Thursday , March 28 2024

Pele Radium Indoor Shoe Review

Pele Radium IN

A company currently working on making a name for themselves in the market is Pele Sports. The Pele Radium is one of their latest endeavors, an indoor shoe that has been named after the futsal team Pele played with in Brazil. Everything about these indoor shoes is designed for control in small-sided games. I had an opportunity to test them out for several weeks in a size 9US and the Running White/Hyper Green/Lemon Chiffon colorway.

Just to note, this review was actually finished several weeks ago, but with the unveiling of so many new boots in recent times it has been put on hold. I have emailed details to some of you already but without waiting any longer, here is  the full version of what you need to know about the Radium!

Breaking In/Comfort

The nature of the Radium’s design allows for a very smooth break in. They are an extremely well padded shoe and the lining is super soft. When you mix this with an extremely flexible rubber sole, you get a shoe that starts out like a well oiled machine. Realistically, you can easily take these from the box right into an indoor game. Something else I like is that the shoe insert molds up around the line of the mid-sole, meaning you also get good support through the arch. I didn’t encounter any problems through wear, so there is not much else to cover here and I highly anticipate most players will find confidence in the overall comfort they provide.

Pele Radium Soleplate

Traction

Playing indoor, you rely heavily on how amount of traction you get from your shoes, and thankfully I found these shoes compete at a high level. I can’t say that the Radium matches the best shoes on the market, but it does give you plenty of reliability. Along the front region of the sole, you get a full lining star shaped pattern that have been cut into the rubber, while the heal features a smooth colored design. It all makes for good grip, but there is that extra element missing to make it a great shoe. The difference I would want to see is a little more texture to add dimension through the front, allowing for super quick turns when needed.

Performance

In game, these are simply a consistent shoe. I never felt like there was anything extraordinary about them, but I also never doubted their performance. The padding throughout allows for a snug fit and the shoe really envelopes your foot. One tidy addition is a reinforced TPU shank through the midfoot, it adds good support.  They offer good durability and match the requirements of any indoor player!

Pele Radium Indoor

Pele Sports Radium Toe

Touch and Control

One aspect of the Radium that gets top marks is its durability – and that is due in part to how the suede toe-cap is positioned on top of a full-grain leather upper. This in turn, offers a pretty exceptional region for touch and control. I found that dribbling with the ball was very comfortable, with the suede acting as an extra level of cushion. And because of how it is positioned, it also compliments shots on goal. You definitely get enough cushion to be able to get full power behind the ball!

Pele Sports Radium Side

How do they Fit?

These are definitely a good option for players with a wide fit. From the mid-foot right through the front of the shoe, you get plenty of space to allow your foot to breathe. In terms of lenght, I wore and was comfortable in a size 9us (true to size) but for players who like some extra space, especially when it comes to the indoor game, going an extra half size up is a very viable option.

Critics Notes

These shoes weigh in at a tidy 10.8oz, which is pretty standard for an indoor shoe. But, I do feel that the shoes are a little too bulky. There are several areas where I feel Pele Sports could cut the padding down, particularly in the heel region. Padding is extremely important when playing indoor, but I just found the Radium to be a little too bulky at times.

Pele Radium IN Range

Summary

I see the Radium as being a solid release from Pele Sports, and it does signal their intent to produce boots that make a difference on the market. There are several aspects where improvements can be made but this is a solid starting point. There are several colorways you can choose from in the range, including a Varsity Royal and a slightly more classic looking Black/Running White (all of which I would only give a C for in design.) Overall, a solid option for those looking for a wide fit or simply a shoe that offers high durability through wear.

Pele Radium Indoor

About Bryan Byrne

The mastermind behind the revolution that is SoccerCleats101. Bryan started this website back in 2008 and has been testing boots on a daily basis ever since. Check out our About Page for more details on Bryan and the website.

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6 comments

  1. Bryan, i play indoor and i am having a bit of trouble with shooting. To get a hard shot do you have to lock your ankle. And also i struggle to get height on my shots? any tips?
    Thanks

    • I wouldn't quite say lock your ankle, but definitely use the tendons/muscles in the region to position your foot an more of a 180 degree angle as you connect with the ball. For getting under the ball, lean back as you connect and try focusing on sweeping your foot under the ball.

  2. Hi Bryan,
    Thanks for this great review, these sound like intriguing boots for wide-footed/ high instep players like myself. I wanted to follow up with you on the sizing of the boots, in particular the length — in your initial post on these boots when they had just arrived, you mentioned that they run a full size long, although in the review itself you note them as being true to size. Could you clarify the length of these boots in comparison with say the Diadora Maracana? Thanks! Geoff

    • I dropped the ball in clarifying between both posts! I actually received a size 9.5 initially, and swapped them for a size 9 for testing. The wide fit on the larger size initially seemed like a huge difference, but in hind-sight I found the 9 to fit pretty much true to size. There is a little more room compared to what a size 9 soccer cleat would offer, but for indoor that is obviously a good thing seeing as there is more cutting and quick turns. In comparison to the Maracana they fit wider up around the toes, but length wise they are very similar!

  3. Got it, thanks Bryan! Geoff

  4. Hey, I need your advice. If i wear a Elastico pro size 7.5, what do you recommend for these?

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