Soccer Cleats 101

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eireburner — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:10:21 +0000

All the latest news and reviews on Soccer Cleats can now be found at www.soccercleats101.com

Huge Soccer Cleat Sale Going on Right Now!

eireburner — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:25:12 +0000

It might be the right time to get your hands on a new pair of cleats. I just noticed that soccer.com are having a huge ‘End of Summer Sale’, and it includes top range cleats from Nike Mercurial Vapor V’s to Adidas Predators. Here are a few that would be worth checking out:

Nike Mercurial Vapor V in Orange/Abyss for $128.99….SAVE $113
Adidas Adipure TRX in Black/White for $82.99…..SAVE $55
Nike Total 90 Laser II Black/Tour Yellow $124.99….SAVE $84
Puma V1.08i Tricks in Black/Barely Blue $114.99….SAVE $100
Adidas Predator Powerswerve Running White/Metallic Silver $141.99….SAVE $100

I could keep listing great deals, but lets be honest….you probably want to see the offers first hand. Get over to Soccer.com right now while all sizes are still available! Sale ends August 31st.
Also, feel free to use our left sidebar to navigate our site and find reviews to the cleats you are thinking of buying.

Concave PT+ Review

eireburner — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:53:53 +0000

Every soccer season, we see new developments and innovation in soccer cleat technology, and this past year was no different. One of the latest cleats to arrive on the market and cause a stir is the advanced Concave PT+. Concave have put a lot of work into creating a cleat that provides an advanced level of safety while also matching some of the current big sellers in relation to style and functionality. So, here is what to expect from the Concave PT+:

Front Concave Metaguard component
SBS: Shank Balance Stabalizer
Soft K-Leather Upper
Light weight upper
Removable sock liner
15% shooting power increase in independent testing

To be honest, testing these cleats became a personal challenge as I wanted to see if the technology was all that! The front cover plate looks like something from a science fiction movie, so it has to do something special, right? So, I got a bag of soccer balls, grabbed my goalkeeper buddy Bryan Hill, and headed out to a local soccer pitch to see what damage I could do!

What were the results? The PT+ did not dissapoint in the power department. It is easy to strike the ball solid and straight. The front plate does take a lot of the impact out of shooting, so no matter how you strike the ball your foot feels protected. The PT+ does take a little getting used to. The front area angles off on either side, so you have to be comfortable with the cleat before using them. Passing can be a little tricky at times, but again it just takes time to become comfortable with them. After wearing them in a few games I have become a little more accustomed to their design. One thing I did not like about the cleats was the tongue, which I found to be tough to took under the front shield. After talking to Concave Dave, he assured me that this is something that has been altered on the current retail range, with the tongue removed.

So, I guess the question is how good is the technology. Well, first thing is shot power. I do think that there is an increase in shot power with these cleats after. One thing is for sure, it makes it alot easier to strike the ball and you don’t have to worry about the impact on the front of your foot. The second question is does it protect you from injury? Fortunately for me, I have not had to encounter a tackle that could have inured that area on my foot while testing these cleats (I am sure I will at some stage) but I do believe that the front panel will offer substantially more protection than the normal cleats. Important to note is that these cleats do take a little bit of time to transition to. If you are willing to take the opportunity to adjust to the technology then it is completely worth it, but for players who wear light cleats like Vapor’s or F50i’s it would be a little more difficult. If you wear Total 90′s or Adidas Predators then the transition would be easier. As a winger, I found the front of the cleat to be a little too top heavy for me. If I was to recommend these cleats for a player, there are a few I would choose. First off, goalkeepers, as these cleats are ideal for knocking long balls, and will offer a great advantage when trying to clear back-passes! Kick outs will also be easy to drive straight down the field. Defenders will have the advantage of complete protection, and the opportunity to knock quick long balls at speed. And the final player is the ‘Kaiser’, the hard hitting center midfielder. Again it involves the same reasoning, for getting stuck into the hard tackles and also for hitting those long range shots. As an example, I think Jeff Larentowitz of the New England Revolution would dominate in these cleats! If you want to test these cleats now is the time to get a pair. Right now, you can get a pair of Concave PT1′S, they are currently priced down from $247.99 to $97.99, and with the cleat getting so much attention on the market, the next release is sure to stay at full price!

Mexico vs USA: Clint Dempsey in Personalized Superfly V’s

eireburner — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:58:16 +0000

Clint Dempsey is at it again….another sweet pair of personalized Nike cleats! In yesterdays World Cup qualifier with Mexico, Dempsey sported a custom pair of Nike Vapor Superfly V’s in black and red. The red area is the twist, as the current Superfly range is all black, but Dempsey’ s were black on top, and red around the front and toe area. Again, these personalized cleat’s will not be available for purchase, but just for Clint to tease us with. Nike see Dempsey as their poster boy here in the US, and although he had was quiet in yesterday’s game he has been one of the most consistent performers for both the US and club team Fulham. We will bring you more pictures when we get them. Also of note, Charlie Davies, goalscorer of the US goal, was sporting a new pair of Nike Superfly V’s also in black. We are sure to hear more about Charlie in this coming season!

The Nike Vapor Superfly in Black/Voltage Yellow/Max Orange is currently available for $349.99

Also Check Out:
The Nike Vapor Superfly Challenge: Which would you choose?
Cristiano Ronaldo Sports New Black/Voltage Yellow Superfly Nike

The Nike Vapor Superfly Challenge: Which would you choose?

eireburner — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:17:33 +0000

With the most anticipated cleat of the past few years back on the market in two colors, we want to know which version you like better! The Superfly is created using innovative Flywire technology to create one of the lightest soccer cleats available on the market, 6.8oz of pure speed! The Superfly was taken off the market just before its initial release, as Nike found some problems with the cleats design. But now it has been released in two colorways. Cristiano Ronaldo will be wearing the Black version for the start of the Spanish La Liga season, while many other top players like Nani will be sporting the Metallic Platinum version. All we want to know is which version do you like better, the bright colored Platinum version, or the dark classic black look? Feel free to also leave us your comments why below.

Superfly Metallic Platinum

Superfly Black

View This Poll

Also Check Out:
Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly Ready for Re-release
Cristiano Ronaldo Sports New Black/Voltage Yellow Superfly Nike

2009 PDL Champions: Ventura County Fusion

eireburner — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:46:20 +0000

It turned out to be a pretty crazy game on Saturday night in Ventura, but we managed to play 60 minutes down a man, and snatch a 2-1 win just as the game went into stoppage time - and then the celebrations started! After watching replays, the red card awarded to our center mid was a terrible decision by the referee, one of many shocking decisions in the game! But what a fitting way to cap off a long season that saw us finish with a 12-2-7 record. Alfonso Motogalvan clinched the winner deep in the 90th minute, giving us the title in our first season in the playoffs. Ivan Becerra had scored the first goal off of a corner. Chicago got back in the game in the second half, when one of our defenders knocked the ball into the back of our net. Tired legs gave Chicago a few late opportunities, but our bench proved to be extremely deep and lifted us for the last 15 minutes. Next step for Ventura County Fusion; USL 2? Here’s hoping we get some backers to move the franchise to the next level. Rumor has it that there might be a new West Coast division starting this coming year. If you want to catch the game, it will be shown on Fox Soccer Channel, this Tuesday at 4.30pm PST, and again at midnight!

Here is a write up on the game with pictures, compliments of the official Ventura County Fusion website: http://venturacountyfusion.com/

Also, ex-Chivas USA midfielder Rodrigo Lopez sported a unique pair of cleats for the championship game, a pair of ‘Manriquez’ . I though I would share a picture of the cleats, since Roro will be playing with the Portland Timbers for the rest of the USL season! Roro played a big role in the final weeks of our season, joining us from the quarter final on. It took a few weeks for his paperwork to come through but thankfully it was sorted just in time for him to help us clinch the championship, maybe he can play a role in the Timbers end of season run-in!

PDL Final 2009: Ventura County Fusion vs Chicago Fire

eireburner — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:32:24 +0000

Ventura, CA – This weekend the final of the PDL Championship will take place at Buena Vista High in Ventura CA. Seeing as I play for the Ventura Fusion, I have a bias to who I want to win so I will not be talking much about the game! But I would encourage you to either get to the game (check here for information on tickets) or une in to FSC to check out what should be a great final between two very strong teams. We (Fusion) have finally got a rhythm going after a tough up-and-down season, and last weekends 6-1 win was what we think is our break out game. The one thing we need to do this weekend is keep focused and remember that anything can happen in 90 minutes. And if you think that playing on our home field is an advantage think again! We are in fact unbeaten away from home, but have 2 losses at Buena!

On a final note, I have to decide what cleats I should wear for the final. I have been wearing the Umbro SX Valor II, but I also have a pair of the new Concave PT’s that need to broken out in a game! Add to that a pair of Lotto Zhero evolution, and Adipure II’s and I have a decision to make! I will post pictures after the game next week!

Umbro SX Valor II Review

eireburner — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:38:21 +0000

One of Umbro’s big releases in the past year was the Umbro SX Valor II cleat, and it brings style and comfort to those that wear them. Worn by the likes of John Terry and Deco, the SX Valor II have received good reviews simply because Umbro have been able to stick to the classis design that they have become synonymous with. We were lucky to get our hands on a pair to review thanks to the folks at www.soccerpro.com. So, what do we think of the cleats? We like them a lot! Here is a summary of what to expect if you buy a pair:

Touch Control, quilted vamp and asymmetrical lacing.
Soft Kangaroo leather upper.
Integrated lacing system.
Conical stud shape, with 13 studs, 9 on the front, 4 on the back.
Outsole created using TPU with carbon fiber rigidity shank for added strength without added weight.
Weigh in at 10.6 oz.

First thing first, they are a great boot to break in. As usual, I wore a size 9, and although they felt tight when I tried them on, they turned out to be a great fit! I was concerned that they were going to cause blistering, especially around my toes but I am glad to report that they break in easily! After the first few sessions they had pretty much molded to my feet. The insole is also super comfy, and it has unique breathable holes in it that I definitely noticed while wearing them! I tested a pair of the white/black/gold color. The design is pretty sweet and looks good. There are two things that I especially like about these cleats: the covered lace system as it allows for a greater striking surface, and the front of the cleat as it angles down sharply to the toe. I find cleats with the pointed toe more appealing as it feels more natural to strike the ball. These cleats might not be suitable if you like the Nike Total 90 or the Under Armour Dominate that have a more rounded toe area. I have worn the cleats for several weeks now, and they have held up very well. One thing is that the white/black/gold design need to be cleaned after every practice/game to keep them looking good. Thankfully, that’s one thing I keep in mind after each session! One other thing that I experienced several weeks after testing the cleats was that the inside lip (just above the ankle area) on the inside of each cleats bunched up slightly and caused a tiny blister. This has continued to be uncomfortable and I have had to tape up before games, but i continue to wear them as apart from this I rate them as one of the best cleats available on the market! Overall, they offer super comfort and great value for the price. I would recommend them for playmakers, or set piece players someone who needs a cleat that has style. They are available right now for just over $100, which is well below the recommended price of $180.

Also Check out:
Umbro SX Valor II review and Deco underwater