 |
Nike Gato
by Puggers
Most football boots look like they've been designed by over-sugared five year-olds these days - indoor boots, all the more so. As such, a big part of what attracted me to Nike's Gato boot - designed for indoor football and futsal - was the fact that it's not *too* garish. Granted, the flashes of dayglo yellow aren't exactly ... inconspicuous, but on the whole, this could just about pass as an everyday trainer.
Looks aren't everything, of course. A good indoor football boot should be close-fitting, sturdy and offer a strong grip on the surface to stop you skidding about and slipping - ideally without feeling like you're wearing a hiking boot.
This isn't normally an issue for Nike's footwear - on the contrary, they tend to be rather lightweight, even flimsy affairs, so the question here is whether they're tough enough to stand up to the demands of close-quarters, high-intensity indoor football. When I first starting playing futsal, I imagined I could get away with regular trainers, but you really notice the difference between these and proper, specifically-designed boots.
Happily, these deliver on all the counts that matter - they're a snug fit (for my fairly wide feet), but they still feel like they're protecting you sufficiently. The sole offers a good amount of support; the cushioning is almost like a lightweight running shoe; enough that it helps take some of the impact away from your delicate knees, but not so much that you lose the "feel" that's so important for this type of sport. The uppers deliver on this front as well; strong enough to protect from everyday impact and the wear and tear of football, but they still let you maintain close contact with the ball. It's a perfect compromise.
This isn't a boot full of gadgets and quirks - there are no particular gimmicks that sell this boot, and that's probably a good thing - it's simply a good all-rounder. There are more expensive models out there - but I don't think you need to spend more than the £50 these will set you back, as this ticks all the boxes. You'll get a well-made, hard-wearing pair of boots that don't feel awkward or cumbersome, stand up to tough knocks and look good as well. Too often I find this kind of boot a little too chunky and heavy, but this is a great option for those who'd rather be wearing proper grass boots, but need to adapt to the indoor surface. They'd also be a good choice for playing on synthetic grass surfaces, I'd imagine - all round, a great buy.
Read the complete review |
|
|
Nike CTR360 Libretto Firm Ground Football Boots
by KayleighCarter
The last pair of boots I had ripper, whilst on the football pitch, so I decided to get something a bit different when shopping. CTR's come in a range of colours, models and prices. The newest model has 4 different price ranges that vary depending on what level you play. As my team resides only 4 leagues down from the women's premier I ... opted for Maestri's, usually about £90-120, and the 2nd best to buy aimed at club processionals or semi-professional players. Cheaper models such as the trequartistas are available from£20-£65, but are made from different materials and have slight differences such as the placement of the nike badge, studs, the boot soles and the comfort within the boots. You usually find cheaper boots are stiffer and harder to break in as they contain more plastic. The Maestri's I purchased were black white and orange, a great stand out boot, and cost £95 from sports world (the best place to purchase). The boots are made from kanga leather. An elite boot, usually between £180-£260 can also be purchased and the price is usually so high as the sole's are made from carbon fibre. These are the boots you see the like of Premier league players wearing.
I have to say, these are on the best pairs I have ever had. The shape fit great to my foot, and the leather was not to stiff to be uncomfortable but also not to flimsy to be destructible. One of the first stand out qualities is the grip the insole provides with a grip pad. Great for midfielders with quick and skilful feet. The inside is padded by the toes, meaning it's rare to get blisters or sore feet. The boot is also a great shape and fit's almost any foot, unlike mercurial vapours that tend to be longer and narrow. The design is also appealing, it would be hard to say the boot's aren't offered in an individuals favourite colour. Along with this, nike offer an id range meaning you can create you own, despite at a hefty price for the personalisation. The studs are sturdy and i opted for moulded studs that are usually worn in dry conditions, but they also come in rounded sg studs that are ideal for rain. The one problem I have had with the model i chose however is in very muddy condition's I tend to slip, however this has only happened a minimal amount of times. I also found that the boots are strong but also lightweight, another plus for any quick winger.
All in all, amazing boots. At first I was strictly predator, but now I want my next pair to be another set of CTR's.
Read the complete review |
 |
Umbro Speciali
by benclark88
(This review is for the firm ground/moulded studs version of the Umbro Speciali)
I go through football boots at an astonishing rate. I have tried many brands and different styles but I believe you cannot beat the classic black leather boot. There are 2 boots on the market that have been around for years and, in my opinion, ... still the best. There is the Adidas Copa Mundials and the Umbro Speciali's.
The Umbro Speciali is a black boot with a large white Umbro logo stuck on the outer and in step of the boot. Black lace holds the tongue down that folds over that has "UMBRO Speciali" stitched in white. The black leather is stitched expertly together and attached to a white sole. The white sole has 13 black moulded studs made of a tough rubber that makes them ideal for hard pitches or even astro turf. The boot looks great and my only negative is the big Umbro logos stuck on. These actually tend to fall off over a bit of wear and tear and then leaves you with a better looking all black leather boot.
The boot is made of K leather (kangaroo) which keeps the boot lightweight and moulds easily around your foot. I tend to wear the boots in the bath first to shrink the leather to fit perfectly. The K leather provides a deft touch bout generates extra power when striking the ball. Beware that there are other versions of the Speciali's made of goat leather. These tend to be slightly heavier and I find not as easy to generate shot power. The boots are relatively robust and tend to make it through a season.
No matter what other designs and styles brands try and release I will always end up using the classics. Speciali is a special boot and if it was good enough for Alan Shearer its good enough for me.
I paid £79.99 last season for my pair.
Currently available at ProDirectSoccer - £39.99 (in sale)
Read the complete review |
