Everyone know this boot, in Indonesia CTR Price is Rp 580.000 for futsal
There was an almighty ‘Hurrumph’ from some when Nike revealed the new CTR360 II to the football boots world at large late last month. People claimed that Nike hadn’t changed enough to warrant a full update and had actually taken one of the best things about the football boot away from it.
Well, here at Footy-Boots.com we’ve thoroughly tested the latest football boots to come out of Beaverton, and as huge fans of the original boot, read on to find out why these are still a pair of cleats to get excited over.
Comfort & Fit
After just one iteration the CTR360 range has established a reputation for exceptional fit – probably the best in Nike’s range.
And despite the exclusion of the Memory Foam that we made such a song and dance over last time out (see the original review here – CTR360 boot test), many will be thrilled to know that this continues in the CTR360 II with absolutely no exception.
Having recently attended the CTR360 II launch and been in the same facility as over 5o people of varying shapes and sizes wearing the football boots, I can safely say that not a single person complained about the fit, with many lauding how comfortable they were.
Normally I do my best to keep these reviews as personal as possible, but this emphasises the universal love for the CTR360 II‘s fit – it has to be seriously forgiving to have that many people happy with how they performed.
That’s not to say they’re hugely loose fitting either (as that would be the easy way to make sure everyone’s feet fit them). The CTR360 II has a slightly longer lacing system than it’s predecessor, meaning you can tug and pull until the football boot fits right – all over your foot.
Feel & Touch
The CTR360 II‘s most publicised feature is the Kangalite upper, which I know you’re all familiar with by now (like Leather: lighter, less water retention etc.). The first time I played in the original CTR360, I described the feeling of the Kangalite as ‘airy’ and ‘foamy’.
Fans of the series will be pleased to know that Nike have changed the way that the football boot is put together, but only very slightly, and this fixes that problem. The upper is thinner, like the CTR360 Elites from the World Cup, and feels more tactile and compressed.
What this means for your average bod, is the KangaLite is millimetres thinner, giving the football boot a slightly better, more natural feel around the foot and the ball. The best way I can describe it is the CTR360 II feels more ‘reactive’ to the game, working with your foot rather than simply covering it.
It’s a shame then, that even with all these positives the KangaLite still misses that ‘glide’ across the ball that you get with K-Leather. But once you get past the fact that they’ll never become as ‘worn-in’ as your knackered old Copa’s, you’ll probably come to forgive this fact.
Looks
Whilst some people will argue that it’s slightly busy, with two colours and the dividing black stripe, everyone I’ve shown the football boot to thinks the cleat looks very, very sharp.
For me, it’s what a ‘current’ football boot should look like. No unnecessary graphics or gaudy design choices, something that looks like a football boot in deceptively simple colours.
The Challenge Red is a real stunner up close, metallicised on the CTR360 II to shift from brooding burgundy to racecar red.
I still reckon the extra Nike tick on the toe is a bit unnecessary, mind you!
Maintenance
If you’re anything like me, spending big money on a pair of football boots only to have them come off like they’ve been ‘in the wars’ after one game is a bit of a pet peeve.
One of the best things about KangaLite is that it does clean up rather nicely, even on the white areas.
The KangaLite really does stop water getting into the upper too, this means that even after the torrential downpour I played in over the weekend, it hasn’t stopped the CTR360 II from looking close to it’s best.
One real pain in the neck is the new ‘Receive’ pad; with it’s lattice-like structure and tiny bristles, it’s very tough to get it completely clean with just the usual methods! If you want your new cleats looking as good as new, you best have something like a toothbrush to hand!
Performance
Having read this far, you’ve probably gathered that I like the CTR360 II an awful lot, but haven’t really mentioned two of the most talked about performance features, the new Pass/Receive area and how the KangaLite holds up in the wet.
I’ve got to say that I prefer the new Pass pad to the old one. Whilst the placement takes a bit of getting used to (it’s closer to the soleplate and an inch or two further back) the firmer TPU gives a really satisfying heft to any pass you play off it – a slightly Concave-esque feel, almost.
The receive pad, however, takes no getting used to. It’s definitely in the right place, nestled in the niche of the foot, and the perfect place to take a ball along the floor onto.
I do think that perhaps it might be a bit of a placebo, as that part of the foot is naturally good for controlling a ball – but as with the ribbing on a Predator, or the Fins on the Laser, it may well help a lot of people focus on where best to control the ball.
One definite winner which I didn’t touch on with the original CTR360 boot test is the KangaLite, having tried out the Puma King Finale back in muddy December, I can definitely say that the CTR360 II feels much lighter in the wet. So if you often find you’re weighed down by heavier leather football boots due to… inclement weather; it may well be worth giving the CTR a run.
Value
If there’s one place that the CTR360 II falls down, for me it’s got to be value. Having tested the Elite version, the price tag that these football boots have to live up to is a lofty £225.
Whilst I think the CTR360 II is an excellent, uncompromising piece of footwear, without knowing whether they’ll last more than one season, I can’t say that they’re worth over £200 of everyone’s money.
For players with a bit of cash, who really want the best money can buy, I think if you look after them and use them on appropriate ground you’re really, really going to love these football boots.
But for everyone else, buying something that’ll be updated in 18 months time might not be worth the outlay (in perspective I could buy a new Xbox360 which would last me much longer and still have enough change to buy the Treqartistas!)
If the ‘standard’ CTR360 II performs anywhere near as well as these ‘Elites’, they’re definitely worth the £130 asking price.
Overall
A fantastic example of how to make a crowd pleasing pair of football boots; great to look at, great to wear, great to play in. Are the CTR360 II the best synthetic football boots around at the moment? They’re up there. Are they the best that Nike make? For my money, Yes.
No comments:
Post a Comment