General boots question/review thread [6] - all questions/reviews pictures on any boot brand here pls

Ace 17.1. I'd say to go for the AG Pro opus 2s as well.

 

Maybe try the Hypervenom Phantom I or Phantom II in FG, Hypervenom Phantom III AG-Pro, Obra II AG-Pro, or the Opus II AG-Pro (the Phantoms will have a more locked-down feel than the Magistas but will still be wide).

From adidas maybe the Copa line or the Ace 17 if you want synthetic but that’s more narrow.

I can’t think of any other boot models that have purely rounded studs...maybe the Mizuno Morelia Neo or Neo 2.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. The Hypervenom 3 and Opus are too narrow, and I've already got a pair of Obra AG-Pro. I don't know if they perform well enough on natural grass however.

I'll look into the Ace.

What about Adidas' other models-
The newest Predator? X? I know their studs aren't completely round, but maybe enough to turn while planted?

Right now I'm using Morelia 2 and I love them. Just thought I'd try something a bit more responsive.

 

The X and Nemeziz are your best bets. The X 17.1 is a pretty mediocre boot, so I suggest going with the X 17+ (or 16+). The Nemeziz, in my experience, has a lot of rollover. I did not feel locked-down in them. But it’s worth a try if your feet are wide.

You might want to look into the Morelia Neo or the Monarcida Neo. I’m just about to get my pair so I can’t say anything about them now but I have high expectations! I also own a Morelia 2 and I found them sloppy after a couple months.

 

oh this changes everything. just grab a pair of Morelia neo 2s. much more responsive and crazy lockdown whilst still giving you conical studs. unless you REALLY want a synthetic, then go for the X17+ Purespeeds. like Jax has said the X17.1s are pretty trash at its price.

 

I think either the Adidas Predator 18.1 or the Nike Hypervenom Phantom 2 v2 might fit the bill. They aren't necessarily really padded but I think you might like them.

 

I got suddenly curious. No matter how careful you are in tightening/tying your laces, wouldn’t thin laces* be able to tear the lace hole more than a wide pair of laces? I mean, the tendency for the lace hole to tear would be greater with a thin pair of laces, right? Or am I overthinking it?

*in theory, small surface area with force will equal more pressure

 

How about Puma Vigor1 or PumaFuture?

 

Maybe you're tying it too tightly? The laces should just about keep your feet feeling snug with the boots firmly wrapping your feet and not pressuring into them

 

Both employ bladed studs, unfortunately.

 

@jayc23 talked about "neutralish" reviews in another thread. I was wonder who you guys all watch/read for reviews.

I normally watch Unisport and SR4U and read SoccerCleats101 (though full disclosure I have written articles for SC101).

 

I watch Unisport to get a general idea but they aren't my first choice for reviews. SR4U is the only one who goes really in depth about the cleats because thats all he does. Unisport is more entertainment and about showcasing the cleats.

 

I posted something similar a while back about him as well
I'm tired of all these 20 minute videos with no substance. I know they want to generate as many clicks as possible to make more money but after a while, it gets annoying. Everything is INSANE and CRAZY...everyone is trying to be comedian.
I know it takes a lot of time and effort to do these reviews and I appreciate the work behind. Also, most of these reviews are either walking around in your house wearing a cleat or kicking a ball for an hour in brand new cleat. It is very hard to judge a cleat just after wearing them for few minutes.
Also, you see it many times someone giving a cleat a very bad review but then have a link about an incredible deal to buy them

Sorry for the long rant from and old timer

 

when it comes to reviews (regardless of format) the top tier ones will always be SR4U + kohei's blog Football. i find that TEPY does have pretty indepth reviews but theirs comes in once every 5 blue moons.

Re SR4U - I get the complaints and the lame speculation videos don't do much for me, but we do have to remember he is also catering to younger kids that don't have our experience. regardless he gets a large pass + mileage from me simply because he tends not to repeat the jargon that other reviewers (*coughElegantTouchButterySoftUpperCough*) and more importantly, calls it like it is. He's been vocal from Day 1 about laceless boots not giving you the best performance wise, but you'll almost never hear that from other reviewers in the actual boot review. And as much as i'd like to disagree, he rarely falls for the hype as well, considering how he's always gone on about how MiJ boots don't really feel head and shoulders above the made in Indonesia ones + doesn't justify the price.

When it comes to Unisport, as much as i Love Jaymike, at the end of the day, its a football site looking to sell football boots. They're not going to have anything more than very contrived negatives in their actual boot reviews. He's great and entertaining in the reviews but they tend to not tell you that much and if a boot isn't great he just doesn't review it at all - the Visaro 2s for example, they had a first impressions boot but nothing else. Having said that, if you actually power through and watch the other videos like Unisport uncut or his top 5 lists, that's where Jaymike really shines as a boot nerd and you do get some insights as to why some boots are better and why. but jaymike, if you see this, please an 'elegant' touch really doesn't mean anything HAHA

the rest are just crap. maybe the freekickerz are okay if i really need something to go off on, but mostly. just no.

 

Unisport is pretty good for the most part.

Re: SR4U He is definitely geared towards a younger audience and that's why he has so many videos the seem to be clickbaitish. Not that I'm defending him. In fact several times he has (in so many words) called me a liar.
I called him out on him complaining about the World Cup ball. I pointed out how long this has been going on (almost every World Cup ball since '98) and that the pros don't just put air in the ball. He didn't agree and said he saw a study saying it makes no difference what the ball is filled with, but he never provided me with any evidence.

Personally, he does come across as a bit of a know it all (not that I have much room to talk!!). Granted he gets almost every boot that releases but he always seems to act like he knows more than everyone and whenever I've pointed out he's wrong, he gets fairly defensive.

He also almost never does the in-depth reviews he used to. But like @jayc23 says he gets a massive amount of credit of because he almost never buts the hype when it comes to that so I'll definitely give him that!

JayMike is great. He's a boot nerd without being overbearing on anybody. He's made the Unisport channel geared towards more older boot nerds. I will agree that there are mostly there to sell boots but I do appreciate that they have gotten louder with their criticisms of high boot prices.

Freekickerz is great. I like their content I just wish their videos were longer.

Kohei's blog is top tier for me. He never rushes his reviews and they are some of the most in-depth reviews I have seen. I also like that he doesn't try to review everything and he seems to have very biases. I always feel his reviews give boots the best crack of the whip.

Football Boots is an awful channel. I've asked them questions several times and never gotten a response. They also "sell" their services as boot experts.
From their website:
What is a Boot Expert Consultation?

1. It is a quick, easy to set-up, infomative chat with one of our boot experts about your football
2. You get 15 mins one on one to talk to one of our experts about what boots are right for you.
3. It's basically FEEE - the standard text live chat costs £15, we will save you that at least that much on your next boots*
4. Video chat upgrade is available for extra £10, talk face to face with one of our boot expert

I cannot believe they are actually selling services like this.

 

Meant to say Kohei has very few biases!

 

This is the most important thing for me. I don't think my opinions about a boot are really formed until I've played 5 or more hours in them. I doubt many (any?) of the boot reviewers ever do this.

The only exception to this that springs to mind are the MiJ Morelias which were obviously great after about 2 mins, and the way they felt didn't really change much over the next few hours.

 

I can not even explain how much I disdain Football Boots. Their videos all look like the target audience is a bunch of 6-year-olds, and the hosts obviously know little about boots. I absolutely hate the segments they put up where there’s a TV and they just talk next to it because they’re flashing an image of a boot they have yet to acquire. Also when they ruin boots and all these ‘hacks.’ They will also most likely benefit from new microphone sets for the hosts.
Didn’t even know they charged for their ‘boot expertise.’ Please.

 

You are dead on about SR4U.
There are tons of people have working for these companies for years who want to get into product design and the fact that he acts like he knows better than anyone comes across as insulting!

FootBoots branding is really the only thing they have going for them IMO.

I do miss the days when this board was more active but I agree with you that its still the best place to go online for boot info. People on here are ridiculously knowledgeable about football boots!

 

This is what the next-gen Concave Volt+ is gonna be. I guess they’re riding the knit game pretty late.

 

They've been on the knit game since January, but your point still stands. I thought the TechStitch upper was decent, hopefully they have improved it for this version of the Volt.