Best boot on the market (Puma King)

Member Name: northerner

Product:	Puma King
Date:	11/12/04 (6877 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Design, Comfort, Price

Disadvantages: None

The Puma King has long been regarded by many as the best football boot on the market, and is the choice of large numbers of professional footballers. The traditional design and lack of top-play endorsement have seen the King fall behind other boots which sell on image rather than quality. However, for the serious players the boot has excelled as it is the most comfortable on the market. With the increased money in boot development, the latest Puma King has increased competition to retain its reputation.


THE BOOT

The Puma King is one of the classic boot designs and has changed little over the years with the distinctive black boot an white side panels and tongue., giving it a clean, striking look. The boot is now also available in white/red and silver/black although the original black/white remains the best.

The boot is made of ultra-thin Pittards leather to make them lightweight, comfortable, flexible and to reduce water uptake. They have a Duoflex dole design to provide support (bending only where the foot should flex to prevent stress injury to the foot) and flexibility (to provide comfort). The boot has standard front lacing and is relatively narrow in design.

The boot is available in three different soles. The Puma King Pro (#80) has a standard 6 screw-in stud configuration for soft ground. The Puma King FG (#80) comes with a moulded sole for firmer beginning and end of season pitches. A new concept is the Puma King SL Di Mixsole boot (#100) which is adjustable dependent on the surface. The sole has a standard 6 screw-in stud arrangement, but has additional rubber studs that can be added to enhance pressure distribution on firmer surfaces. Most players would usually have both studs and moulded boots, so this is an interesting concept, although not really a money saving idea as the boot will need replacing more often than if you have two pairs.

The Puma King has never been available with a bladed sole. Blades are an attempted hybrid offering the pressure distribution of moulded soles with the increased grip of stud but largely fail to do this, and very few professional players ever wear them. They don’t offer sufficient grip on bad pitches and, as such, are only practical on firm pitches where moulded soles are more comfortable.

The life-span of the boot depends largely on amount of usage. It is regarded as one of the most durable and well made boots on the market. The insole is firm enough to prevent the studs coming through, and only prolonged use on hard ground should cause damage to the insole.


THE COMPETITION

The Nike Mecurial Vapor is the most expensive boot on the market at #140. It is the lightest boot currently available, but, as a result offers little protection for the foot or heel. It is made of synthetic material which prevent water retention but doesn’t offer the same comfort and flexibility as a leather boot.

The Nike Air Zoom Total 90 (#120) has a wider fitting than the Mecurial Vapor and offers more protection for the foot. The boot is also more comfortable to wear, although is slightly heavier. However, in my opinion, the design of the boot is grotesque.

The Adidas Predator (#120) is the leading top of the range boot. It has a clean and distinctive design, high manufacturing quality and great comfort. The leather is comfortable and flexible and the insole makes the boot easy to wear.

The recently launched Adidas f50 (#100) is a comfortable and well designed boot. It is cheaper than the Predator, but features the same quality of materials and manufacture. However, the hideous black and blue design ruins what would otherwise be a good boot.

The Reebok Baleni (#120) is the worst boot at this end of the market. Personally, I find side fastening boots far inferior to standard laces. The boot is overly narrow and uncomfortable and the design is characteristically poor.

The Umbro XAI at #120 is a solid boot, but not as comfortable as the King or the Predator. The lacing is more difficult and the design less impressive. The boot has a wide fitting and generally feels heavier and more cumbersome than other boots.


CONCLUSION

Of all these boots, and the current time the best are the Puma King and the Adidas Predator. Both are unbeatable in terms of quality comfort and design. I personally find the Puma King marginally more comfortable providing support and flexibility that no other boot can match, although the Predator has a wider fitting which may suit other foot shapes. At #80 the King is the cheapest boot at the top end of the market. By virtue of not paying top players significant sums of money to endorse the product, the Puma King remains the best pried boot at this end of the market.

The Puma King delivers the best boot on the market for the most competitive price. In a market where image often prevails over quality, the lack of advertising and sponsored top players may cost market share. However, for those interested in buying the best product, the Puma King is undoubtedly the best there is.

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