Sports development is big business. What the professionals use is very much the driving force of the major companys’ advertising campaigns, and the very latest in football boots worn by stars such as David Beckham and Ronaldo influence what boots will sell on the high street to the general public. Advances in footwear over the past decade have changed the design of football boots beyond recognition.
The sporting giants like Nike, Puma and Adidas are all competing to come up with the next big thing in football boots. It’s not just the styling that’s important any more, as the general public don’t just want their football boots to look good – they want them to deliver results on the pitch as well. Considerations such as comfort, grip, control and precision are all crucial factors that go into the making of the perfect football boot.
Adidas’s Predator PowerSwerve TRX FG is regarded as one of the best of the bunch and features one of Adidas’ most innovative designs, Powerpulse technology. This consists of Tungsten powder that moves in tandem with your foot, giving you more power. True to its name, the curve of the area that the powder is in allows for more swerve on the ball. The microfibre upper is an extremely durable, lightweight synthetic material which means that the cleat is extremely comfortable and doesn’t require too much ‘breaking in’. Like many Adidas cleats the Powerswerve features a Traxion stud configuration, providing acceleration and comfort and the Predator has now become the boot of choice for many professional players including Steven Gerrard, Dimitar Berbatov, and Michael Ballack.
Nike’s Mercurial Vapor IV is one of the lightest pair of football boots ever made. Many reviews for this high-end football boot have claimed that it’s almost like playing barefoot as the boot is made of such lightweight material. Ball control is a matter of individual skill but the Vapor IV gets your feet closer to the ball than most other football boots, giving you a dimension of control that is close to what you’d feel while playing barefoot. Carbon fibre reinforces the boot and the Nike Vapor range looks set to continue through 2009 as a perennial favourite.
The Puma v1.08 is a boot that is really racking up the positive reviews. This innovative design incorporates an all-stitch design with a two piece construction outsole helping to keep the weight down and providing the wearer with a snug, comfortable fit. The lightweight upper is made from a textile material with a reinforced microfibre layer for improved durability, enhanced speed and lightness. The off-centre lacing and tongue construction allows for a smooth surface feel and removes any uncomfortable pinching across the top of the foot. This means that you can really feel the ball when striking. However, the v1.08’s real innovation lies inside, with its AptoLast feature. This means that the boot fits by following the contours of your foot and moulding to the wearer. Additionally the carbon fiber chassis makes for the ultimate backbone ensuring stability and support with its embedded carbon fibers and multi-density framework. Weighing in at a mere 7.6 ounces while still managing to offer stability and ultimate comfort, the v1.08 is the perfect football boot for strikers.
