And the Best New Boot of 2014 is……

With all the new releases we were exposed to this World Cup year, there is many ways we could have gone with this one – but ultimately, there can only be one best new boot of 2014 winner!

Contesting for the title were boots such as the Adidas Predator Instinct, Nike Superfly IV, Nike Vapor X, Puma evoPOWER 1, Adidas 11Pro, Puma King SL Classico, Nike Magista Obra and the surprise addition of the Umbro UX-1. There are plenty of other boots that sit just on the fringe and easily could have been included in any top list, but this was our whittled down list that made the final cut.

Top Contenders

Adidas Predator Instinct (review)

It has basically been the year of the Predator, as adidas looked to celebrate the history and 20th anniversary of the iconic silo. In order to produce of their most technically advanced boot of all time, the brand took a step back in time and added former pieces of performance from older models to make this modern edition. These are less about lower weight and more about comfort and providing an ideal strike on the ball.

Nike Vapor X (review)

When it comes to the perfect boot for speed an acceleration, they don’t come much better than the 2014 edition of the Mercurial Vapor. With a lightly textured, dimpled upper and a tongueless design, they provide clean touch on the ball and a tight snug right through the midfoot.

Umbro UX-1 (review)

The dark horse of the list, a boot that many might not have considered before. But Umbro created something special with the UX-1. This is not a boot focused on lightweight speed, instead Umbro has taken an old school stance and produced a solid, well built power boot. The upper is designed to be durable and who wouldn’t love the opportunity to strike some solid shots with that highly defined strikezone!

And the winner is….

Puma evoPOWER 1 (review)

Just a perfectly balanced boot that players right across the pitch can utilize to full effect. Featuring plenty of technology in the form of a GSF soleplate (design to bend in both directions), an AdapLite upper material the stretches perfectly across the forefoot and AccuFoam through the strikezone for lightly cushioned connection on the ball, there is a lot to admire about how Puma has pieced these together.

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Boots and Bantz – Best New Boot of 2014

In this weeks episode of “Boots and Bantz”, we actually spent time discussing the top boots and played them off against each other in an Elite Eight style bracket, as we looked to find the best new boot of 2014. It all takes place in the second half of the episode, see the below YouTube video for a comprehensive rundown of why the evoPOWER is the best of 2014.