Next indoor shoe up for review is the very colorful Joma Top Flex. As you are probably aware, Joma are not quiet a household name when it comes to soccer shoes and cleats. However, the company’s drive to increase their presence on the market has been very noticeable in recent times, and the full spectrum of shoes available in the Top Flex range show just how serious they are! I have been quiet surprised with their all round performance through testing and I have to admit, these are a surprise package! For review, I wore a size 9US in the Royal/Flou Citron colorway.

Breaking In/Comfort
One thing I have found Joma do well is create comfortable boots – as was the case with the Top Flex. They have plenty of room and a medium/wide fit, so from first wear you won’t have to stress about them being too tight. I was satisfied with a size 9US (they fit true to size) but I did find that the angle at the front of the boot is a little high and leaves an unnecessary gap. You could say that it doesn’t quiet sit snugly on your toes. But besides that, in play they turned out to be super comfortable. I think the name of the shoe is pretty self-explanatory, with the sole offering excellent flexibility as you run. Overall, I was able to wear them in a game from day 1, and they offered a higher level of comfort throughout.

Traction
For me, this is where the highlight of this range lies. The sole has a completely unique profile compared to other indoor shoes, with Joma choosing a more rounded shape and step in the middle of the shoe. This, according to Joma, means you are getting a more natural fit that offers an increased level of comfort. I tend to agree and really felt the sole was in sync with the movement of my fit. The sole is made of gum rubber, which of course is non-marking, and I found that the level of traction is about as good as you are going to get from any indoor shoe. Quick turns are a breeze and I never felt like they were going to give – something that is vitally important when playing indoor.

Performance
Overall performance was very competitive. You can tell that Joma have put a lot of time and energy into ensuring their indoor range matches up to the best the market has to offer. As stated above, the sole is designed to give you every advantage on court and it is definitely the highlight of the shoe. The one area where I found the Top Flex struggles is touch. The area of the suede toecap that runs between the leather upper and soleplate at the front of the shoe is a little too rigid and seems to have a higher profile than is needed. In turn, this takes away from your first touch at times, and doesn’t quiet perform as well as the likes of the Nike5 Lunar Gato. In saying that, striking the ball and taking shots felt great. The suede toecap does serve its purpose to that extent and is perfectly positioned along the side of the boot.

Touch and Control
Overall, you are not going to have too many problems when dribbling or playing passes with the Top Flex. The leather upper feels great when playing passes and taking shots. The one area of concern, as stated above, is the high-profile suede toe-cap that leaves something to be desired in terms of first touch. You don’t get that all-in-one synced feel between your foot and the ball as the suede sort of doubles along the front. Maybe over time as the suede softens up this won’t be as much of an issue, but starting off it was a concern. I would not let that be the determining factor, as they still offer a great touch when on the ball.

Negatives
In my opinion, the biggest deterrent to this release is the fact that these shoes are made by Joma rather than the likes of Adidas or Nike. Lets be honest, brand names have power. But what I have learned about Joma through this review is they can compete with the big boys! In terms of actual performance, the suede toecap cause most concern – I am not a fan of the slightly higher profile of the design.

Summary
There is no doubt that if you decide to buy a pair of Joma Top Flex indoor shoes, you are going to be satisfied. They might not be one of the bigger brand names, but having tested these I can tell you that Joma are making huge strides in becoming one of the more competitive indoor shoes on the market. They are very comfortable, and the sole offers one of the most competitive levels of traction you are going to find around. They also weigh in at 9.4oz, which is probably one of the lightest indoor shoes you will wear. Joma also include two pairs of laces with each pair of shoes (2 different colors) and you have a wide selection of colorways to choose from (as seen below)! Overall, I would say well done Joma!

Brought to you by

Joma Top Flex at Bizrate.com

Joma have released several new colorways in their top range, the Total Fit. The highlight of the Total Fit lies in how they are created – with one single piece of K-Leather. They are an extremely unique boot that have a ton of simplicity, yet the comfort of any modern boot.

One of the releases, the Red/White, carries the same simple look seen on the black version of the range. I tested the black version and was impressed with how amazingly responsive the leather is – so soft and supple! The other two releases come with some additional detailing; a Black/White/Citron and a pretty tasty White/Black/Red. Each has a unique look that adds a different look to what we have seen in the range.

The fact that these boots are made from one piece of leather has a lot to do with the high level of comfort they offer. Having one piece means that there is less stitching and less loosening to work in. In essence, these boots are designed to start molding to your foot from day 1. I am normally a size 9US, and wore a size 9US while testing them. The Total Fit fits a little long and slightly narrow, but unless you are a small size 9 (have about a finger width of room in a size 9) I would stick with ordering your normal size. I actually enjoyed the fit as they easily mold to the shape of your foot.

Joma has created something quiet unique with the Total Fit by simply going back to the basics of creating a classic soccer cleat. At first glance, the Total Fit looks like a pretty simple cleat, very plain and ordinary – without any added elements. But the fact that they are created from a single piece of K-Leather makes them unlike any other boot on the market. I wore a size 9US in the black version for testing, and had the opportunity to wear them in around 6-8 trainings and 2 games.

Breaking In
The Joma Total Fit breaks in as sweet as a nut. From day 1, they feel great to run in. I recently saw an interview with Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina who stated that they were one of the most comfortable boots he had ever worn, and I tend to agree with that statement. The fact that these boots are made from one piece of leather has a lot to do with the comfort. Having one piece means that there is less stitching and less loosening up to be achieved. In essence, these boots are designed to start molding to your foot from day 1. It is always nice to go through your first training session feeling like you have been wearing them for a while, and that is exactly how these were. I never felt the need to change out of them, in fact I was tempted on occasion to wear them home (not really.)

Sizing
I am normally a size 9US, and wore a size 9US for this review. The Total Fit fits a little long and slightly narrow, but unless you are a small size 9 (have about a finger width of room in a size 9) I would stick with ordering your normal size. I actually enjoyed the fit as they easily mold to the shape of your foot.

Technology and Design
Joma has created a new multi-stud design that is lightweight and fixed with a more narrow arch than in previous models. Ten studs line the forefront, with 4 on either side and 2 in the middle. The design allows for complete protection round 360 degrees of the foot. You also get the one piece leather design, which I am thoroughly impressed with! Joma use one piece of leather that wrap your whole foot. The only stitching that exists is on the outer joining of the leather, so the cleat is completely smooth all the way around to the back of the cleat. There are no fancy elements or added features, you are getting one piece of k-leather attached to a sole-plate, with some laces to keep them on your feet. Plain and simple. But again, don’t let this fool you, there is a lot of quality involved! The current range comes in two colorways, a straight up black and a plain white. They have that old school look about them.

Negative
Because the leather is so soft, I found that when I left them in my boot bag and they were leaning against something else, they actually sort of folded in. Lets be honest, knowing your leather is that soft and responsive is a great thing (it will mold to your feet!) My solution was to use shoe horns (or just stuffing the toes with paper is sufficient) to keep them in shape. Another issue is the tongue, and I found I had to tie my laces over them to keep them in place. Again, not a huge issue but it is worth noting.

Summary
I like these boots because of their simplicity. So many companies are currently trying to add new features to their boots, make them lighter or add safety elements. Joma keep it simple, and go back to a classic look in doing so. Weighing in at 9.4oz, these are a perfect compliment to any player on the field from the back line to forwards. They can’t be classified as a Power boot, or a Speed boot, they are more of a hybrid! If you are in the market for a pretty simple boot that will fit well and is not flashy, definitely consider the Joma Total Fit as an option.

*To really understand the quality of the leather, click on the images to enlarge them

(*boots supplied for review by soccer.com)