There is nothing like getting a new pair of boots you know have been handcrafted in the same fashion their creators have been doing it for over 100 years – this boot is built around heritage with a touch of class to add. I have been interested to test a pair of Pantofola d’Oro soccer cleats for a while now, and took the opportunity to test the most old school looking version – the Lazzarini Canguro. Not only have these boots been handcrafted in the same way the company has been creating them since 1886, but they have the same ergonomic form, making them a timeless classic! For testing, I ordered a pair of size 9US in the Red colorway.
Who are Pantofola d’Oro?
Pantofola d’Oro are an Italian company whose heritage dates back to 1886 when the old Lazzarini cobbler’s shop was founded in Ascoli Piceno, Italy. It was during the 50′s when Emidio Lazzarini approached club team Ascoli to make their team soccer cleats. Within a short space of time, the quality of the boots quickly improved. They were renowned for their exceptional softness, whilst giving outstanding ball control. Emidio Lazzarini’s secret lay in the soft calf-leather he used and the boot’s ergonomic form, which perfectly followed the contours of the foot. Players such as Ferenc Puskas, Jurgen Klinsmann, Sven Goran Erikkson and Roger Milla are just some of the players who have worn the brand over the past half century.
Breaking In/Comfort
Right out of the box, these boots are just darn right special. From their unique old school look to the smell of handcrafted leather, you almost feel like you are entering an0ther era. On your feet, they just feel right. I wore a size 9US for review and they were a perfect fit. After a short jog in them, I knew they were ready for action and took them into a training session. One of the most surprising aspects of the boot is the soleplate. It looks so rigid and bland, yet it has fantastic flexibility in just the right places. To be honest, I found that the soleplate on the Lazzarini Canguro outperforms many of the big names on the market!
Overall, what a great boot these are right from the beginning. I didn’t find any hot-spots and was absolutely satisfied with the comfort they offered throughout testing.
Built with Style
Even though I personally love the old school style of the Lazzarini Canguro, they are not necessarily going to be everybody’s cup of tea. The overall style of the boot is completely different to anything else on the market and doesn’t include any fancy add-ons like you will see on new releases.The upper is simply one piece of leather that has been hand stitched to a very basic looking soleplate. If you like fancy color combos and cutting edge technology, these boots won’t be for you.
Added Detailing
Two important pieces of detail I wanted to point out. On the outer side of the boot, you will find the Pantofola signature stamp that lets you know the boots are legit. You can tell that this was hand pressed on as not all of the letters are crisp. And if you hate putting new laces in your boots, you won’t have that problem with these! Each hole contains a metal piece that makes it super easy to guide each lace into place. This is a finer piece of detailing add on that you definitely won’t find on any current day boots.
Performance
When on field and in action, these boots rank with the best, although I do have one negative I will talk about in a minute. In terms of touch and control, you are going to have no complaints. Although the K-leather is not super thin, you still get a good feel for the ball on your foot and just enough protection to allow for sweet strikes of the ball with total comfort. Underneath the tongue, Pantofola use a layer of suede as padding between the tongue and your foot. It is a very welcome addition that serves a very valid purpose.
My one concern comes after a training session I had with them last week in the rain. Afterward, it seemed like the boots had soaked in a pool for a week and they were very heavy. After leaving them in a shady area outside with newspaper stuffed in them, they still feel heavier than they initially were. This is bound to happen with most leather boots, but I don’t feel like it has been this noticeable before. I can tell that durability could be an issue with these boots!
Size and Fit
They fit true to size, and for comparison, they offer a very similar fit to the likes of the Nike CTR360 Maestri.
Negatives
My main concern revolves around the above highlighted issue – durability of the upper. It seems like they really soak-in water and I have noticed some of the leather slightly wearing already. For those of you that might ask, the joining of the upper and soleplate will not be an issue and it is currently very firmly intact, meaning the boots are not going to fall apart! I am just concerned about the weight and markings that might make the upper look a little worn. One other negative, if you decide to wear white socks with these you will regret it afterward as the color in the leather bleeds (my socks are now a mix of red/yellow!)
Summary (and Should I buy a pair?)
It took me a while to get my hands on a pair of Pantofola soccer cleats – but boy was it worth it! I personally love everything about the boot, especially the old school feel you get while wearing them. They just ooze class and offer fantastic performance on the field. If you want my advice, I say make sure you own a pair at least once in your career. Should you go and buy a pair today? I don’t necessarily think so (especially since you can’t run out and buy them in stores in the US right now anyway lol). You are going to have to pay a very high price to get a pair from Europe, so unless you have money burning a whole in your pocket, take a chance and hold on to the hope that Pantofola bring some of their boots to the US sometime soon. On trying to contact Pantofola d’Oro I got no response – but maybe after this review I can get some information from the Italian giants?
If you do want to order a pair, get over to the UK ProDirectSoccer site where they are available for $180 (+International shipping).
how do the traction of these boots go in the wet?
Ive been wearing copas for most of my outdoor play and I start to suspect that round studs aren't so well or maybe its just the layout that's the deciding factor of good traction?
Hello Bryan …
The boots seem to be quite comfortable, and their use in dry fields can help in performance.
I would like to make a suggestion, I saw no one on the blog box of translating texts into other languages. Being from Brazil, it would help me in understanding what I read, because my English is not the best. There is a Google translation box, which can be found this link: http://translate.google.com.br/translate_tools
Congrats for another nice review.
Hi Bryan, Great review!
A couple of questions, how long are the studs in comparison to other comparable boots on the market–say Nike Legends?
And, do you feel these boots would perform, well, hold up, on field turf?
Also, I've noticed that Pro-Direct is now selling Pantofolas through their U.S. website
Hey Bryan,
I was thinking of getting these in the blue colourway so i'd like to ask: Is a slightly smaller fit (say, half a size down) necessary for the leather to mould to your feet? Or would that be too tight?
Does the colour bleeding cause the upper to look faded/blotchy?
Thanks and great reviews all round!
Great boots, thanks for the review. These sound similar to my Andreas cleats. Andreas are another, smaller, Italian company making super comfy boots. My main complaints about Andreas are that I could feel the studs through the thin sole plate. Any such problems with the Pantofola?
On the issue when they get wet, I read a review that said if you put some dubbin on them they become waterproof and the problem is solved!
Wow! Such beautiful boots! I would feel like I was ruining a piece of art wearing these on a soccer pitch. Great review. They also have a mixed sole plate alot like some pro's wear. I was patiently waiting for this review ever since the first pic was up!! Thanks a bunch
hey Bryan, as usual great review! i was wondering where you bought them at? and if there are any discounts/coupons online for said place?
Great review Brian!! Pure class boots, unlike Arsenal today
im liking the blue ones but the red ones also look sick. In your opinion, these or adipure 4's?
@Lawrence
traction felt good. I actually like the stud configuration on these. And to answer @Andy there are actually two different size studs. One is very similar to a regular stud, while the other has a slightly lower profile.
@Ben
I would order true to size, for me that was a great fit. It is more the inside color that stains the socks – didn't effect the color of the leather upper.
@Michael
Insole felt comfy and you are not likely to feel the studs unless you play on cement (I hope not!)
@Danny
UK ProDirect
@Omar
Tough to say – these, once in your lifetime. It just depends when you want to get them!
Thanks for a review of these!
When you first got the cleats (and they were dry) how heavy were they (compared to other cleats)?
also, when you order these and they go through customs does customs charge you or does prodirect pay and just add that price to your cost?
@John
They were 10.4oz to begin, which is a pretty decent weight for an old school cleat.
Great point with the customs and something I wanted to mention – I just received a letter in the mail requesting I pay a charge, so you might get charged if shipped from the UK.
Sweet I just ordered the cleats. does the website send you a confirmation email or anything of that sort Bryan?
ah, nevermind the last comment, they just confirmed the order
Bryan,
How much heavier (in oz.) were they after they soaked up water?
@Mark
About 10.8oz when they dried, so they gained approx 0.4oz.
are these ok with wide feet?
Hi Bryan,
I'm looking at getting a pair of these but am a bit wary about sizing and fit as I can't try them on in Australia. I wear a US 9 Running shoe, so my foot would be a similar size to yours. What size running shoe do you wear, the same as your football boots? Thanks.
I wore a size 9US and they fit perfectly, so i would say order true to size!
is it worth another 30pound to get these instead of copa mundials? i would be a size 8 in copas, do u reccomend the same size for these?
I am not sure about the copas but I have had the pantofola's for about 4 months. they are great cleats. The comfort is amazing – better than almost any shoe i have had before. Traction is prefect. The ball feels great with the cleats on too. I have gotten many complements on how the look as well. Overall they are really great boots, if you have the extra 30 I would spend it on the pantofolas.
You could try using a product like Dubbin to waterproof them. It might prevent water being soaked up, adding extra weight.
how much do they weigh ?