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You can call this somewhat of a “surprise arrival” as I wasn’t expecting a pair for review – but having the Puma King Finale SL in hand, I am excited about testing them! Puma has followed a growing trend by producing a lightweight version of its heritage boot. I’m not quite sure that the King was originally designed to be lightweight, and I certainly hope this is not the direction Puma are headed with the boot, but having a lightweight version to choose from is certainly not a bad thing!

Everything about the Dark Navy/White/Team Orange colorway looks pretty traditional and the initial images released capture exactly what the boots look like in person.

Right out of the box you can feel the difference in the upper, with the leather around the strike zone substantially thinner. The tongue has also been modified to the extremes, with the fold over tongue completely removed. Mixing these with the removal of a feel counter, the final product is a 7.9 oz boot. From initial reaction, I can’t say there are many obvious areas to distinguish these from the King Finale, but I plan to get them into testing next week to see how they compare. Stay tuned for a full review to come in the next few weeks. One other important note; Puma include a pretty awesome, black leather boot bag in the package – great bonus!

For those looking to pick up a pair, they are retailing for $199.99 and are available at soccer.com.

I have received several emails from readers recently, looking for details on which boot is a better option; the Adidas F50 adiZero miCoach or the Pele Trinity 3E. Both boots offer their own individual set of positive characteristics to the market, so defining which one is “better” is simply unrealistic. Instead, here is our break down of how they compare in several different categories to help you decide which pair is right for you!

For full reviews, check out Adidas F50 adiZero miCoach or Pele Trinity – otherwise, keep reading below!

The Uppers – Plenty of choices
You have a choice when it comes to Adidas – either a synthetic or Galeo full-grain leather. Both have been used on previous releases, showing there is some consistency in how they perform. Pele Sports employ an all new Symbioskin upper that is touted to be very durable, with little to no scuffing. Because it is new, it is really untested through the market.

What does this mean in terms of touch? You will notice a great difference between all 3, but from testing both I can tell you that the Trinity feels a lot thinner and you can really feel the ball. This gives you more feel but less protection. My choice for most natural feel goes to the leather F50 adiZero, with the Galeo leather easily molding and shaping around the ball as you connect.

How much do they weigh?
Pele Trinity 5.6oz – Adidas F50 adiZero 6.0oz
The Pele Trinity “wins” in the weight category. I say “wins” because when you hit the lightweight levels seen in these releases, the difference becomes little less than a talking point! Both boots are built for ultimate speed and acceleration but don’t factor your decision solely on which boot is lighter.

How do they fit?
The Adidas F50 adiZero fits very much true to size lenght wise, whereas the Pele Trinity fits long. I normally wear a size 9US, my ideal size in these boots is a 9US in the adiZero and an 8.5US in the Trinity. In terms of width, they offer a very similar fit – medium/wide. For those that need a more narrow fit, Pele Sports has actually released an SL version specifically for you!

Technology Included
This is a category where Adidas win hands down thanks to the inclusion of miCoach performance tracking. The performance chip sits in a cavity in the soleplate and it is designed to track several aspects of you game, including your speed and distance run.

Everything to do with the Soleplate
Adidas stick with their triangular shaped studs on the same SprintFrame that is being used right across their ranges – this shows their confidence in the finished product. Because the miCoach chip sits in a cavity around the midfoot area, there was concerns around comfort. I am happy to report that there are no problems and they feel great from first wear.

But – the Pele Trinity wins out in terms of soleplate innovation! The stud configuration on these boots is absolutely extreme and is one of the focal points of the release. The idea of playing with 3 misaligned studs at the back goes against the norm, you grow up expecting at least 2-4 parallel studs to keep you stable in play. Pele Sports claim that “The extreme position of the rear tripod studs trigger earlier ground contact and stability with high velocity release and the forefoot studs permit excellent traction and explosive acceleration.” I found the configuration to be particularly effective, and my concerns of turning my ankle were unfounded. In fact, I felt more balanced in these shoes than many other pairs on the market.

Price Points
Both boots were released on the market with the same price point of $200 -  a number that seems to be consistent for super lightweight releases at the moment. The only difference is that you will need to fork out extra money to buy the miCoach SPEED_CELL technology, which is in the region of $60.

“So, which one should I buy?”
That depends on what you are in the market for. Most players will tend to drift toward the adiZero, simply because Adidas are such an established brand. But realistically, the Pele Trinity is a contender for players who are on the fence; you get a lightweight boot, a newly developed upper material and one of the most unusual stud configurations ever released on a boot! For players that want the ability to take things to the next level and track their game performance, then you will need to pay a little extra for miCoach technology, something that is definitely worth the money.

New + innovative = the Pele Trinity
Tested + Performance based = Adidas F50 adiZero

Grab yourself a pair of Pele Trinity or Adidas F50 adiZero right now!

I have been waiting to get my hands on these for a few weeks now, but finally the Adidas adiPure 11Pro has arrived for review! The newest heritage boot from Adidas features a Taurus leather upper, a ton of modifications and it comes in at a lightweight 8.2oz – the lightest adiPure ever released.

The pictured version is officially listed as a Black/White/Slime colorway, which is actually seen to be the more traditional style release in the series!

A few weeks back, we featured a comprehensive, in-depth breakdown on what the new adiPure has to offer. You are getting a completely redesigned upper, the option to use miCoach technology, a soleplate designed for additional flexibility, conical studs and an overall lighter weight.

Opinions have been mixed on the new release with some questioning why Adidas has strayed away from the more old-school, traditional boot that offered one of the highest levels of consistency in the game. With the changing climate of the market, I am sure Adidas sought to move progressively forward, ensuring they have the most advanced “heritage” release available for players, before anyone else. The upper on the pair I received feels slightly stiff, which I am hoping is hoping that will dispel after a session or two. The midfoot definitely feels like it has much more support than previous versions.

Stay tuned for a full breakdown and review in the next few weeks – until then, enjoy the images. For those looking to pick up a pair, they are retailing for $134.99 and are available at WeGotSoccer.

Hot off the initial release of the Umbro Speciali 3, there is another new time-honored colorway available for players to choose from! The most impressive part is that we have the first exclusive images of the boots, to give you an up-close and personal view of just how they look. They come complements of a more subtle/classic look, with the official colorway listed as a Black/White/Blue.

I will be putting these through testing in the coming weeks, but until then enjoy this pretty awesome selection of images!

In terms of performance, the Speciali gives players an upper that consists of a K-leather strike zone, for supreme feel and touch on the ball. Umbro also offer a microfiber through the heel to reduce weight and improve the boots overall durability. A soft micro-fiber collar lines the ankle line for improved comfort – something I will never complain about. The lacing system has been switched up for the first time on a Speciali release, with an asymmetrical lacing design offering a larger strike zone.

It is quite evident that Umbro are confident in the performance of their soleplate, sticking with the same contoured last used in the original Speciali, known for its professional, snug fit. Weight wise, they come in at a very encouraging 9.2oz.

This version has an impressive initial retail price of $130.

There is a traditional look about this release, but under the hood the offer what you don’t expect! The new Puma King Finale SL weighs in at a pretty appetizing 7.9oz, which represents a 1.3oz drop from the regular King Finale. Off course, it is the regions where the boot has been trimmed down that is important for players who might be considering a pair.

This version of the boot comes in a Dark Navy/White/Team Orange colorway and the retail price will sit around the $199.99 mark to start. That is a substantial increase for a release in the King range, but as we know, creating lightweight cleats is the current trend and it automatically results in higher valuations.

Creating an SL
In order to drop the weight of the boot to 7.9oz, puma has made some significant changes. For example:

• Cut off tongue – not only has the amount of fabric used in the tongue been been cut back, but the fold over tongue has been completely removed, an aspect I am very pleased about!
• K-leather upper slimmed – Puma still use a K-leather upper, but they have modified it to be thinner. This improves feel on the ball but reduces protection.
• Heel Counter trimmed – The heel counter has been completely trimmed down, with any excess material removed.

Sticking with a K-leather upper is obviously a smart move on Puma’s part. Introducing anything else on the range would have been sacrilegious – I am sure it is something that was considered in Puma offices somewhere! But, players have expectations about the range and although lightweight is probably not one of those expectations, it is a feature that will have fans eager to test out a pair. Another interesting aspect is that we are seeing pro players wearing them – something we have not seen from SL versions released by other companies. Thierry Henry has been one of the high-profile players you might have spotted with a pair on this weekend.

I am definitely eager to test out a pair, especially because of the positive vibes I encountered through testing the King Finale. These don’t compete with the lightest boots on the market, but they are one of the lightest k-leather upper boots you will find. Finally, it seems like they will offer attacking players in particular another fantastic option to choose from! Stay tuned for a review and more details in coming weeks.

The first Spring looking release of the year has hit the market, coming in the form of the Puma V1.11. We are pretty familiar with eccentric releases from Puma and this Dresden Blue/White/Lime Punch offers a combo of colors that sway well away from tradition. Reaction to the release has been very mixed, with a distinct divide between those that like them and those that hate them. Either way, those that wear them will have a boot that is ready to take you into the summer season!

The boot is in itself a solid performer and is currently the boot of choice of several top-flight players including Man City’s Sergio Aguero. Having recently tested the V1.11, I can tell you that the lightweight nature of the boot suited my game and I found them to be an effective tool when it comes to acceleration. You are also getting an extremely durable upper that is designed to last, with the upper to soleplate bonded and cemented together effectively. The lace cover also has an affective purpose, as it doubles as a lace cover while allowing you full access to the laces.

It is important to note that sizing should be considered before buying a pair of V1.11. If you are not familiar with Puma shoes, they generally fit tight and the V1.11 features a unique box toe design – so I recommend going a half size up. For those of you who know their size in previous V series releases, these fit very similarly, with some additional width at the top of the boot.

For those that want something a little, Puma are also releases a K-Leather version of the boot that offers a more efficient first touch on the ball. They retail for a slightly higher $199, but while testing the K-Leather version, I found they were my preferred choice due to the uppers flexible nature.

If you decide to pick up a pair of Synthetic V1.11′s, they retail for around $180.

Straight off the bat, I can tell you that simply looking at pictures of this new colorway in the Puma PowerCat 1.12 series really doesn’t do them justice. It comes in an official Black/Dark Shadow/White/Lime Punch, but the Dark Shadow upper that sits around the ankle region offers an almost metallic look that differentiates it from other releases. Mixed with a prime Black K-leather upper and dynamic Lime Punch detailing, you get a very modern, vintage boot.

The PowerCat 1.12 has become known as the “Fabregas” boot since the Barcelona playmaker made a controversial switch from Nike. This latest release is only the 2nd colorway we have seen in the range and it is the first dark toned version.

Having tested the PowerCat 1.12 recently, I encountered no major problems other than some scuffing on the white upper. The major talking point of the release lies along the strike zone, where you will find Puma’s newly innovated PST, or Power Shooting Technology. It is comprised of two separate regions of TPU, both featuring different densities and serving opposite functions. In terms of sizing, the one company I regularly encounter issues with is Puma – but they seem to have got these spot on! Length wise, they are absolutely true to size and make for a perfect fit.

This version has an initial retail price of $180.

If you are a fan of the Adidas F50 adiZero range, but have not yet found the right colorway, Adidas has released a new Phantom/White/Electricity version that incorporates a recent release with very atypical colors. From what we have seen so far, this is one of the better looking releases in the adiZero range, and it will see added popularity since it includes miCoach technology. This version, as pictured above, comes compliments of a Goleo calf-leather upper.

As well as the recently released Slime/Silver/Black, we also saw a similar look in the original F50 adiZero Prime series, a Black/White/Electricity, so it definitely looks like Adidas has found a combo of colors that is popular with the market. I like this version more than what we have seen so far, with the minor modification in color choice offering a positive vibe.

At 6oz, there is no doubting this lightweight release is designed for speed. And adding the concept of performance tracking makes these a very appealing release. The miCoach chip does a good job of capturing your data through play and the benefits of seeing how you performed can help you improve your game. It sits very comfortably in the cavity of the boot and you will have no idea it is there through wear.

Something important to note is that this is just the boot – if you want to include miCoach tracking system, you need to purchase a sensor separately or look for a package deal. The F50 adiZero comes in at under $190 and is only currently available on WeGotSoccer, while the miCoach chip can be purchased for $70.

We have seen some excellent releases from Umbro in recent times, and this colorway release in the Geometra Pro range continues to increase their stock. This is officially the White/Red/Kingfisher colorway, as debuted over the past few weekends in the EPL – you might have spotted players such as Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson wearing them.

Umbro offered us a unique opportunity to own a pair of the new colorway, before they actually hit the US market, which we gratefully accepted! I recently had the opportunity to test the Geometra Pro and was extremely impressed with what they have to offer, so needless to say I expect nothing less of this version.

What really differentiates these boots from the rest of the market is the strategically positioned ECZ, or Energy Control Zone. This is the padded region that sits along the instep (as pictured below) and it makes for a fantastic addition, particularly when you go to take long passes out of the air. In fact, it is the best piece of technology I have seen added along that region of any boot on the market! The concept of padding the region makes complete sense, and Umbro employ a Teijin medial pad with memory foam to do so.

Another aspect of the boot that helps in terms of control is the silicon-bonded grip zone that sits just above your big toe. It sort of feels like a suede and it adds some extra grip and better touch, helping to improve control. It is especially effective when you are playing in wet conditions, as the region almost feels a little rougher.

This latest colorway is very sharp and they offer a complimentary look to most team kits (Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd and Barcelona all included), although there is the obvious concern of keeping the white K-leather upper clean! Since I had such a positive experience while reviewing the Geometra Pro first time around, I am going to take advantage of this pair and will update with a second report in the next few weeks. They are not yet available to purchase, but for those interested in the range, check out the latest Black/White/Sharp Green/True Red release.

Once they hit the market, they will retail for $170. Shout to Umbro for sending the boots over,  make sure to follow them on Facebook for all the latest news on their end!