Nike Thread [23] all pictures, info and questions here.

So tempted to get a pair of the new Nike women's Olympic release collection, esp the Tiempos but the price is ..........

 

Since we have such a varied demographic of users on this board, I've got a question.

Do you, as general consumers, think the price of boots is getting too high?

I used to buy 2-3 pairs a year. I'm not sponsored, I play at a pretty high level where I live and I always wear the top model (Superfly's and Vapors, but I have worn adidas previously). These days, I'll buy one pair a year, maybe two. Next year if I even play, i'll most likely get one pair of Vapors in a NikeID colour (still shelling out around $400-$500 AUD).

Considering we have such a vast (saturated?) boot market, are the prices for top end, major brand boots becoming a bit over the top? Or do people think they're fair for the quality considering all the new tech over the last 10+ years? Just want to get the opinions of the board.

 

I honestly think the materials, construction and means of production today warrant the price.

You could easily use a CPI inflation calculator to compare typical MSRP today to let's just say a decade ago.

I bet you'd find that there is a difference in real value, but it probably is directly correlated to the higher COGS today.

I know people can be pretty cynical when it comes to Nike and Adidas but the tech aint free.

 

I view boots like most things in the world: we want them, but we gotta pay dollar for them. Sure, I could but the cheap TV, but I want the bigger one with better resolution and internet and what not. Same applies to boots: could buy the cost-effective takedowns... lets say, Mercurial Victory's: but I want the Mercurial SuperFly, so I have shell out more $.

In saying that, yes, boots cost a lot. But people are buying them, so the brands can charge those prices. The thing that bugs me, is how many boots get released... now that's just ridiculous.

 

i think the price has gotten ridiculous. i remember when i was 12-13 years old the white champions league predators came out and they were 150, or 170$ USD and my dad looked at me like i was insane. then predators went to 200$ and vapors were 175$. You do pay for the tech but i really doubt its worth anything past 200$. i think that was a comfortable limit for most people.

on the other hand the lower end boots are much better these days. for 130$ you get a very good boot these days. almost the same as the top version. back in the early 2000s the top and bottom level were like night and day.

 

What a shock that the new Nike pack feature volt on them. It's getting too much now

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Personally, I think the prices being bandied around are too much, over 300 bucks for a pair of boots is a little too ridiculous. For me the cap shouldn't cross $300 with $250 being more or less it, unless there's assurance of quality like Made in Europe or something

with regards to cost of production of shoes, if anyone's interested, someone did a breakdown of Running shoe costs, good read and i'm sure there are some relevant details around - http://www.solereview.com/what-does-it-cost-to-make-a-running-shoe/

on a side note, interesting collar design by this guy from soccerbible's boot spotting, wonder where he got the design of that collar from

 

Appreciate the responses!

Personally my thoughts on it sit about where I expected within the board. Do I think boots are too expensive? Yes I do. But do I think technologically the boots are more impressive? For the most part, also yes. However only when the boots are made to be better with a reason in mind and not just 'because we can' (Adidas' first 'sock/half leg' boot). And as was pointed out, the brands charge that price because people pay it at the end of the day and it's profitable.

I will say I do agree also with what appears to be the general consensus about the sheer volume of boot releases & 'limited' releases. We basically get a 'boot pack' (not even individual colour updates anymore, whole packs!) released almost every two/three weeks. It's crazy! Although again, that said, I do appreciate how the colorways go on sale earlier because of this..

 

Yes, I feel that the boots are getting ridiculously priced, especially some of the 1st grade or top end boots that cost as much as $300 and yes, people still buy it. For me, no doubt I love the first grade boots because they look (at least) top quality but the price puts me off alot, it's way too much. Also, for women's boots, it gets even more expensive, just look at the latest Nike's release of their Olympic collection, $299 for the Women's Mercurial SF.

Comparing years ago and now, technology has advanced and so much of these 'technology' that is also incorporated into the boots also hikes the price up alot more, making it the cost it is today.

Anyway, I have to also agree that some take down models are equally just as good. One example is a pair of Puma Evospeed, kids version (cuz of my small feet) that I own, grabbed it for a price of USD36 at my local sports store and seems like the workmanship is not too bad and I would think it could last me awhile, nevermind if it's not leather.

 

The only silver lining that I see with this madness of releasing new pack every other month and having 20 + colors in a year or 2 is that the market get saturated with so many cleats which drives the price down tremendously. At my local outlet, they had all high end tech craft releases for less than 100. I got the gray / black tech craft vapor for 40 even the clerk thought it was a mistake.
All women high end cleats from the world cup pack (blue lagoon and volt) were also on sale and you can find the legend or phinish for 40 dollars as well.

 

no. if you don't want to pay for pro models, buy a take-down version. as someone else said, the take-downs are good enough. it's like buying a 320 or 328 versus buying an m3. the cheaper versions are just fine, but some of us like to spend money to have the best. fortunately, i'm a grown man who can afford to blow money on silly things if i want to. if i were a parent with a kid who wanted new boots though, i sure wouldn't be shelling out $300 per pair when you can get gloros or premiers for $100ish.

 

Are we not going to talk about those fresh new purple superflys?!

 

It was good when you knew at least the home kit would be around for a couple of years! Now it's new kits every year! Too much!!

 

Yea some of these prices are ridiculous now. Thought they manufacture so many boots and hardly sell through so sales are abundant, I usually take advantage of that.

 

I would argue that "take downs" aren't that great, mainly because they still the same quality at $90.00 that they were at $45.00-$50.00 a few years ago, especially the cheap leather models. The synthetics are arguably closer performance model to model, but now that knits are the trend the drop off from the softness of the knit to plastic is stark. Also the lasting on the take downs leaves a lot to be desired. Sometimes there is a gem to be found, but it is rare air these days as the general quality of boots gets worse and worse and the production numbers go up and up along with price.

* I don't consider the boots just below the collar/laceless/lacecovered models as takedowns...They were the top end before the gimmick mongers needed a new selling point and Messi/Ibra/Suarez and so on do just fine in them.

As for the Premier and Gloro models, I would put them into a different category vs. take downs; they are more budget based performance models for the older player market that shy away from gimmicks or the younger multisport athlete that isn't going to drop $300.00 on boots that get used for 3 months in the fall and 3 months in the spring. They are filling that hole that the Copa did in my generation at an $89.99 ASP...I came up just as overly teched out boots were starting to emerge in the form we see now, like the Pred and other leather models with bells and whistles and then Nike's dip into synthetics with the Mercurial and Air Zoom Italia.

Basically the Copa was the go to for everyone that was slightly older than me (they came up when whole national teams could be see sporting the Copa) or guys that didn't have the funds or desire for $125.00+ on a limited wear shoe. I knew guys that had one pair of Copa boots for the entire four years they were in high school...they only played in the fall season, then played two other sports the rest of the year and broke out the Copa again come summer for the pre-season. There was no turf then, but imagine trying to wear even the Premier (which is pretty well built for today's standards) for four years off and on or the equivalent of 12 straight months day in, day out on grass. It would never last.

 

I don't see any downsides to producing lots of colorways. More colors to choose from and they go on sale sooner.

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I'd say boots are too much, but being an older, casual player I'm not in the target market. Tiempo Mystic is fine for me, especially when you can get them on sale at an outlet. The Copa is still something I consider a top end model. Magista/Ace/Vapor et. al are more like curiosities I admire from afar than anything I'd spend that type of money on.

 

I would have no problem paying 200 plus for a pair of legends or vapors, maybe even the 275. My problem is the sheer amount of colors. I know that the 200$ legend will be 100$ in a months time once the new color comes out. It seems a bit stupid but i loved the fact that color rotations used to be slower, then I could wear exactly what the players were wearing, and get a new pair every six months. The tech really means nothing to me, a pair of mizuno morelias or Pantofolas can be bought for 100$ and the fit is amazing. Just because a they put a sock on the shoe doesnt mean it should be 75$ more.

 

Agreed with your last statement, @Cheeks Ahoy.

 

The new AG pattern looks like the previous magistas FG plate

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