Soccer Cleats 101 Soccer Cleats News and Reviews
We are about to hit August, which for many of you means a new preseason is fast approaching. Many of you are probably looking for new boots right now – well here is a list of some important tips that we put together to help you make the right buying decision for the long season ahead.
1 – Pick up 2 pairs of boots!
Many players are under the impression that the more money you pay on boots the more durable they will be – this is completely false! Spending money gets you the most advanced boots in terms of technology but it doesn’t mean the boots are designed to last a full season.
Top tier boots are designed with professional players in mind – what professional player do you know that wears one pair of boots for an entire season?
The better option is to look at picking up 2 pairs of boots; 1 for practice and 1 for game day. Picking up more economical options not only saves money but in many cases results in more durable boots. The tips below should help organize how you go about getting the best deals, but the obviously the important thing to remember is that the cheaper boot will be used for practice while the more expensive boot will be used for game time.
2 – Consider 2nd Tier Options
Many players immediately brush aside second tier releases and look to purchase the more expensive boot in the range – well hold on their Speedy Gonzales. Take a second to look at what the likes of the Nike Miracle or Adidas Absolion have to offer. The second tier of releases are actually usually more durable and last longer – plus they are extremely more economical, saving you more money for a second pair. Larger companies invest more time promoting the top-tier $200 release, for obvious reasons, but it is the 2nd tier $120 that they sell most pairs of. This means a larger audience judge their performance on that 2nd-tier boot – thus a lot of time and effort is invested into producing a quality finished product.
3 – The Unknowns
Some of the lesser known brands keep their prices lower to compete on the market and in many cases their boots offer fantastic value. The likes of Diadora and Lotto are world renowned brands have have a proven track record for quality releases, while the likes of Under Armour and Asics are working to break into the market with their own advanced technologies. These companies are not as prominent when it comes to media advertising, instead they invest additional money in boot performance and word of mouth advertising. A great option right now is the Diadora Maracana – it has a fantastic leather upper and is a perfect back-up boot, at only $69.99!
4 – Last Season’s Releases
Again, many players forget that when they were released, prior releases were the “big thing”. So often with releases, we hear companies saying “these are the best boots ever to hit the market”. Well guess what, they have to say that for every new release! It doesn’t mean that this seasons release is better than the last and in many instances the older version of the boot was actually better. Take the current Predator LZ vs the adiPower Predator – there is an argument for the adiPower being a better release, even though Adidas won’t admit that. With the adiPower already on the market for over a year, prices are starting to drop and there are some great deals to be found on a new pair.
5 – Sales – Hit the Sales!
There are always sales going on that you should be looking to take advantage of. In some cases there might not be a big selection in your size, but with a little persistence you might find that bargain 2nd pair to use as your backup pair. We keep our Steals and Deals page updated with an awesome WeGotSoccer 20% off code listed there right now, keep an eye on that page for some hidden gold.
We want to know your guys opinion on selecting new boots for a long season. If you have any more tips that can be added to the list, leave them in the comments section below.
