In the coming months we will review a great selection of football boots, from all of the top brands, and as is the case here, compare some of the models from different brands which go head to head in style, technology and target market.
The Speed Range of football boots is based around lightweight boots, flash colour’s and styling, and maximum technology. Not the boots you typically see on goalkeepers, these are aimed at wingers and strikers and the creative players in a team. So, perhaps we aren’t the best to review them, but we’ll try anyway!
Today’s review includes the top 3 “speed” football boots on the market at the moment from Adidas, Nike and Puma. First up, the Adidas F50 AdiZero football boots.
The Adidas F50 AdiZero review.
The Adidas F50 AdiZero are the lightest of the boots in this review, by a big margin, as they weigh only 165 grams! This is a huge difference to the other boots and you feel it immediately.
The boots though, feel surprisingly sturdy despite being so thin, and are very comfortable. You will see bands on the insole of the boots which do a fantastic job of supporting the boots and your foot.
The sole is great on firm pitches, though we aren’t sure if the new angular studs are what offers added comfort. They have a more traditional feel than other “speed” boots as well, with a traditional front lace with full length tongue which we think greatly improves feel and comfort – some of the covered lace designs are just too gimmicky!
Overall, we love the Adidas F50 AdiZero, and find it hard to fault. The synthetic upper may quickly age, as it shows creases quickly in any flex zones, but as this doesn’t affect performance, it’s not really a flaw. And we are pleased that all models are offered in a slightly heavier leather version, this offers more players the chance to benefit from a fantastic boot.
JustSocca Score: 9/10
The Nike Mercurial Vapor VI Review.
Weighing in at 230 grams, the Nike Mercurial Vapor VI are only 20 grams heavier than the much more expensive Superfly edition of the boots, and though you would notice the difference, they are still very light once they are on.
The heel and insole of the Vapor VI combine to offer added comfort over its expensive big brother, and the outer of the boot feels thicker and offers more padding. Though the differences might actually not be as pronounced as we felt, on the pitch this gave us more confidence.
The sole unit is fantastic and offers great support on firm surfaces, but the forefoot design wasn’t our favourite. The toe area is a little large which meant the bend in the boot could dig in a little, but what affected us might not affect someone with a different foot shape! Overall, we like the Nike Mercurial Vapor VI, but the £180.00 price tag lost it a point or two in our final score.
JustSocca Score: 7.5/10
The Puma v1.10 Boot review.
The Puma v1 range has been evolving for a few years now, and the Puma v1.10 boots are the latest in this long line of lightweight football boots. Having said that, they are the heaviest boot in this review, weighing 235 grams, which is still light compared to most other styles of boot.
The first thing we noticed is that they felt small, mainly due to being a narrower boot, so if you have a wide sole, you might add a half size to your normal shoe size. Then, after wearing the previous two boots, we noticed the added weight, they do feel heavier, and as a result of the multi-material design, they feel a lot more rigid.
The sole on the Puma v1.10 boots is great though, with smaller studs than the others which offer a comfortable feel on hard surfaces. As well as this, we like the tongue cover, which still gives enough access to the laces to make tightening them easier than similar designs on the market.
That said though, they unfortunately don’t feel quite as light, or even as expensive as the other models, despite being in the same price bracket.
JustSocca Score: 6/10
And the Winner is…
The Adidas F50 AdiZero is our favourite in this review. An incredibly light football boot, which doesn’t seem to lose out on comfort or support, the Adidas F50 AdiZero was instantly comfortable and provides superb feel and touch. And as Messi’s boot of choice, the Adidas F50 AdiZero can boast a pretty nice stamp of quality!