What Sokito says about this boot: A sustainable, high-performance speed boot
Boot style: Synthetic speed boot
Weight: 201g (7.10oz) for a size US 9.5
Saving football, saving the planet
Groundbreaking. The word should never be used lightly, yet here we are, reviewing arguably the most innovative and best performing speed boot of 2024.
Sokito has released their first speed boot, the Scudetta, and considering how competitive the speed boot market is, we were intrigued to see what they could deliver in their first offering for the speed silo. I remember seeing the prototype photos of the Scudetta last year and eagerly anticipating their arrival, but nothing could prepare me for what I’ve experienced with them so far.
It’s been a while since the football boot industry experienced innovation that turned heads. Think Mercurial knit collar, or Adidas/Lotto laceless boots. With the Scudetta, the innovation comes from its production process, where 42% of the boot comes from bio-based materials, like corn waste, wood fibres, sugarcane, bamboo, castor beans. Just remember the next time you throw out a pair of bamboo chopsticks, they could end up as part of your cleats. That’s how Sokito is changing the way we consume, or shall I say, “reconsume” products. Unlike other manufacturers that apply their recycled materials only to specific parts of the shoe like laces, tongues, etc., Sokito has integrated the use of sustainable materials into their boots from the start of production.
Although 42% bio-based materials is still impressive, Sokito is developing new materials and processes to increase that percentage to become higher in future iterations. The belief is, why can’t a boot be high-performing AND sustainable?
An elite-level boot with meticulous craftsmanship
Pictures rarely do artwork any justice, and when holding the Scudettas in hand, you notice fine details that you would otherwise miss if you were just looking at photos or a video. For example, the top opening of the tongue is cut so that it wraps around the front of your ankle, providing a distraction-free shape. I also love that there are two lace holes in the tongue, which helps the tongue wrap more fluidly on the top of the foot, and keeps the tongue in place.
For all of its laborious attention to detail, the Scudetta only costs a super-reasonable £175. This top-level boot is priced extremely well for its quality, and only a bit higher than the mid-tier-level boots (i.e. £130 for the F50 Pro).
Second-Skin Fit, Second Skin Lockdown.
The comparisons to the 2014 adizero F50 (one of the GOAT speed boots) have been plentiful, but I believe the Scudetta has its own identity that needs to be respected.
Weighing in at 7.10oz (201g) in a UK 8.5 (US 9.5), they’re not cutting-edge lightweight but they’re well within the speed boot weight range. However, I believe the boot’s greatest strengths lie in its lockdown, touch, and traction.
Even as a control boot connoisseur, I couldn’t wait to put the Scudetta to grass and give them a test drive. Slipping on the Scudettas was a breeze thanks to the open tongue design, and using the extra lace hole with runners-loop lacing ensured my heel was locked in. Another feature aiding foot lockdown is the grippy internal suede lining around the heel area, and further supported by the external heel counter, meaning my foot was nestled into the heel cup as securely as possible.
That Barefoot Speed Boot Touch
I didn’t feel the vamp’s control ridges provide any improvement on the ball, but the barefoot touch with the soft BioTouch vamp is a welcome alternative to all of my other grip-oriented boots. The BioTouch vamp is thin but still supportive and is supremely supple, unlike any other upper I’ve come across. It’s less structured than most other speed boot uppers I’ve used, which allows it to shape and mould to your foot easily (for me, within 30 minutes) and provide that barefoot touch on the ball.
I would say that the Scudettas are ideal for a forward-minded player like a striker or a wingback, someone looking for a jolt of acceleration in their first step with a barefoot touch on the ball.
Perhaps in the aim to obtain that second-skin feel, the front of the vamp is angled downwards steeply to the soleplate, so again like the Devista, I’ve had to go a half-size up, but the rest of the boot fit seamlessly.
AAA Traction: Agile, Aggressive, Amazing.
On the soleplate, the boot’s wider blades were able to disperse the stud pressure better than, say, the thinner blades of Mercurials, so even on AG the stud pressure was not that noticeable.
The blades dug well into the grass, and I could feel them bite into the ground as I pushed off. Even with this aggressive stud setup, the movement was fluid as I rotated and shuffled my feet, which is a welcome trait from a bladed speed boot.
The studs dug well into the firm ground, and also released easily from the surface so there wasn’t any drag, and the blades also weren’t so aggressive that I couldn’t rotate my body when jockeying or changing direction. I was even able to chase down a player who had a 10 metre head start in front of me, and I could feel the propulsion in each step when I pushed off the ground.
There was an equal balance of flexibility and rigidity in the soleplate as well, allowing me to plant my foot confidently and rotate my foot for my next movement.
Considering the length and shape of the bladed studs, the Scudettas would be best suited for FG surfaces and are serviceable on AG surfaces, but there are definitely better AG options out there.
Sokito Scudetta: A legitimate challenger has entered the Speed Boot Arena
I honestly can’t stop raving about the Scudettas, from the performance, to its sustainability roots, to the price. From an unbiased perspective, it would be foolish to buy a pro-level speed boot from any other brand if the performance is formidable, impact to Earth is minimal, and price is almost half of the competitors.
As a way of putting their money where their mouth is, Sokito’s site has a trade in policy where you can send in your old boots and get £20 off the Scudetta, for the eye-watering total of £155. A near-flawless, sustainable pro-level boot for a mid-tier price, do yourself (and the planet) a favour and get a pair of Scudettas.
Other recommendations
If you enjoy top-of-the-line speed boots like the Sokito Scudetta, you might also like the Mizuno Morelia Neo IV Beta Japan, the Adidas F50 Elite, and Puma Ultra Ultimate.
Really love this boot, soooo soft!