My son enjoys a good kick-around with a football and his friends in our local park, and quite often the whole family gets involved for a 'match' in the back garden. We've even had friendly 'matches' played during BBQs, which can prove to be a great ice-breaker to get a party started. So having a decent football around has always been something of a must for us, and hence, we bought this football for my son for his birthday in early summer last year. With 2 large dogs, cheaper vinyl footballs don't tend to last to long with us, so we wanted something that would perhaps be a little tougher.

We originally bought this from Amazon. At first, it was a little confusing because it detailed 3 different sizes - 3, 4 or 5, and the difference between each was not readily apparent. However, a little research on the web revealed that the size 5 is meant to be the normal sized competition football, meaning that the size 4 is smaller and the 3 smaller again, probably best suited to smaller children. In the end, we opted for the size 5 since my son plays for his school team and hence could also train with this ball. Cost wise was £12.99 which I was hoping would be a good investment and perhaps last longer than previous balls.

When it arrived, the ball itself appears to be quite well made. Mainly white (I knew it wouldn't stay that way for long!!) it also has a collection of blue/silver flashes around it, so it is quite distinguishable. Whilst this one is white and blue, of interest, they also appear to do another coloured version of yellow and blue in the same pattern styling. The durability for the ball is provided by the tough panels around it. Each panel is non-woven PU, which means that it is extra tough and will provide a fair degree of resilience against abuse from kicking and scuffing, and then each panel has been very tightly stitched together to form the ball shape.

When it is inflated and you hold it, it does feel well made and good quality. OK, it does cost more than your average kick around football from the market, but when you actually get it, look at it and feel it, you can see that you are paying for that quality aspect. The material is also designed and meant to provide excellent durability on either a grass or an astro turf pitch.

In use, it feels good to kick. It's not too heavy for a child and yet not too light that the wind will blow it for miles down the road after a missed shot. Durability wise it seems to have lasted well after several months of use. Throughout the summer it was taking a regular pounding in the local park, and then back home in the garden, and, bar a couple of scuffs and scratches, it still looks good and the stitching on the panels is still holding strong.

In summary, if your kids are into football, you can't really go wrong with getting them this Mitre version. It is well made and appears to be quite tough wearing, with just the right size and weight aspect to give it that realistic competition football feel when you kick it.

Highly recommended.