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Welcome to the Winter edition of New Boots!

The talented and detailed authors of this monthly article are 3 of our young AC Milan camp recruits, they will otherwise be known here as…”The Boot Brothers!”. The Boot Brother's  have been enlisted to bring you the latest information about the coolest boots, performance features, who is wearing them, and more!

1st article of 2010

Predator X
Predator - It has long been the boot of choice of famous professionals such as Beckham, Zidane, and Raúl.  The first iteration of this boot appeared in 1994, and now, in 2009, we see the 10th Predator: the Adidas Predator X.
The X is the Roman numeral 10 as this new Predator was preceded by 9 editions:

Each new predator is released for a major tournament: either a World Cup or a European Championship; this new Predator X is to be released for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Taurus Calf Leather

The first major difference between the new Predator X and the previous predator models is the primary upper material.  In the past, the benchmark for comfort and soft touch on the ball has been kangaroo leather; however, these new Predators utilize Taurus calf leather, which Adidas claims resists tearing and abrasion while still retaining supreme comfort

Predator Elements

As with all previous Predator models, this new Predator X has rubber elements in the upper to enhance the amount of power and swerve that players can put into their shots.

See the reduction of power loss at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSqrgBmMIJ8&feature=player_embedded

 

Professional Use

Already, these boots are being worn by professionals in the top leagues in Europe:

Manchester United’s Anderson and Dimitar Berbatov

Roma’s Philippe Mexès and Juventus’s Diego

David Beckham sports his own white, red, and black colourway of the new Predator X:

Beckham’s boots do not have the signature white, navy, and gold colours of the Galaxy; however, this is most likely due to Beckham’s imminent loan to Milan in January where the white and rosso-neri colours should match perfectly.

Winter Article -The Great Laces Debate

     Throughout my football career I have played in a variety of leather boots from the Nike Tiempo Air Legend II to the Umbro Speciali because of the unbeatable comfort k-leather provides and its responsive ball feel.  However, my perspective on football boots totally changed when I recently purchased a pair of Lotto Zhero Gravity Tre’s, the world’s only laceless football boot.  After wearing this stunning pair, I thought it would be interesting to compare my opinions about the three aforementioned boots.  The Nike’s have open laces, the Umbro’s have a lace cover, and the Lotto’s have no laces at all, demonstrating a wide spectrum of lacing styles and upper design.

     The Nike Tiempo Air Legend II is Nike’s flagship boot for offering premium comfort and ball feel.

Tech Specs
 Water-Resistant K-Leather upper providing comfort and ball feel
 External heel counter provides protection from tackles, reduces injury
 Nike Air Zoom technology in heel provides cushioning to aid comfort
 Central lacing, fold over tongue flap

Personal Review
     These boots deliver on all fronts with superb comfort and ball feel. They feel light, responsive, and are disposed to hitting through passes with deadly accuracy.  While the sides of the boot provide a touch of unparalleled feel, the center laces can sometimes feel like a “dead zone” in comparison.  This reveals the problem with open lacing systems: they create a large area in the center of the boot that greatly reduces the ball feel of the boot material.  This “dead zone” is particularly noticeable when shooting with the laces and when controlling out of the air.  All in all, the Nike Tiempo Air Legend II is a comfortable boot with great touch response worthy of the highest levels of football.  If only there was some way to remedy the lace issue…
 

     The Umbro Speciali is Umbro’s classic boot hand made to the highest quality from top-of-the-line materials.

Tech Specs
 Water Resistant K-Leather upper provides glove-like fit
 Lite Fit technology in the upper ensures responsive boot feel
 Central lacing system with fold over tongue/lace-cover

Personal Review
     The Speciali is a true performance boot that has survived the test of time.  It has done so with flying colours as it has consistently provided high level players what they desire: a glove-like fit, amazing comfort, and a sharp touch on the ball.  To help address the “dead zone” issue mentioned with the Tiempo’s, Umbro has integrated a lace-cover into the fold-over tongue.  By creating a flat surface area on the top of the boot, it becomes more responsive, provides a softer touch, and more accurate shots.  While the Umbro Speciali is a classic boot with modern performance, there is still one pair that can trump its responsiveness and comfort.
 

Lotto Zhero Gravity Tre

 

The Lotto Zhero Gravity Tre is Lotto’s third foray into their revolutionary Zhero Gravity line boasting a broad range of technical features.

Tech Specs
 Revolutionary Pro-Fit laceless technology for unparalleled comfort and ball feel
 External heel counter provides resistance to tackles and injury
 Punto-Flex area of forefoot allows for correct foot flexion and excellent elastic return
 Neo-Switch exchangeable stud system for use on firm to soft ground conditions
 Dual Fit system provides two exchangeable insoles for a personalized fit

Personal Review
     These boots are a work of art and technological innovation.  When I first put the Zhero Gravity’s on I was a bit skeptical of the ball feel and comfort they could offer in comparison to my Nike’s and Umbro’s, but after a brief spell on the pitch, I was proved cheerfully wrong.  The Zhero Gravity were light, fast, and as responsive as a Ferrari, and when desired, the ball seemed attached to my feet.  When shooting in them, the power and control was incomparable as the upper’s unique vamp area provides extra grip and transfers power beautifully into every strike.

While I love my Nike Tiempo Air Legend II’s and my Umbro Speciali, the Lotto Zhero Gravity best deals with the “dead zone” problem by removing the laces altogether.  The Lotto Zhero Gravity Tre is the ultimate boot providing speed, responsiveness, and power in a sleek eye-catching package.
     The football boot market is all about innovation in design and performance, which the Lotto Zhero Gravity redefines to a higher level.  By pushing the boundaries of modern boot technologies, Lotto is taking the next step to evolve the industry to new heights and standards never reached before.  If other companies take a cue from Lotto, maybe they too will create new technological innovations to benefit footballers in the future.

 

 

Winter article #1 - Indoor boots for Futsal

As we watch the Premier League kick off and the new 2009/10 season begin, our season in Canada is drawing to a close.  We must soon retreat indoors for our football; therefore, in this edition of Latest Gear, we will take an in-depth look at the different futsal boots offered by Nike, Adidas, Puma, and Lotto.
Futsal began in South America and is a variation of football that is played indoors with two teams of five players.  It is played on a hard surface with a small ball that bounces less.  Because of the smaller space and different ball, there is an emphasis in improvisation, creativity, and technique.

Nike Zoom T-7 FS/CT

Technology/ Design

Heel Pass
 high-impact, rubber heel counter offers protection and support
 increased grip and density allows for accurate, deceiving heel passes
 designed with cues from Brazilian players like Ronaldinho and Denilson and Argentinean players like Javier Mascherano

 

See the development of the Heel Pass at: http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikesoccer/2009/02/24/open-up-the-game-with-the-heel-pass

Toe Punt
 reinforced toe bumpers give more power to toe punts while protecting the foot
 the texture of the rubber increases friction on the ball allowing for more accurate, unexpected toe shots
 although the toe punt is not usually an encouraged technique, in a game like futsal 
where there is limited space to set up your shot, the “Toe Punt” technology gives the
player an option that can catch the keeper off guard

(Toe Punt is the orange area on the toe) See its development at: http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikesoccer/2009/02/24/strike-with-the-toe-punt

Upper - flatter lateral side of the boot allows players to scoop the ball up and over their defenders

Watch at: http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikesoccer/2009/02/24/master-the-scoop
             premium kangaroo leather provides comfort and deft touch
             offset lacing allows a cleaner kicking surface for precise striking

Boots are available in a variety of colours and with hard wood floor or artificial turf soleplates:

Adidas Top Sala IX / ULT-K

Technology/Design

Upper
 ULT-K
 calfskin leather treated to feel softer and more like kangaroo leather for             optimum ball feel
 retains the durability of calfskin leather

 optional versions of the boot have synthetic leather for lightweight durability
the mesh tongue as well as other mesh elements on the boot give increased ventilation and breathability

 the mesh tongue as well as other mesh elements on the boot give increased ventilation and breathability

EVA Insole

 the insole is made of EVA, a foam material that is lighter and more flexible than rubber providing extra cushioning, which is especially important when playing on a hard futsal court

 the material is also tough and water resistant

adiPRENE
 an insert in the heel for shock absorption
 made of an elastic cushioning material that gives extra impact protection

Outsole
 the outsole is made of a grippy material; this is particularly important in futsal as 
doing moves with the sole of the foot is a key aspect in the creativity and improvisation of the game
 the non-marking rubber sole wraps around the side of the boots for an increased grippy surface area

The Adidas Top Salas are also offered with a variety of colours in both ULT-K leather and synthetic

Puma v.1.08 Sala

Technology/ Design

Adapted from the Puma v.1.08 outdoor football boots, these Salas are designed to be lightweight and fast; as a result, they only weigh 9.4oz giving the wearer minimal resistance for the quick movements of futsal.

Upper
 made of mesh and microfiber (synthetic leather that combines lightweight material with good ball feel; it is also stretch and abrasion resistant, waterproof, and breathable)
 using these materials, the boot is lightweight and flexible but also provides ample 
ventilation to keep the foot cool

Outsole
 the split outsole allows the player to toe off faster for quicker movement, which is 
essential in a small-sided, fast-paced futsal match

 

the grippy outsole (like on the Adidas boots) extends up the sides of the boot allowing for the flashy rolling and dragging moves that are ingrained in futsal culture

Additional colourways available

Lotto Futsal Pro Due ID (Calcetto’s)

Upper
 supple full grain leather that needs to be broken in, but once done so, the boot is soft and durable

 
 the reinforced suede toe cap adds durability to the toe, which can get worn down from repeated shooting

 
  like many futsal boots, the Calcetto’s have nylon mesh inserts throughout the upper providing increased ventilation
 
EVA
 like the Adidas Top Salas, the insole and midsole provide additional cushioning to the boot

Outsole
 non-marking rubber outsole adds grip for control in rolling the ball

Puntoflex
 a new technology by Lotto that allows forefoot flexion for increased sprinting speed
 it is used on Lotto’s top end lace-less boots, the Zhero Gravity Tre

 
(Futsal Pro Due  ID on left compared to Zhero Gravity Tre on right; Puntoflex is located on the forefoot area of the sole)

In addition to the white and fiery red colourway, the Lotto Futsal Pro Due ID is offered in an electric blue and white colourway:
 

There you have it.  Four futsal boots designed specifically with indoor football in mind, and maybe with these boots you could be playing in an indoor stadium like this sometime soon.