Since I am in the process of testing out the new Nike CTR360 Maestri II, I decided to take out the original CTR360s for comparison. What I found on my balcony broke my own rules on how to take care of your boots. After playing in the rain two weeks ago, I left them outside to dry off – but I failed to clean them. The result is a pair of very baked pair of boots.

Moral of the story; to ensure you get the best life out of your boots wipe them down before you leave them out to dry, or in other words the opposite to above! I have cleaned them in the time since and finally got them out on the pitch for comparison this morning. In terms of the new CTR360 Maestri II, they are working out really well, a great boot that has thus far been super easy to break-in. Below is a teaser picture, stay tuned for a full review in the next week.

Kangaroo Leather (K-Leather)

Pro’s: Offers a lightweight, glove-like fit with excellent touch on the ball. Stretches and molds to the foot after wearing several times.
Con’s: Not waterproof and it lacks durability seen in other leathers.
Interesting Fact: K-Leather has 10 times the tensile strength of cowhide and is 50% stronger than goatskin!
Found on: Adidas adiPure III, Nike T90 Laser III, Puma PowerCat

Calfskin Leather (full-grain)

Pro’s: Very durable and comfortable when they are broken in, helps develop a great touch.
Con’s: Not as soft as K-Leather and takes a little longer to mold to your feet.
Interesting Fact: Full grain is the most common leather found on mid to high-end boots.
Found on: Under Armour Dominate, Adidas adizero

Synthetic Leather (man-made)

Pro’s: Durable and retains its shape well. It is stretch and abrasion resistant, waterproof and breathable.
Con’s: Less feel and natural touch, it is slightly thicker and a little stiffer than K-Leather.
Interesting Fact: Synthetic leather is a man made fabric that is designed to look like K-leather.
Found on: Nike CTR360 Maestri, Nike Vapor VI

Know Your Adidas Leathers

Galeo is a soft, lightweight and breathable leather that has been specifically treated at a tannery to allow for a glove like fit. (Adidas adizero)
Taurus is a full-grain calf leather that combines unsurpassed softness with a lightweight feel. It is durable and weatherproof. (Adidas Predator X)
Ult-K Leather is a soft, quick drying and breathable full grain leather that is designed to feel a lot like K- leather. (Adidas F50i TUNiT)

Skunkies Eliminate Odor

A few weeks back, we put together a post titled ‘Smelly Soccer Cleats: Whats the Solution?‘. In writing that post, I came across a new product called Skunkies, and suggested that they might be worth trying if you have a smelly cleats problem. Well, the inventors of the Skunkies, Jill Levin and Annemarie McCartney, saw the post and decided to send over a few pairs for the SoccerCleats101 team to review.

Since I do have a few pair of cleats that stink up my car, I was more than willing to test them out! After about 2 weeks of using them, I thought I would give an update/review on how they have been fairing.

Simply put, Skunkies are designed to eliminate odor and absorb moisture, which in turn prevents bacteria. Preventing bacteria means that the smell is, essentially, eliminated. Skunkies have been created using products that make them environmentally friendly and non-toxic! They come in three different scents. The ones we got were ‘Extreme Sport’, makes sense! My biggest problem is that after soccer practice, I tend to just throw my cleats in the trunk of my car. After leaving them there for a day or two, things start to stink! So, I have had a set of Skunkies tucked in my cleats in the back of my car. Thankfully, they actually work, and my car has been smell free. They don’t create a flowery scent in your car, instead they simply neutralize the smell, leaving your car smelling like a normal car. When you buy Skunkies, they come in a set of two…so one for each cleat.

And great news, rumor has it they will be listed over at soccer.com in the next month or two, meaning they will be really easy to order along with your new cleats! This will help ensure that from day 1, you are helping to prevent a problem before it starts! Another great thing about the Skunkies is that they can be used for all sports, and not just in cleats…but also in lockers or anywhere you need a fresh scent!

Skunkies sell for less than $5 a pair, well worth ordering with your next purchase.

Do’s:

• Large Chunks of Soil are best removed using warm water and a brush or cloth.
• To dry your cleats, fill them with newspaper, which is highly absorbent. Place the cleats in a dry place.
• The best way to care for your cleats is to use Adidas boot cream. This boot cream was specifically developed for the care of Adidas soccer cleats.
• Leather Cleats do not require waterproofing.
• When storing the cleats, use a boot tree. This way they will maintain their original shape.
• A characteristic of soccer cleats made from genuine leather: In the course of use, a small gap may develop between the outsole and the shank. This is normal and will not affect your play.

Dont’s:

• Do not put leather cleats in a machine machine.
• Do not put the leather cleats in a bag after washing.
• Do not expose the cleats to direct sunlight or a near heat source like an oven or a radiator after washing. The leather must dry from the inside to the outside. If that is not the case the leather may crack which reduces the lifespan of the cleats.

If you want to get a little cleat maintenance kit, you should check out Eurosport Brazilian Shoe Care Kit. At $24.99, it includes one bottle of boot shampoo with sponge applicator tip, one container each of black and clear smooth leather mousse, and one wooden shoe brush.

Also Check Out:
Smelly Soccer Cleats: Whats the Solution?
Taking care of your cleats

Yeah, we have all experienced it, the horrible stench of smelly soccer cleats that have been stuck in a bag for a week!

First off, I never encourage anyone to leave their cleats in a boot bag. After a game, the best thing you can do is stuff them with some newspaper and leave them outside to air dry. Not in direct sunlight, as this process would just overdry the material. Just leave them outside in a shaddy area. Doing this will make a huge difference! To get the most out of your cleats, they need to be treated properly. The best thing to do is see them as an investment! If you can keep them dry, smell should not be an issue unless you are not washing your socks. My best advice is to get into a routine of leaving them outside after practice or games. Here are some key tips:

• Be consistent! Clean your cleats, and air dry them after every practice and every game.
• Stuff your cleats with newspaper, it helps soak up any excess water that lies in your cleats.
• Keep a Bounce sheet in your bag! This is something I advise 100%. After a session, I place a Bounce sheet inside my cleats. Even though it doesn’t fully remove the smell, it still helps!
• Use some Lysol. Lysol helps neutralize odor by killing bacteria. I can tell you from experience that it doesn’t solve the problem, but it can be a temporary solution!
• When buying cleats, choose K-leather rather than synthetic materials. Leather breathes more easily, so the odor does not stay trapped.
• And finally, try out ‘Skunkies‘. This a new product created by a couple soccer moms, after they got tired of their kids’ smelly cleats! They eliminate odor and absorb moisture, which prevents bacteria, leaving cleats smelling a little better!

I found out about Skunkies after reading an article over at philly.com. Their low-tech solution is a sachet filled with “proprietary” powder, meant to draw out moisture and deodorize. I think this is a great idea, and if they actually do work, they will help parents all over he US deal with their smelly cleat issues! You can check out the Skunkies at www.skunkies.net.

So, is there an actual solution? My answer would be no. The key is to work on prevention, and maintain cleats from the first time you wear them. If they are stinking up your space, chances are that it is the right time to invest in a brand spanking new pair. This will solve the smell issue, and also give you a fresh start. This time around, make sure you get it right! If you have any tips for solving the problem of smelly soccer cleats please share with us!

Also Check out:
Taking care of your cleats
Why clean your cleats?

Dirty Soccer Cleats

It happens all the time; you finish your game, put your cleats in your bag, and the following week you take them out for the first time! Cleaning and drying your cleats is the ultimate way to ensure you get the best out of them. And it really does not take that long to keep them in top shape. Here is an important guide to help you keep your cleats in tip-top shape.

After the game: It is important that before you put your cleats in your bag, they should be cleaned off of any substance. If you are playing on a grass surface, bang the cleats together to remove any grass or dirt that may be lodged on the sole. Use a cloth to wipe off any scuffs. Similarly, if playing on turf wipe off any excess dirt.
Bringing them home: After you clean your cleats, it is important to have some sort of a cleat bag to put your cleats in. This will help keep them away from the rest of your gear. When I was younger I just used a plastic bag. Now I use a soccer bag that has plenty of room for my cleats to breath.
When you get home: As soon as you get the chance, it is important to get those cleats out of your bag and ready for the next training session or game. If you have white or light colored cleats this is a very important stage in guaranteeing the color stays sharp. Use a wet rag and wipe the cleat down really well, you only need to lightly wet the rag. An old toothbrush works really to clean off any dirt on your studs/blades.
Drying: After you have the cleats cleaned, roll up some old newspaper and stuff them inside the cleat nice and tight. The Newspaper helps dry the inside. Place the cleats outside, in a dry area away from sunlight. Sunlight will only dry the leather of the cleats and make them crack. It sometimes helps to have them in an area where there is a gust of wind.
Storing for the next time: After you have washed and dried your cleats, use some Chelsea leather food to soften the leather. If you have black cleats, you can also use some black Shoe polish. You should now have a clean pair of cleats that are ready to go back into a shoe bag!

FACT: Cleaning and drying your cleats can DOUBLE the time that they last! That means only having to buy one pair instead of two!

Taking care of your cleats

Breaking them in:
It is important that new cleats are ready for their first 90 minutes. In order for them to be ready, you need to get them loose and comfortable on your feet. The ‘shower technique’ is one that many pro players use to get their leather cleats ready. Chris Loftus, Neil Jones, Andy Dorman and David McGill have all talked about this technique in their articles. The hot water helps the leather expand/loosen a little, giving you some breathing room for when you use them.

Another important step is to wear them jogging or during warm-up rather than wearing them for the first time in a game. The more you can do to loosen up your cleats and get them snug on your feet, the better they will be for that first game. I usually wear a pair for 2-3 jogging sessions and then into a training session. A lot of professional players have several pairs of cleats at one time so that they can break pairs in over time.

Avoiding Blisters:
Breaking cleats in properly will help reduce the possibility of blistering. You definitely want to avoid blisters! If you wear your boots and notice you are feeling the onset of blisters, it is very handy to have some Vaseline around. Just smear it on or around the areas you are feeling the blisters. The Vaseline will help your foot move a little more smoothly against you cleat reducing the friction that occurs.

After the game:
There are certain steps to follow when the game is finished. First, it is important to air dry your cleats. One of the worst things that about 60% of soccer players do is leave their cleats in their bag until the next practice! It is very important to take them out of your bag so they can dry naturally. One tip that the pros do to help dry out cleats is to stuff newspaper inside. This helps soak up any of the dampness that is inside. Where you leave the cleats to dry is also important. Don’t leave them in direct sunlight or somewhere that is very hot. This will only dry them out and cause them to crack. In order to keep you cleats soft and supple, you need to ‘moisturize’ them.

Keeping them soft:
The best solution for this is leather food. A majority of professional soccer players use leather food. I know when I came to the US from Ireland, I would have to fight guys off after practice from using all of mine! My preferred brand is Chelsea Leather Food. It has nothing to do with the Premier league team, so it’s ok to buy if you are a Man Utd fan!! In Danny Kennedy’s review he talks about how he cleans and leather food’s his cleats the day before any game.

Chelsea Leather food at Bizrate.com

Using polish:
Polish is something I used on my boots all the time as a kid. I always had to have the shiniest boots! It never hurts to polish your boots. The most professional players will grab a brush and shine those bad boys up. It is important to make sure that you use a brush to clean off any excess dirt beforehand. Boots like Copas and Puma Kings are definitely shoes you will want to polish up. A few hours after polishing, use some leather food to keep them feeling soft.

So, recapping, it is important to break your cleats in slowly, dry them naturally after games, and keep them supple by using leather food. If you fancy, stuff some newspaper in them for drying, and some shoe polish for that professional player look!