In an effort to add more diversity to the site, I picked up a pair of Nike Tiempo Flight a few weeks back for testing. The Flight offers players a 3rd option in the Tiempo range, behind the Elite and Legend releases. In a sense, they are seen as a more economical version for players who want the Tiempo look at a modest price. What I have discovered in the past few weeks is that these boots offer far than than I could have expected, and they make for a fantastic in-game boot! The pair in question comes in a refined Metallic Summit White/Metallic Gold Grain/Volt colorway and I tested a size 9US. After several games, here is how they worked out.

Breaking-In
After testing, I am adding these boots to the list of must haves when it comes to comfort, with the break-in period taking no more than one wear. Out for the box, there is a high level of flexibility right throughout the Flight. The soleplate has a comfortable break right under the big-toe ball socket. This is something that actually sets the Flight apart from the Elite version – in a positive way! I found the carbon fiber soleplate on the Tiempo Elite version to be tough to break-in, leading to the conclusion that sometimes less is actually better! A suede lining is used inside the boot and ensures your foot is kept snugly in place through wear. I wore these boots in 1 training session, right out of the box, before taking them into a game without any problems.

Performance
There is nothing spectacular about the performance of the Tiempo Flight – they are simply a steady boot that, in the words of a Sure, “won’t let you down”!! The upper is soft and gives a pretty solid level of touch on the ball. I am a fan of the stitching used on the entire Tiempo range, as it creates comfortable padding without being overly pronounced. I mentioned the soleplate above, but again it is a highlight of the boot with its simple construction and generalized stud configuration allowing players to play long games without worrying about any common problems.

Compared to the Legend
Other than the difference in price (around $55) the primary difference lies in the upper, with the Flight featuring a calfskin leather upper compared to a K-leather on the Tiempo Legend. The calfskin still feels extremely supple and it offers great touch, but you do lose out on some of the durability properties found in the Legend. In terms of visuals, it is pretty tough to tell both boots apart! The obvious difference lies in the heel, where Tiempo Flight is displayed and a heel counter is missing. Both versions are offered in the same colorways. On release, if you had given me an option between both boots, I would immediately selected the Legend. But having now tested both, there is much food for thought on simply picking up a pair of Flights and saving some extra money!

Negatives
On this colorway, the upper is naturally a little tougher to keep clean. But other than that there is not a lot of negatives to find out! For players who want technology, this boot is not for you – there is an air of simplicity about the whole package and there is nothing that explicitly separates them from other releases on the market.

The Skinny Summary
Highlight: A subtle and refined looking boot that provides consistent performance and a comfortable fit through wear, at a fantastic price point! Excellent value for money.
Category: 2nd level Heritage behind the Legend.
Weight: A very competitive 9.0oz, which is actually 0.6oz lighter than the Legends!
Would I Buy Them: Absolutely! Having tested them, these boots stand as one of the best value for money options on the market in my opinion.
Player Position: The Flight is a boot suited to most player types and positions, but ultimately I feel like defenders and center mids will benefit most from the simple boot design and soft leather upper. A fantastic option for players on a budget!

Diadora are back with a new, rather full-flavored release, the first we have seen from the Italian company in a while. There are a lot of visuals behind the Evoluzione K Pro GX 14 and it is a boot that features plenty of Diadora’s key technology. The first release in the series comes in a Black/Yellow Fluo colorway and to get your hands on the heritage release, they retail for $160.

Even though the upper has a pretty futuristic look, it is basically just a K-leather upper with a splash of paint work. The yellow stripes along the front of the boot don’t add to performance, they are simply there to make the boot look pretty! I have always been a fan of Diadora’s uppers, particularly on releases like the Maracana, and this version features a water resistant, ultra soft and lightweight. The boot itself weighs in at 9.6oz, which is just above average weight of a release.

NET Breathing System
Obviously, the NET Breathing System  needs to get it’s own entire section, seeing as it is the latest technological advancement in the footwear industry. Its purpose is to keep your feet dry and cool by allowing maximum breathability through a waterproof soleplate. Once you think about it, the concept of allowing your feet to breath in a waterproof environment seems pretty unattainable. There are several layers involved in making it happen, including a synthetic fiber net and a breathable, waterproof membrane that improve breathability while keeping moisture out. Read more about NET Breathing System on the DD Eleven review.

 Mizuno are a brand that continue to tease the taste buds of soccer players in the US with their range of consistent performing boots proving difficult to buy here! If there is an opportunity that the Japanese giant will enter the market, the Supersonic Wave 2 will certainly be a top seller! Built to fit the heritage mold, the Supersonic Wave features a K-leather upper with some seriously unusual paneled stitching and Feather Touch System. I managed to grab a pair of size 9US a few weeks back and have had them in testing since.

Although they are not available directly in the US, check the eBay Mizuno listings if you are looking for a pair – they vary in price from $150 to $200.

Breaking In
When you first get your hands on these, they exude pure confidence; the upper feels supple, the soleplate offers plenty of flexibility and they look like a formula one racing car. So, naturally there is an air of excitement as you wear them for the first time. Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed through an initial jogging session and they felt comfortable. This continued as I wore them in the first game and through testing. The soleplate is flexible and the upper molds very easily. One aspect of the boot I like is the tongue, which Mizuno keep relatively thin. But on the underneath, they have a soft layer of sponge that offers enough protection without feeling overly dramatic on your foot. There is nothing overly impressive about the Supersonic Wave in terms of comfort, but they work as intended.

Heritage Release
There are a lot of great heritage release on the market and it is actually a pretty tough category to break into. But, these boots easily fit in the top 5. Everything about them has a classic look and appeal, plus you get the addition of FTS (feather touch system) on the side of the boot.

Performance
The one aspect of these boots that really seems to capture attention is the FTS, or feather touch system, that sits on the side of the boot. It is designed to give you a closer control as you dribble on the ball. You will notice that the stitching is angled in a very unusual fashion, with a PU design printed through the panels. This gives the upper an extra level of cushioning that combines with the slightly grippy PU to produce closer ball control. Its positioning makes complete sense and I am all for its inclusion, but during wear I never felt like it was that noticeable. You also have to factor in what part of the foot you use while dribbling at speed – I know some players use a more centered touch.

Mizuno has modified its stud design, with each conical stud featuring “wings” on either side. I found that this caused the boots to stick at times on turf surfaces, as more surface area means more drag. On natural surfaces, they produce just the right amount of grip and it wasn’t an issue. The studs are also created using dual density technology, so they are definitely designed to be an option for players on artificial and natural surfaces.

How Does it Fit?
In a very similar fashion as the initial Supersonic Wave release, these fit true to size. There is not a great deal of room through the midfoot, so they are not a great option from players needing a wide fit. The angle at which the upper and soleplate connect around the toes is pretty acute, meaning the upper has a very snug fit over your foot.

Negatives
The only real negative surrounds the particular colorway employed on this version. I found that they start to look old very quickly, and having a white upper means you need to clean them after each use. Another point to keep in mind is that the stud configuration can be kind of tricky on turf surfaces. I didn’t encounter too many problems, but I have received feedback about it. Basically, the shape of the studs seem to drag through wear, causing them to stick in the surface sometimes. If you have tested these, make sure to leave your feedback below for others on this.

The Skinny Summary
Highlight: Out of the box, they will make your jaw drop! Designed for touch, with angled stitching and a PU feather touch system placed along the resulting paneling. A definite top 5 heritage releases.
Category: Heritage all around. The look and feel like a classic boot, but they feature a very modern upper that gives them their own unique flavor.
Weight: A very tidy 8.6oz, which leaves them sitting below the average for heritage releases.
Would I Buy Them: If they were available on the US market, yes – but with the current range of high performing heritage boots currently on the market, I don’t see them as a must have. International shipping can be expensive!
Player Position: They are pretty generic to the market, so they offer value to all players on the field from goalkeepers to pacey strikers.

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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.