A football boot built for comfort and fit.
Glenn Kweh is one of Singapore’s up and coming players who has recently broken through into the national team as a nippy, electric winger.
The pacey forward spoke with us recently at an adidas event in preparation for games in the AFC Champions League and also a Mitsubishi Electric Cup campaign in December where Singapore are hoping to reach the latter stages of the competition.
Glenn shared his thoughts on his personal development, his love for anime and that lovely goal for Tampines Rovers.
One of your most recent games, your team, Tampines Rovers, dominated in a 5-0. You scored an amazing scissor kick. Tell us what went through your mind in the lead up to the goal.
It was instinctive for me, my body just took over.
We’ve practice this move a lot in trainings, with overlapping runs. When we get to that position at the byline, we would try to lift the ball over to the far post. I was expecting the ball to fall within that area.
And then when the ball came, it was a little behind me so I had to shift a little bit to make contact. Moves like that don’t always work out in training but thankfully it did during match day.
Tell us more about your celebration
I’m a fan of anime and this celebration came from Jujutsu Kaisen, from a character called Gojo Satoru. It’s one of my favourite animes and I’ve also seen Dominic Solanke pull off this celebration.
I thought to myself that if I scored a goal, I’ll pull off this move.
What are some of your goals for the upcoming Mitsubishi Electric Cup?
My goal is for Singapore to win the tournament. On a personal level, I hope I get the call up for the team.
Who in the current national team have helped you settle in?
It’s hard to come up with a name because I feel like everyone in the national team has taken effort to guide me along. Because when it comes to the international games, the level and the intensity of the games are very different. It’s a lot more physical and the senior players have prepared me for that in training.
They go in hard and strong but also teach me how to protect myself in those hard tackles.
What abilities does a modern wide player like you need to succeed?
When you think of wide players in the modern age, you think of players like Mo Salah and Vinicius Jr. They come in many different styles too. The fast tricky players are obvious but we also see the more technical and tactical ones like Bernardo Silva.
I feel I’m more of the former but I’m constantly looking to improve on my weaknesses. I feel like I’m quite predictable in the sense that I always want to take on players. Perhaps I could be more unpredictable in being able to go in any direction and also work on my weaker foot.
Modern players have to be more well rounded.
Where do you see yourself in the new few years, career wise?
I prefer to focus on the present. Right now I want to do well for Tampines and the national team. I want to win the Singapore Premier League with Tampines Rover too.
I also want to perform well in the AFC Champions League so that I can secure a move overseas and play and develop at a higher level. Then I can bring that experience back to the national team to help our local players improve.
You wear the adidas F50. As a speedy player, how can an aspiring footballer improve in their agility and explosive power?
It’s always important to go to the gym and work on your strength. I’ve also been working on explosive ability by taking on players in training since I was young.
Genetics does have a small part to play but you got to keep training hard in the gym to build some muscle for that power.
Fans in Singapore looking to book tickets for the Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 can do so by clicking this link.
A legend of the local game, Hariss Harun has been dominating the centre of the park since he burst onto the scene as a 17 year old.
He has since had an amazing career – training at the famed La Masia, captaining Johor’s premier club JDT and captaining the Singapore national team.
We spoke with Hariss at a recent adidas event where the three stripes were promoting the Mitsubishi Electric Cup, the regional football tournament which kicks off in December. Hariss shared his aspirations for the competition, his position on the pitch and his connection to his football boots.
As a captain of the national team for many, many years, what has been the most rewarding and also challenging aspect of leading the national team?
Every boy here in Singapore who plays footballer and loves football, dreams of playing for the national team. I think I’m very blessed to fulfill a childhood dream to play and captain the team. It’s something I was honoured to take on.
It has also been a challenge too, especially in the last couple of years. Our results haven’t been that great. So as a captain, I think that’s where the challenge comes in – to keep the team positive. Especially when you don’t get the results or the performance hasn’t gone the way we like, there’s a lot of negativity surrounding the team.
We always have to find ways to bounce back and keep the confidence in the camp. That’s my role as captain.
Tell us more about the current Coach (Ogura)
He’s been a breath of fresh air. He demands a lot from the team and that’s what we really need at this point in time especially with a lot of younger players coming in. But (their experience) shouldn’t matter as he demands that we run with and without the ball. He demands a certain style of play and it’sn very refreshing for the national team and this bodes well for the younger players too.
Early in your career you played at La Masia in a competition. What aspects of the set up impressed you there, looking back at that experience? And what do you think we can adopt from the legendary Barcelona academy for Singapore?
La Masia is a massive training centre. When I was a 17 years old kid stepping into the compound itself, I just felt “wow”. It had a wow factor. There’s the buildings where the offices, the classrooms are, just for the academy and players. They have several pitches there. The magnitude, the scale of it is just wow.
There are a lot technical players coming through La Masia. They don’t rely too much on strength or physicality. It’s all about the positional awareness, technical skills and their game intelligence.
They give importance to this, no matter how small or big you are. This is crucial for the game. So I think here, there is something we need to focus on as well, you know, not too much the physicality because intelligence is a part of football – whether you are 17 years old or 35 years old.
I think that’s something that Singapore football can look closely and try to emulate.
The upcoming Mitsubishi Electric Cup. What are your goals for the team and yourself?
You always want to win the tournament. Historically, it’s always been a special tournament for us because we’ve won it four times. We have good history except for recent years. Though we were in the semi-finals for the first time in a long time in 2021.
If the players hit right form at the right time, I believe and I’m optimistic that we can do something. But having said that we have to acknowledge the challenge that lies ahead of us. The countries around us have improved in leaps and bounds. Their players are playing at a much higher level.
But if we can find a formula that works for us, we always have a chance.
Your new teammate, Kyoga Nakamura. How impressed have you been with him?
I’m very impressed. We know him from the Singapore Premier League and we know his quality. We saw in the recent friendlies his strengths and the quality that he has. So I think we’re really happy to have him in the camp. I’m sure he will play a big part in the cup.
You’ve been a very dominant centre midfielder. What makes a good centre midfielder?
I’m blessed to have had a good support system around me. From the players to the coaches, they all make my job easier.
It’s always important to know your role. I’ve been under so many different coaches. They have different philosophies, different styles. So it’s important to first understand what they want out of you. As a centre midfielder, you are basically the heartbeat of team. You have to do a little bit of attacking, a little bit of defending. A lot of the play goes through you.
There’s an old saying “If win the midfield, you win the game”.
You wear the adidas Predator, it’s all about control. So what advice do you have for aspiring centre midfielders to improve their game?
You have to be effective with and without the ball. You always have to be “behind the ball” in the sense that you are ready to help in defense, to circulate the ball and help create chances for your team at any time.
The adidas Predator has been a classic boot. What do you love about it?
The Predators have been classy from day one. The Predator lineage has been impressive if you look at the players that have worn them over the years. Zidane, Beckham, Del Piero.
When adidas asked which boot I’d like to play in, I didn’t have to think. From the time I wore them, they felt right. They felt comfortable.
Fold over tongue, regular tongue or laceless?
It doesn’t really matter for me. The boots are the boots and it gives me whatever I need in the game and I’m happy to wear any variant.
Fans in Singapore looking to book tickets for the Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 can do so by clicking this link.
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
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?
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What Puma says about this boot: Play at full throttle
Boot style: Speed
Weight: 196g for a US9 model
Previous model: Puma Ultra Ultimate (2023)
What adidas says about this boot: Feel fast and light on feet
Boot style: Speed
Weight: 186g/6.56 ounces (US 9/27cm)
Previous model: adidas X Crazyfast.1
Adidas has been the talk of the market this year.
The relaunch of a proper Predator, as well as the marketing and performances that surround it, has put the Three Stipes at the forefront of everyone’s mind when it comes to football boots. The fact that the new Predator not only looks the part but also performs has no doubt helped.
It would be a stretch to say that the return of the F50 name is more difficult, but at the same time considering the success of the Predator the onus was on adidas to not mess this up.
After all, the X series had its fair share of hits (and misses), though it never had the same big name history as the F50. In spite of any pressure adidas may have had with the return of the F50, they have absolutely delivered a boot worthy of the name.
Despite its name change, the one thing that has stayed the same is that it’s still a speed boot and adidas was looking for the best way to create a modern speed boot.
The biggest inclusion in this iteration has been its Compression Fit Tunnel which is a compression band within the boot (where the tongue is supposed to be) that wraps around your mid-foot to keep you feeling locked in.
It is an excellent addition as it provides additional lockdown without feeling like there is an extra piece of fabric in the way. The Compression Fit Tunnel is a modern interpretation of the TPU Techfit support bands that was found in the first adiZero in 2010, which in itself was an iteration of the woven bands found on the original F50 in 2004.
The adidas F50 Elite feels like it is designed specifically for your foot and the only awkward spot is a slight bulge around the ankle that goes away the more the boot is broken in. On a personally note, it is probably the best fitting boot I have worn this year, even better than the Predator FT, which considering how much I enjoy the fit of the Predators is surprising.
adidas also deserves a lot of praise for how they have designed the heels on the adidas F50 Elite. At first there were some slight hotspots towards the upper part of the heel, but this did not result in any blisters and went away the more the boots are worn. The heel has much less cushioning versus the Crazyfast, but it feels a lot more refined, and it wraps the back of the heel and keeps it locked in without feeling overly bulky, as was the case in the Crazyfast.
adidas seem to have really worked out their heel fits and this is another part of the F50 that I prefer over the Predators.
Like a lot of classic F50s, the new adidas F50 Elite comes with two different insoles. While the default speed insole is comfortable enough, the comfort insole is definitely the preferred option as it is more comfortable. It should be noted as well that the soleplate does not really have any stud pressure, and this is because there is a good amount of distribution of the pressure because of the well-designed soleplate.
There is a slight amount of lacebite because the Compression Fit Tunnel is so thin, but at the same time it is not as noticeable as the boot is broken in. While the adidas F50 Elite does not quite have a proper floating tongue, the fact that it is not a one-piece upper and the central lacing system means there is some decent adjustability to the fit, which allows the boot to fit multiple foot shapes.
Lastly, it has to be noted how high quality the adidas F50 feels in hand and on feet. Similar to the current Predator, adidas seems to have put a lot of effort into making their boots feel premium. This is something I feel has been missing from boots over the past several years (with obvious exceptions) and it is a welcome change, especially given the price of boots these days. Praise has to also be given to how soft the upper gets after a few wears and it is still very reactive yet comfortable at the same time.
As far as sizing, I went with my normal size in adidas which is half a size down from normal. The boots run slightly long. Not everyone will need to go a half size down especially if you have wider feet, but for me a half size down fits best. It should be noted that this is what I did with the Predators.
One of the impressive things about the upper of the adidas F50 Elite is how it manages to feel like it enhances the touch on the ball. A large part of this is down to the Sprintweb texturing on the upper.
It has this slightly grippy feel on the ball that allows for better control in various conditions. It is obviously nowhere near as grippy as the Predators, but definitely more than the previous Crazyfast. This is another part of the boot that feels like an improvement upon grip elements that were found on previous generations of the F50, specifically the 2014 adiZero.
Even on the parts of the boot that does not have the Sprintweb texturing, there is still a slight tackiness on the Fibertouch. Unlike some other boots on the market however, it does not really require much adjustment and after a few touches, the boot feels good to go.
Even when dribbling at speed, the texturing feels like a benefit and not a drawback as the material is placed in a way that helps add to the feel on the ball and gives this very confident feeling when touching the ball. It is not barefoot, but at the same time it does not feel bulky or cumbersome in any way. Again, personally, this has one of my favourite touches on the ball out of all of the boots I have tested this year.
The soft upper means that the touch on the ball can feel pretty deft and gets very close to that excellent feel on the ball that the X Speedflow gave me.
Though it can be argued that this adidas F50 Elite has a better touch as one of the drawbacks of the Speedflow is that it could feel slick in wet conditions whereas the F50 does not suffer from such problems because of the Sprintweb texturing.
In close spaces, the adidas F50 Elite performs well, with the sticky upper providing that bit extra control on the ball when making quick, short passes without getting in the way of what the player is trying to do on the ball.
When it comes to long balls the boot feels very precise and there is no clumsiness when hitting the ball with power. Long balls and curled crosses feel awesome to pull off in the F50. There is a certain enjoyment to be had and this is one of the reasons the boot feels fun to play in.
Of course, it would not be as impressive if shooting was not fun in the boots, but this is not the case as it is equally enjoyable to place shots and it is to hammer the ball with power. There is a slight pingy sensation on the ball when shooting, but it does not feel as raw as some other speed boots.
However, it is still extremely satisfying to shoot with the F50s as the upper and grip texturing combine well. I also found it a bit easier to make the ball knuckle compared to other boots.
The outsole deserves a quick shoutout as well because it does a great job of anchoring the foot into the ground when shooting and it has a nice balance to it that never makes it feel uncomfortable or weird when hitting the ball.
This is another part of the boot that adidas has absolutely nailed. There is plenty of grip available for straightline speed, but at the same time the boot feels very agile and allows for quick changes in direction.
Now, some people might prefer a more aggressive soleplate, but the fact of the matter is the new soleplate can be worn by a lot more people with a lot of different playstyles without feeling cumbersome. As someone who relies (well moreso when I was younger) on speed and a lot of quick changes in direction, this new F50 soleplate feels excellent. Add this to the fact that even though it is a firm ground soleplate, it still feels good on artificial ground and hard ground.
In fact, it can be argued (by me, specifically) that this is one of adidas’ best soleplates since the GambeTrax soleplate used by Messi. Sure, it is not as responsive as some of the X soleplates but at the same time the F50 did not always have super responsive soleplates, and this feels more like an F50 plate than an X soleplate, although some of the studs have been taken directly from the X Speedflow plate.
Speedboots needed to change to better accommodate their audience and I would argue that the soleplate is one of those changes that has been needed.
Giving the people, sort of at least, what they want, adidas have also released a Messi signature colourway of the F50. It’s an open secret in football that Messi’s boots have 3 main differences from retail variants – a leather upper, his signature Gambetrax tooling, and that burrito style tongue – and this Messi F50 finally gives us something closer to what Messi uses.
The Messi F50 uses a hybridtouch upper and the burrito style tongue, skipping that Gambetrax tooling, although it’s somewhat understandable as the current F50 stud configuration does look quite inspired by the Gambetrax. Personally, the Messi F50 is the best variant of the F50, because it’s softer and more pliable than the Fibertouch upper on the F50, which will soften up, but doesn’t have that same moulded feeling with your feet.
The burrito style tongue also gives you a better fit on the ball, although if you’ve got wider feet like I do, the burrito tongue does require some effort to lock into the side. Overall, the Messi F50 feels very much like one of my all time favourite boots – the 2014 adizero, which has that perfect balance of comfort, barefoot touch on the ball, light weight, and of course good enough traction for both FG and AG, especially when pushing off.
Adidas has once again delivered another hit this year with the adidas F50 Elite and given us a boot worthy of the F50 name.
The upper is soft and has excellent texturing, the solepate is grippy but still very agile and the boot overall is comfortable without sacrificing performance.
While some may see it as not a “proper” speed boot, I would argue that this is what a modern speed boot should be: high performance, high quality and inclusive of all sorts of players who have different demands of their boots.
It can be argued that this is somewhat like what the F50 has always been about, lightweight performance that offers a more alternative to everything else in the speed boot space.
Rather than conforming to the crowd, the new adidas F50 Elite sets itself apart and for me at least, it is the best speed boot on the market and worthy of the name.
If you like the adidas F50 Elite, you may also like the Mizuno Alpha Japan, Nike Air Zoom Mercurial Vapor 15 or the Puma Ultra Ultimate.
This review was done in collaboration with The Lockhart Boot Blog with further additions by Hats and Jason.
What Umbro says about the Tocco IV: A modern, leather boot
Boot style: Leather
Weight: 207g (7.3oz) for a size UK 8.5
Umbro has been one of the longest-standing names in football, and for good reason.
In its 100th year of operation, they’ve been the boots for almost every young football player, but have they adapted their designs to a more modern game? That’s the big question for their newest boot, the Umbro Tocco IV. Stylised as the Tocco “IV”, the boot is built for a smooth touch, long life, and optimal comfort. “Tocco’, which is Italian for “touch”, is really embodied in the soft leather used in the upper.
With three previous generations all providing radically different designs, the Tocco IV plays it safe by what appears to be returning to the silhouette of the Tocco 1, with some modifications. Umbro have kept a variation of the sockliner, as well as the burrito tongue and the same soleplate, as well as a focus on quality, long-lasting leather.
In hand, the Tocco IV feels like it has a solid build quality, though I wondered if it would really WOW me, considering they’ve kept it safe for their past few leather boot releases.
Combining all the new features of the Tocco IV “tocco-ther” (terrible pun, I know), one of the main unique selling points is the boot’s build quality, and expected longevity. It uses a new type of leather called Pittards Armor-Tan®, claiming to be more durable and abrasion resistant than the previous generation.
A quick search about Pittards Armor-Tan®, we learn that it’s made from calf leather where this tech “encases the leather fibres in microscopic ceramic plates in order to improve abrasion resistance and long term durability.” It also incorporates their “WR100X water and perspiration resistant process that protects the leather, keeping it supple and comfortable over time.”
Even with this tougher leather, the material is still soft to the touch and doesn’t affect touch or comfort in any negative way, so I can only take Umbro’s word that these boots will last.
In addition, the mid and rear sections of the boot are lined with ripstop material for reduced weight, breathability, and durability. The ripstop is mostly prominent on the lateral side of the boot, with multiple panels surrounding the double diamond Umbro logo, and a single panel on the medial side. There are also thin ripstop panels on the upper heel of the boot, but they’re more for cosmetic purposes, looking like the vents of a sports car.
The Tocco IV blends traditional leather with subtle upgrades in the structure of the boot. What I would consider an upgrade is the medial side of the boot, now returning to a burrito-instep, similar to the Tocco 1 Pro. With the leather wrapping the instep, it provides a closer fit to the shoe on the inside-half of the shoe, and offers a vacuum-like fit in the forefoot while still having the tongue part of the shoe open for adjustability.
The sock liner inside the boot is soft and rises along the profile of the boot for complete coverage, but the liner at the heel is lacking lockdown due to lack of depth in the heel cup. A pair of grip socks is definitely needed with these, even with the sturdy midfoot lockdown coming from the burrito tongue.
£185 for what it is, I will respectfully say that there are better options out there. For slightly more money, you can get the superior Nike Tiempo Legend 10 or the adidas Copa Pure 2. Both provide a better fit and other advancements that the Tocco doesn’t have. For example, Umbro again has played it too safe and used the same soleplate since the first Tocco, which has gotten feedback from several reviews that the studs are too short for FG use.
I have flat, wide feet, and always a UK 8, but I got an 8.5 this time and found that it fit well, without fear of the leather getting too loose because of the stitching. The boots fit well width-wise, though they are a bit long, regardless of the extra half-size up, and the leather softened quickly to my foot.
As a defender, I appreciate the pillowy padding of the leather upper for a supple touch and added protection from getting stuck into challenges. Receiving and launching passes were an absolute joy with these, and even though they are a leather boot, the Tocco IV experience reminded me of the Nike CTR II. I felt particularly good when playing long balls and shielding the ball, as the leather felt great pinging a long pass, and the short studs helped me keep ball control while shielding.
However, I struggled to get sufficient traction with the lack of length and aggression in the stud pattern. Jockeying and turns were fairly smooth due to the simple and short studs, but because of them, I also felt a lack of acceleration and sprinting. In addition to the latter, the lockdown in the boots was poor to be honest, due to a shallow heel cup and insufficient padding at the rear, and so I couldn’t trust myself making aggressive movements.
The Tocco IV definitely has some attractive elements to it: Technical additions like the ripstop mesh that improve an existing solid leather boot, but it’s not enough to move the needle of interest.
It’s a step in the right direction, but in a world where knit and carbon fibre reign supreme, there just isn’t enough in the Tocco IV to make me consider it a contender with the other flagship leather boots from other big brands.
I’ll keep the Toccos in my rotation, but only use them on hard/AG surfaces, on hot days, and in games where I’d want a more comfortable playing experience rather than focusing on performance.
If you enjoy all-round leather boots like the Umbro Tocco IV, you might also like the Mizuno Morelia Neo IV Beta Japan, the Adidas Copa Pure 2, and ASICS X-Fly Pro 2.
What Skechers says about this boot: Designed for players who desire precise control on the ball
Boot style: Control
Weight: 235g/8.30 ounces (US 9/27cm)
Previous model: n/a
As far as an entrance into the boot market went, Skechers earned top marks.
Thanks to the intense transfer speculation around England striker Harry Kane, both boot nerds and international news outlets devoted constant attention to him and the blackout boots that he was wearing in pre-season.
It’s been a while since we’d seen this much curiosity, with detectives around the world scrutinizing every part of his boot, speculating which brand and silo it was. Skechers, to their credit, followed it up by selling limited quantities of the blackout “prototype variant” as well as sending it to reviewers to generate extra hype.
All this meant that when the eventual unveiling happened, Skechers as a football brand was met with more curiosity than suspicion, although I still argue that a more appealing launch colourway and not one that looked like a boot out of Temu would have helped it more.
But hype is hype; the boots still have to perform. Here’s what we thought about it.
Let’s address the elephant in the room first. The boots look and feel a lot like a successor to the Nike Phantom GT2.
There’s the textured silicone bonded onto a knit upper formula. Semi-separated tooling. There’s also small details like the heel tab and the brand patch under the laces.
Word on the street is that Skechers poached hired a couple of ex-Nike designers who worked on the GT2 and the Vapor 14, among other boots, and it really shows in the Skechers SKX 01. Having said that, the Skechers SKX 01 does improve on several less optimal areas of the GT2, so the title of a GT3 the comparison isn’t the a big a slight as it sounds like.
The SKX 01 is built around precise control of the ball, with every part of the boot optimised to give athletes a 360-degree touch and unparalleled ball control. The upper seamlessly fuses knit and skin materials, with the knit offering a personalised fit and excellent breathability, while the strategically placed skin panels add durability and protection where it’s needed most.
It also features a unique combination of micro and macro texture, strategically placed to optimise ball control and touch – the micro-textured zones provide a delicate grip for precise dribbling and passing, while the macro-textured areas offer extra grip and power for shooting and striking the ball.
If there’s one thing we love about today’s market, it’s that knit uppers in general perform at a very high level, even from smaller brands. ‘Fitknit’, the knit upper on the Skechers, feels premium and well weaved, giving you a nice locked-in fit when you slip your foot in. And locked in did we feel, with the boot making that vacuum sealed sound “thup”, when we finally managed to slip it in.
The upper is also covered with Precise Strike Control (PSC), a layer of silicon textures consisting of micro dots and macro lines for added grip on the ball.
Sizing on the SKX01 was a mixed bag for me. The boot uses an “anatomical fit”, which means a rounder fit in the forefoot, and a slightly tighter fit in the mid foot. I went half a size down as there was a bit of dead space in the toe area for me when I went true to size.
This meant that there was some break-in time required for me to get used to the tighter fit in length, but that went away after a short warm up. I’d recommend half size down for most, but if you’ve got a wider foot, go true to size.
I did face some issues with the heel area as the cushioning was in the thinner side and wasn’t able to lock in my heel well. While I never had any issues with heel stability or lockdown, the boot always felt loose, and was an unnecessary distraction in game.
If you’ve tried on a knit boot in recent times, you know what to expect. The upper isn’t thin enough to feel sharp and barefoot, yet not padded enough to feel cushioned. It’s a middle ground sensation with a slight dampened touch on the ball.
A major disappointment was how little the PSC texturing came into play while controlling and in contact with the ball.
You’ll probably feel it more during wet weather, but if not, it’s kind of just there without doing much. I’d have much preferred something more aggressive, similar to what we saw on the Nike Phantom VSN 1 and 2 or the Phantom GX where you really feel the extra grip aiding your touch.
That same dampened touch on the ball comes into play when shooting or passing the ball. Striking the ball felt quite natural, with the knit taking that bit of sting when hitting the ball harder. The anatomical fit and the lower toe box did make it quite nice to make those chipped passes.
Overall, a pretty solid outing if not for the disappointment with the (lack of) grip from the PSC textures.
Perhaps the biggest worry when I first got the boot was the traction. The studs looked potentially too grippy for AG thanks to the diamond shaped FG studs. Thankfully I’m happy to report that the boot worked excellently on both FG and AG, as the studs are on the shorter side. The interestingly placed spine on the tooling doesn’t do that much for the boot and I’d label this as a gimmick rather than an actual performance feature.
What did work, was the Hyperburst insole that Skechers uses, which adapts technology from its running shoe line. It’s thick and slightly bouncy, which makes playing in the boot a comfortable experience.
I’ve had a number of debates with fellow reviewers and friends about the Skechers SKX 01. On one hand, it feels harsh to judge a new brand entering the market on higher standards.
On the other hand, it doesn’t feel fair to treat this like a new brand considering how much the boot adapts from the Nike Phantom GT 2. This doesn’t help Skechers’ reputation as it comes off as a copycat of another competitor instead of standing on their own innovations.
Yes, we know creating a new boot from scratch can be tough. New Balance, for example, took several attempts before getting their formula right in the Tekela and Furon. Yet even their first attempt – the Visaro had a unique proposition to it, with a nice synthetic and grippy upper that gave you a nice barefoot touch on the ball.
The Skechers SKX 01 is a pretty good football boot, albeit one that’s 3 years late considering the competition on the market. But it is absolutely disappointing that instead of bringing a fresh perspective to the table, Skechers went the route of peeking at their classmate, and pretty much copying it. Hopefully by the time the Skechers SKX 02 comes around, Skechers would have had more time to develop their own innovations to wow the boot world.
What Nike says about this boot: Designed for more precision, more agility and more comfort
Boot style: Control
Weight: 185g/6.53 ounces (US 9/27cm)
Previous model: Nike Phantom GX
The original Phantom GX boots were one of the most popular boots for Nike (aside from the Mercurial) over the past several years. They sold out constantly and seemingly almost everyone in the boot space has tried them.
So, when the Nike Phantom GX 2 Elite was announced, people were quite negative. After all, Nike seemed to have messed with the formula too much and changed what made the Phantom GX great. However, Nike have managed to improve the GX, for the most part.
One of the main changes is the upper itself. Gone is the dual-layered forefoot and in its place is a one-piece upper that removes some of the material that gets between the foot and the ball. The Phantom GX 2 upper is stickier than the previous generation and because of the raised ribs, there is a greater emphasis on having a great touch in all conditions. The pattern of the GripKnit upper is designed to mimic the eye of a storm and Nike says that the GX 2 is designed for “more precision…more agility and more comfort”.
Nike has also changed to the heel to be more cushioned than the GX 1 and with this increased support as well. For some people it might seem overly cushioned, but it seems to fit multiple heel types.
The only thing that really carries over from the previous model, or the AG Pro model at least, is the soleplate. Which to be fair, seems decent enough and is generally well liked by people who wore the GX 1.
The overall fit of the boot has changed as well. First, Nike have opted for a wider last, which will please people who may have felt that there was not enough width or volume in the original model.
However, the previous GX did seem to fit a lot of foot types, and the wider fit on the GX 2 is a bit of a problem because for the average to narrow foot types, the wider fit leads to more bunching in the upper, especially around the midfoot. This does go away a little bit after breaking in, but it is still somewhat present.
Given the tagline for the boot, there is a lot for the Nike Phantom GX 2 Elite to live up to. The upper feels premium and it can be argued that these have one of the most premium feeling knit uppers on the market.
While the lockdown overall is good, there is not as much adjustment with the lacing system, and it tends to force a certain fit on the wearer. Again, after a few wears this gets better, but it still feels like your feet have to be a certain shape in order to fit the boot.
Moving on to the heel, it previously was decent, if a bit unstable. However, the newly designed heel on the Nike Phantom GX 2 has more cushioning that provides a more locked in sensation.
The heel is probably one of the most comfortable heels that Nike has produced in some time and in addition to the increased cushioning, it feels more stable as well. The only drawback is that there is some slippage at the bottom of the heel and even with grip socks the heel tends to move around a bit when making hard cuts.
As far as sizing goes, I went half a size down just as I did with the previous generation and while the fit was fine, I generally prefer a much tighter fit than other people, so I recommend going true to size.
There is a much closer feel than previously, and there is also a much bigger surface area with which to feel the ball. And you do feel the ball much more, pretty close to a barefoot touch. The touch is indeed excellent in multiple conditions, and even on muddier and wet fields, the GripKnit still provides a nice grippy sensation on the ball. It does not let you down.
Another thing that is a positive is the ridges that run along the upper. There is an interesting difference when compared to other boots, and the ridges make a huge difference on the ball, giving you more confidence when controlling the ball. Again, in wet or adverse conditions, it is a bonus to have such confidence on the ball.
The upper also has more grip than the previous GX and does take a little bit of time to get used to the grip, it soon feels like second nature. It does seem like Nike felt the need to make an improvement here and while the original GX had a good amount of grip, it is possible that some players wanted a raised surface to better control the ball.
Passing feels like a precise affair, with the grippier upper resulting in a more controlled feel when passing the ball. One might think that a combination of the ridges and the grippy upper would result in an awkward feeling when passing the ball but instead it feels as if the ball knows what you want to do with it.
Interestingly, the harder the ball is hit with power, the more the ridges seem to respond well to what is asked of them. The Nike Phantom GX 2 Elite are outwardly designed to accept what the wearer wants.
The ridges feel stiffer when hammering the ball and the placement of the ridges means that it is very enjoyable to curl the ball. It is also fun to knuckle the ball every shot in the boots feel powerful.
However, I would say that they do not feel as aggressive as something like the newest adidas Predator Elite.
There is a somewhat pingy sensation when hitting the ball, a bit more like one would expect of a speed boot rather than a control boot. The Nike Phantom GX2 will satisfy a lot of strikers and while I would not say it is the perfect striker’s boot, it is certainly up there.
While the AG plate has not changed, it is still good and even on wetter surfaces the soleplate is still grippy and provides a comfortable ride. Obviously, they clog up with mud easier, but it is not as bad as one would think. As long as the surface is not too muddy, the soleplate still works.
The problem with the soleplate is the same issue that I had with the GX 1. It is still far too flimsy and while some people may prefer this, for me it can cause unnecessary strain on the feet. Along with this, at times the studs do not feel properly anchored to the ground when hitting the ball which causes the planted foot to slide a little.
While the upper is improved versus the GX 1, the decision for a wider fit means that for some people this GX is no longer an option as there might be too much bulging in the upper. It is ultimately a boot for people with wider feet and if you want a more snug fit, the adidas Predator is a better choice.
Also, they still have not fixed the soleplate issues of the previous generation. It feels as if you need an aftermarket carbon fibre insole or something in order to make the boot supportive enough, which given the already high price of the Nike Phantom GX 2 Elite, feels like a slap in the face.
Overall, a really good boot but not without its flaws.
This review was done in collaboration with Andrew Lockhart from The Lockhart Boot Blog.
What adidas says about this boot: Enter a new era of finishing with grippy Strikeskin in the lightest Predator yet
Boot style: Power/Comfort
Weight: 215g / 7.76 ounces (US 9/27.0cm)
Previous model: Predator Accuracy.1 L (2023)
What Puma says about this boot: Next-generation adaptive fit to create without constraints throughout the 90 minutes
Boot style: Touch/Comfort
Weight: 220g / 7.76 ounces (US 8.5/26.5cm)
Previous model: Puma Future Ultimate (2023)
The Puma Future silo has always been built on a strong knit base to give you the best fit and most sock like feel on the ball. Earlier iterations of the Future came with a Netfit system that gave you the ability to customize the fit any way you liked, which we really enjoyed.
Today, it’s still the most comfortable and sock-like boot on the market, with a super soft upper out of the box, comparable to leather boots. Puma has also constantly found a way to surprise me as well.
I felt the concept peaked with the Puma Future 1.4, which refined the edges of the Future 1.3. Yet somehow the Future Ultimate not only got softer, better fitting and reduced the padding to give you an incredibly balance touch on the ball.
The Puma Future Ultimate has been a constant mainstay in my rotation of boots whenever I’m not testing boots and just want a comfortable slipper like boot, so I’m quite curious to see how the Puma Future 7 Ultimate refines the formula further.
Perhaps the most significant visual change is the new position of the PWRTape. Instead of being placed on the side of the boot, where truth be told, it was more of a visual than a functional feature, it’s now placed on the top of the boot. This allows the boot to lock your foot into place, a seat belt if you would, for a more secure fit.
Puma also improves on the 3D grip texturing that was on the previous generation. Now called PWRPrint, it covers a greater part of the upper, giving the boot a rough scaly touch on the ball for more grip.
With great lockdown comes, necessary break in time. While the new PWRTape positioning felt excellent on feet, I needed a good amount of effort to get my feet into the boot in the first place. I would recommend wearing your thinnest pair of socks to get the boots on feet and doing some warmups in the park before bringing them to a game. A shoe horn goes an absolutely long way too.
Curiously, Puma have also tweaked the shape of the Puma Future 7 Ultimate. Their boots of late have trended towards a slimmer, tighter silhouette, especially with the new Puma King Ultimate, and the Future has also gone through a diet.
The toebox is also slightly lower, so I’d recommend going true to size if you’ve got a high volume foot in general. If not, going down half a size would give you the best fit still, lengthwise at least.
Personally, it took around 3 training sessions before the boot really moulded and stopped constricting my toes. After putting in the hard work of breaking the boot in, the rewards is arguably one of the best all-round boots on the market.
Unlike many of the “knit boots” on the market, the Puma Future 7 Ultimate, adds in a thin layer of foam padding, which gives you that little bit of comfort to hug your foot. That comfort, as well as the knit tongue and collar, gives you that “extension of foot” feeling, similar to what I’ve always loved in my leather boots.
Where the boot really shines though, is when you start dribbling the ball. The PWRPrint really makes a difference when you start making those little touches on the ball with the outside of your foot and manipulating it. It adds that little bit of extra grip to help you stabilize your first touch, without feeling overly grippy to the point that you trip over the ball. My favourite improvement of the Future series thus far.
This is further aided by the PWRTape which works in tandem with the grippy insole to really lock your foot into place when dribbling. Regardless of me changing directions or making straight sprints, the new PWRTape position kept me feeling secure and distraction-free.
When it comes to shooting and passing the ball, these feel very much like the previous generation – it is nice and functional without feeling spectacular in anyway.
Puma has reused the FG/AG tooling from the 2023 Future Ultimate and while it works great on FG (firm natural grass) surfaces, I definitely do not recommend it for AG (artificial ground) due to how long and bladed it is. I went with the HG (hard ground) variant which uses rounded studs and I feel that the HG variant is the more well-rounded tooling, safe to use on all 3 mentioned ground types.
They also have an MG version which is excellent on AG and I highly recommend it if your games are mostly smaller sided like 5v5 and 7v7.
Future has been arguably Puma’s best silo since its introduction in 2018 thanks to its focus on fit and comfort through their excellent knit uppers. For us, it’s always been one of our easy go-to recommendations for anyone that’s looking to buy a boot but unsure about fit and sizing.
The Puma Future 7 Ultimate continues much of that tradition, although I’m unsure if the new fit and shape was a step in the right direction, considering how comfortable the previous generation was out of the box.
Having said that, with knit making a small resurgence , Puma’s improvements on the Puma Future 7 Ultimate ensures that it doesn’t lag behind their competitors and that it’s still one of the best choices on the market.
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