.

Comfort/Fit

The v- Kon III’s are cleverly designed in the ‘fit’ area. Boasting a wide forefoot that leaves plenty of room for the toes and instep - which then narrows into a heel that’s held ridged by a fairly hefty heel counter - not entirely dissimilar to the design of Under Armour Dominate Pro’s. This all seems to be aided by the laces stopping much higher up the football boot than many other cleats, which could be handy if you have wide feet. So as I warned with the UA’s, consider trying on a pair before buying, as these boots were never designed to have a ‘glove-like’ fit.

One of the most immediate things I noticed when sprinting in the v-Kon’s was the stiffness of the leather that covers the upper of most of the boot  (credit to PUMA for using leather on an entry level boot, by the way). The Upper seems to have been coated in a process similar to laminating - which makes it somewhat unforgiving on the first few wears causing a bit of rubbing with the socks.

After an initial ‘breaking-in’ period I felt the v-Kon’s became a much better football boot, with the treated leather eventually bending with the padded ’strike zone’ (the ‘quilted’ looking area above the toes) which cleverly makes the leather bend where it needs to, but at the same time keeps it stern and waterproof in areas that other than the toes, adding protection.

So be warned, don’t buy these football boots on Saturday and think you can play in them on Sunday.

Durability

I certainly had a few reservations about the durability, especially the heel counter, simply because it’s one of the main features that doesn’t carry across from the fully-fledged v-Konstruckt III, but aside from not looking as good, I believe it does a fantastic job.

Looking at the boot from above you’ll notice the ‘finger-like’ protrusions on the counter actually form an ‘C’ shape that concentrates on keeping the heel of the foot safe and going some way to prevent your foot ‘rolling’ and twisting an ankle.

As mentioned before, the treated leather on the upper keeps the boot tough; Puma have obviously opted to have the leather stop on the upper toe and instep area in order to give the boot a broader scope of function. By this I mean by calling an area on the boot a ’strike zone’ it prevents the boot being pigeon-holed as a defenders football boot.

Besides that, I think these boots are fantastically low-maintenance and one of the few football boots I can safely say are ‘built to last’.

Feel

One thing that the v-Kon’s share in common with their big brother is PUMA’s ‘Duo Flex’ technology. This interesting design feature flexes with the toes as they bend when you’re running but ‘locks’ when any downward pressure is applied.

This feature is massively useful in a variety of situations - when going to ground with an attacker, as long as your foot’s in the right place on the ball, the opponent’s going to feel like he’s dribbled into a brick wall. Coupled with the wide fit and padded strike zone the Duo Flex can really enhance control of a ball coming in from height.

However, the v-Kon’s aren’t really a slick-trickster football boot. Their tank-like qualities are great for any situation that involves putting your foot through it (clearances, volleys, cross-field balls) but you won’t see players like Ronaldo and Ribery wearing them anytime soon.

Conclusion

The v-Kon III’s are an interesting boot. Despite PUMA’s best efforts to make them more appealing to other positions, they’re clearly designed with the modern centre-back in mind; putting protection at the forefront of their agenda.

And do they do this successfully? Undoubtedly so - if at the expense of a little comfort.

The other interesting thing about testing an entry level boot is that they weren’t designed to be perfect, they’re designed to offer value for money.

Again do they do this? At 35 quid - nearly a third of the price of the v-Konstrukt III - again I’d have to say they do.

Despite a few gripes with the boot, if you’re a stonewall defender or goalkeeper looking for a football boot that’ll keep your feet safe and dry for the winter you’ll be hard pressed to find some that do the job for a better price. However, attacking midfielders and marauding wing backs might be left frustrated at the football boot’s compromise of ‘give’ in the upper for protection.

And, as long as you break them in properly, that’s pretty much the only thing you’ll have to do for them.

Here at Footy-Boots HQ we’ve really been wondering, “What’s so Special about the Speciali?”

Umbro have certainly placed a lot of trust in the Speciali, emphasizing the football boot’s features and advantages with some stylish marketing. So joining in with the likes of Michael Owen, Gaël Clichy, Deco, and Pepe is Matt Dawson with his take on Umbro’s world renowned classic boot.

I have to admit I have a soft spot for Umbro, it dates back to my early days as a football fan when Michael Owen was taking centre stage in world football. The fact that Umbro is one of the few remaining brands that focuses solely on football is enticing to me as well. But having been let down by both Umbro’s X-Boot and SX range, I was a little concerned the Speciali were going to do the same.

Aesthetics

Though these boots may not suit the likes of you who love vibrant coloured football boots, I have a fondness for the classic look of the Speciali. Not to say that I haven’t worn my fair share of eye-catching football boots, but the pure design mixed with the British Racing Green colours make for a very understated elegance. The little details such as the white and gold lining along the A-Frame are a nice finishing touches as well.

Comfort/Fit

Here in West Texas comfort is a telling sign in a football boot when you are playing in the dry heat with rock hard soil underneath your feet.

With the Speciali comfort is unrivalled by any other football boot I’ve ever worn. The high density memory foam insole is extremely comfortable featuring Poron inserts for a soft and cozy feel, a bit like that of a house slipper. The toe box is roomy which is important for me as I have particularly wide feet. The boots are much lighter than I expected and offer your foot room to breathe, yet the leather molds nicely to your foot once broken in.

Durability 

Only having had the football boots for a short time, I can’t yet determine what the lifespan of these boots will be. However, I can say the football boots are manufactured very well and the quality of materials is exceptional. The boots are stitched and cemented like its predecessor which is always a good sign. Despite not featuring a lace cover, there’s no need to worry about the laces becoming worn down and frayed. The nylon laces are well woven and thick, ensuring a tight fit. The one downside to the laces is that they tend to catch on the Velcro pad where the traditional flip tongue attaches.

Touch

The Speciali’s supple k-leather and clean upper makes for a superb feel for the ball and offers great touch. An improvement from the original Speciali, the Umbro Double Diamond logo is pressed and printed onto the football boot rather than a large stitched patch. The football boots are great for dribbling and passing, and despite not being a flash boot, allow for all the flair, flicks, and tricks that the F50i and Vapor tout.

Traction

One of the few things that worried me when purchasing the Speciali was the stud placement and design. The studs didn’t appear that they would allow proper weight dispersion in the heel area because they sit further forward from the heel than on most football boots.

Another anomaly was that the heel studs were shaped in the same mold as the rest of the studs, which I thought wouldn’t allow for sufficient traction. My fears were relieved in my first run out with the boots, with the studs engaging and releasing with the turf properly. The weight dispersion in the studs made it feel as if you were walking on a plush carpet, making it an extremely comfortable experience for your feet. My only complaint is that the heel studs are positioned in such a way that you feel as if your weight is on your heels at times, so you’re not being able to spring forward as quickly.

Features

With its style inspired by the Wembley archway, the A-Frame lacing system offers a tight fit cradling the mid foot area and is a great mechanism for maintaining your laces tightness. The Fast Flex groove in the outsole really allows for greater flexibility and helps you accelerate after that cross-field ball. Without any real “gimmicks”or technologies involved in the football boot, Umbro played off the marketing side of the boot well with a light-hearted, nostalgic take on them.

Conclusion

Having worn the past few generations of the Vapor line consistently, these boots have brought me back to my senses. With the Speciali you truly get your money’s worth along with a clean, classic look so your skill can do the talking on the field for you.

Nike’s influence seems to have rejuvenated the design team at Umbro and I’m glad to say they’re back with much higher standards and a completely new feel. The Speciali really are a homage to football boot heritage and are very underrated in my eyes. Umbro really took it back to the basics with this football boot, and it shows the useless gimmicks costing you another 30 quid just aren’t worth it.

Review by Matt Dawson

Nomis football boots are sold direct from the manufacturer, an approach that cuts out the middle man and reduces their prices. So without the traditional shop to touch and feel the product, Kyle has taken a pair of Nomis Spark football boots on a road test to give you his searingly honest appraisal.

Nomis are a brand that I can honestly say I’d never heard of before I started visiting this site – but in the year or so I’ve been visiting Footy-Boots.com, I’ve been impressed with many things that Nomis have offered as a brand- i.e.; the design principals, the direct distribution and the willingness of the ‘higher-ups’ to talk to websites like our own.

So when the opportunity arose to take a look at the product behind the principal, I jumped at the chance.

Nomis Spark

Comfort/Fit
Anyone that read my Under Armour play-test will get the impression I’m passionate about the fit of football boots – I’m a firm believer that in this day and age companies should be capable of producing a boot that does what they’ve developed it to do and not rub the skin off your feet.

So, it’s not lightly that I say Nomis have developed an excellent fitting boot – the first outing for the Spark was a 2 hour training session in a glorious British July downpour – which would normally result in at least one blister – so I was massively impressed that Nomis could give a tight, glove-like fit whilst not having any friction between foot and boot.

Durability
The Spark has a nice one-piece leather upper – something that I prefer in a football boot, as it reduces the possibility of separation or tearing between two components.

One concern on the Spark for me is the heel counter – whilst it does the job and adds to the fit, I don’t think it offers much in the way of protection, as it is more or less just a rigid piece of PVC that covers the leather behind the heel.

Feel
The Nomis Spark has an interesting feel to it – if anyone remembers the adidas Supernova, then they’re already thinking along the right lines.

The Sparks have the feel of a Predator – without the signature vamps. The shape of the boot, the amount of studs, right down to the elasticated lace-cover tongue there’s a lot of similarities, not surprising that Nomis’ legacy is closely linked with Adidas.

On the pitch the Spark’s offset and covered lacing gives the instep of the football boot a huge, soft area that’s great for controlling the ball as well as laying off passes. This extends to the forefoot, which has minimal stitching for great contact when pinging in crosses.

Features
The first thing I noticed when actually handling the boots was how ‘sticky’ the upper is. If anyone’s touched the Puma logo on the v1.08’s you’ll know what I mean when I say that the boot is genuinely sticky. Most impressively, after a fortnight of testing I can report that the upper is still as tacky as it was out of the box.

An impressively adhesive upper is all well and good – but does it help with control? Whilst playing in a match, I honestly didn’t notice it adding much in the way of ‘extra’ control, so it might just be a gimmick – that said, if you asked me which would give better control; this upper or that of, say, the f50 or Vapor I’d say the Spark has the advantage.

Another of the touted features is the ‘NoMud’ soleplate – which is coated in a substance that stops mud clinging during play, thus keeping the boot light.

To put this to the test I wore a Nike football boot on one foot and the Nomis Spark on the other and did some simple sprint-with-the-ball exercises across the penalty area.

As you can see from the results there is certainly less mud on the Nomis boot than the Nike, especially in the heel. While, in my opinion, I don’t think there’s a big enough difference between the boots to call NoMud a rousing success; there is definitely a difference and perhaps it’ll be worth its salt in the boggy December months.

Conclusion
Given that Nomis are leaning toward direct distribution you’ll only find these boots for £95.00, which puts them right in the bracket of football boots like the Adipure II and the newly released Air Legend III.

So, if you’re after a football boot that’s a little bit different to what everyone else will be wearing this season, or you’ve never been a big subscriber to additions like the Concave, T90 Shot Shield or speed gimmicks like the Lotto Zhero G, or maybe you’re sick of boots promising a tight fit and then getting blisters for the first 2 weeks, it’s worth bearing Nomis in mind.

Colourway: Pearlized White / Black / Silver

Price: £95

Topper is a football boot brand that hails from South America. It’s perhaps best known worldwide as the sponsor of the Brazilian national team that played in the World Cup in 1982 - think Sócrates, Zico, Falcão and Junior.

Nowadays Topper is the official sponsor of the six times world futsal champions Brazil, a team where every player wears the same Topper futsal shoe. But we are here to tell you about their football boot, not their futsal credentials.

Topper Football Boots

The top of the range football boot from Topper in 2009 is the One Professional, developed by the South American brand for both professional and serious amateur players.

It’s made from an impermeable K Leather that moulds to your foot, features a high degree of elasticity, and should be very comfortable.

The outsole features a moulded stud, designed to help your traction and balance on the most irregular of surfaces, no doubt typical in Brazil.

A Dynatech shock absorbing module runs along the sole and into the heel, which again assists your balance on the turf whilst protecting the heel area.

The One Professional football boot was developed by the players; Jorge Wagner (Sao Paulo and former Sevilla), Ibison (Flamengo) and Marcos (Palmeiras) the former world cup winning goalkeeper with Brazil in 2002.

To follow in the steps of this pro line football boot, Topper will be launching a polyurethane model, know simply as “The One”.

Price: Approx. £90

Availability: Now, 2009

Colours: White / Black and Yellow / Black

Weight: 300g

Nike Tiempo Air Legend II - The football boot of choice for Joe Cole, Cesc Fabregas, and Carlos Tevez.

Background

In 1971, Nike created its first football boot prototype. However it was not until 1994 that the football boot brand made its first move into the world’s most popular sport.

The final of the 1994 World Cup, held in the USA, saw 10 of the players on the pitch, including Brazil’s Romario and Italy’s Paolo Maldini, wear the Nike Tiempo.

Nike Tiempo Air Legend II

The Nike Tiempo II is the updated version of the Nike Air Legend football boot and will be worn by the likes of Joe Cole, Cesc Fabregas, Andrea Pirlo, and Carlos Tevez.

15 grams lighter than the Nike Air Legend, the Nike Tiempo II weighs in at 315 grams. The design aims for the new Nike Tiempo II were to re-engineer the upper and heel counter, decreasing the tongue size, to reduce the overall weight of the football boot, whilst ensuring a comfortable fit and improved performance.

The new Tiempo Air Legend II has an all over soft kangaroo leather upper for superior comfort and ball feel with the updated pattern design from the previous model giving a pro fit. The fold over tongue is designed to give a smoother ball-striking surface.

The high performance midsole features a moulded sockliner with a re-engineered Zoom Air heel unit providing responsive cushioning and reinforced protection in the tackle.

The lightweight TPU outsole has a glass fibre shank and toe for lightweight support and stability, with forefoot flex grooves providing added flexibility.

A combination of traditional conical and bladed studs allow the player to benefit from a 360 degree grip for optimal traction and pressure dispersion.

The lightweight Nike Tiempo II is available in a soft and firm ground option and retails at a price of £84.99.

Nike’s newest football boot offering is the Nike Tiempo Air Legend II, White / White/ Anthracite

Players: Cesc Fabregas, Carlos Tevez, Joe Cole, Andrea Pirlo
Price: £84.99
Weight: 315g
Sizes: 5-12

Tell us what you think of the Tiempo Air Legend II football boots.

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…)

Umbro reinvents its Speciali Football Boot for 2008/09 season, offering a new twist to a modern classic football boot.

The Speciali has developed a reputation as a classic football boot chosen by those players who favour simple elegance over modern designs. Over the years, the Speciali has been associated with many players perhaps most notably Alan Shearer who scored the majority of his 313 career goals in the Speciali.

Now, with the launch of the Speciali 2008 version another bastion of English football has chosen to wear the football boot – Michael Owen.

The original football boot was launched back in 1992 and has graced football pitches all over the world scoring some of the most famous goals ever, who can forget Roberto Carlosʼ bending free kick against France in Le Tournoi or Michael Owenʼs wonder goal in France 98? Both were scored in Speciali. Other notable past players include Rivaldo, Henrik Larrson, Steve McManaman and Mark Hughes, so these football boots have goals in them!

For 2008 Umbro have put a modern twist on the football boot through the subtle integration of state of the art technologies, while maintaining original features which have ensured the football boots position as a classic.

Technology Highlights

The Speciali utilises original wishbone technology for superb foot stability.

In addition, a new covered lacing helps to provide total ball control and unparalleled style.

Meanwhile, the original Italian K leather makes for the ultimate comfort and feel.

Michael Owen

I am delighted that Umbro have chosen to relaunch the Speciali.  The football boot has reached legendary status among players at all levels over the years and I am looking forward to kicking off next season in the 2008 version.

Order your Umbro Football Boots - Click Here

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