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Football Boot Selection
The first point to note is you will need to have a pair of boots designed for hard ground football and another pair with blades or stops if the ground becomes muddy from rain.
Hard Ground Football Boot Options:
Adidas +Absolado PS TRX TF
This is a turf/ synthetic surface boot that has the upper design features of the Predator style. The Adidas Predator boot was originally designed with ripples on the front part of the shoe to enhance this ability and to actually put topspin on the soccer ball to improve accuracy when shooting for a goal. This boot has had some significant improvements since last season. The upper has a slightly repositioned the *Asymmetrical Lacing and improved placement of the ‘Preditor Ripples’ allowing a larger ‘sweet spot’ to make contact with the foot ball. It also has an improved midsole unit is full length EVA giving an approximate 10 mm heel wedge. The forefoot flexibility and torsional has significantly improved. The outsole with many smaller blades to spread out pressure and improve grip especially on turf type surfaces
*Asymmetrical lacing (laces to one side of the forefoot).
This is an important design feature for soccer players, as the placement of laces can affect your ability to curve the ball when you kick it. Also this system may allow players to improve the fit of the boot as it can be laced up firmer without causing pressure points. Also as the part of the foot that contacts the football is covered it offers more protection. However if you have a high arch structure this can cause fitting issues. We can often relieve this to some degree with different lacing techniques on the standard football boot, but not with a side lacing type.
Asics Gel Lethal Ultimate IGS 4
Asics have redesigned this boot especially for the soccer market reducing it’s bulk and weight in particular and adding kangaroo leather in the toe area. The sole and midfoot configuration design is largely unchanged, however Asics notes it has changed the lacing to mildly ‘Asymmetrical’ as it aims to improve comfort. Along the same idea this boot is now available in a wider width version called 2E. It still provides a full-length polyurthethane midsole to provide cushioning, with a 10mm heel wedge. The flex point of the forefoot is the best in this group and torsional stability is excellent.
Puma King Exec TT
This is another boots that have been improved with design changes from last year, mainly from customer feedback commissioned by the Australian office of Puma. It has rubber blades with a full length EVA midsole which, with the CELL unit in the heel, provides very good cushioning and an approximately 6mm heel wedge. The arch area has been reinforced to provide excellent torsional stability and support. The forefoot flex point is also much improved to provide optimum function.
It is fair to say that boots in this category has seen substantial improvement in their features. This is probably in recognition that more and more player around the world are playing soccer and football in drier conditions and are demanding the same features seen in the more traditional boots.
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