Sport
3 New Football & Rugby Boots for the End-of-Year Season
We take a look at this latest boot options to find out which you need to give you that extra boost.
The international rugby season is underway, and the football leagues are beginning to heat-up for the Christmas period, so you know what that means? New boots and new colourways! We’ve been keeping an eye on the players (and most specifically, their feet) to see what the boot manufacturers have in store for sports-lovers this quarter. Here’s our picks of the top 3:
Nike Mercurial CR7 Chapter 3: Discovery
Of course, every colourway change-up means the beloved CR7 Mercurials get a new paint job, and this new iteration is a lot more personal to Ronaldo than ever before. The colours of the Nike Mercurial CR7 Chapter 3 Discovery boots are inspired by his original club team in Lisbon, and his performance on the day they played Manchester United in 2003 which led to his signing with the prestigious club.
The lateral side of the boots feature silver dot graphics, as well as a subtle reflective wave design as a nod to the Mercurial Vapor boots he wore in 2003. The numbers 06, 08 and 03 (day, month, year) etched on the heel counter commemorate the date of his discovery, while a sparkling CR7 logo highlights the shining performance he delivered.
Adidas Superlight Elements range
Adidas’ Superlight rugby boot range have become increasingly popular amongst professionals and amateurs in the sport, and the brand new ‘Elements Pack’ brings a striking update to the position-tailored cleats. The four models in the range, specifically designed for each position on the field, have received a graphical treatment inspired by the natural elements Earth, Fire, Ice and Wind.
The adipower Kakari Force (built for the tight-five) features the element of Earth; the Kakari Light (made for loose forwards) features fire; the Predator Malice (developed for kicking backs such as new SA captain Pat Lambie and NZ’s Beauden Barrett) feature an ice-inspired design; and the CrazyQuick Malice featuring a wind graphic indicative of the speed and elusiveness of outside backs like SA’s record-breaking speedster, Bryan Habana.
The ‘Elements Pack’ will be seen on field this weekend as the south’s best teams venture to the north for their annual November international matches .The boots are available on 1 December, at a RRP ranging from R999 for junior models boots, to R2999 for elite models.
Puma Evopower 1.3
Puma have been delivering some great all-round quality boots in recent seasons, and their new range is capitalising on all the improvements seen over the years. While the EvoSpeed caters for the speedy backline players and football forwards, the Puma Evopower 1.3 are the answer to all those players (both of the oval and round ball) who are looking for control, grip, and of course, power.
The blue yonder/shocking orange (that’s the actual colour name) look is a fantastic colour combo that will make sure you stand out on any and every pitch. As for the boot tech itself, one thing you definitely notice is the creases along the instep that make their way on to the toe-box. All of these smalls dips and raised areas are where Puma has placed the AccuFoam that has been ever-present on the evoPower series. This allows the upper to be totally smooth, flexible, and soft on the foot, giving you a great balance between feeling the ball and delivering enough cushioning to unleash a powerful kick.
The Evopowers are also incredible light, and the flex of the soleplate doesn’t sacrifice any traction, with a mix of conical studs and blades to prevent you from sliding around even in slightly muddy conditions.
Which of the new season’s boots are your favourite? Tweet us @MenStuffZA and let us know what you think.+
More sports fashion stuff to keep you busy:
Nike Unleashes Magista X Indoor Football Shoes
Nike Unveils Anniversary Air Zoom Structure 20 Running Shoes
