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