The new season is well underway, and while most attention is understandably on clubs’ new kits, new signings and just how your team opens their 22/23 account, we’re taking a look at all the new boots on show.
While the return of domestic football across Europe has already seen tensions on the pitch simmer away nicely between teams (and managers), the battle of the brands also never loses pace. Ahead of the season Nike dropped the ‘Lucent Pack’, adidas the ‘Game Data Pack’, PUMA the ‘Fastest Pack’ and New Balance the ‘Vivid Spark Pack’, with all clambering to be well represented as the action got underway. Fresh colourways and some new generation upgrades, we take a look at the 10 boots from those drops and rank them, because why not.
10. adidas COPA Sense
Up first the COPA Sense arrived as part of the adidas Game Data Pack, landing in a fairly garish “Team Solar Yellow/Solar Red/Core Black” colourway mainly in support of the next generation X Speedportal. Feels like the COPA Sense is overdue for an upgrade, and while this new colour-up was certainly eye catching on the likes of Paulo Dybala, it didn’t quite hit the mark for us.
9. New Balance Tekela v3+
Criminally underrepresented on professional pitches in our opinion, the Tekela landed as part of the New Balance ‘Vivid Spark Pack’, which dropped back in June. Still playing a supporting role to the Furon, its most notable appearance on pitch recently came on the feet of Spain’s Sheila Garcia in the quarter final of the women’s Euro 2022 against England. The ‘Vivid SPark’ look works in that it stands out from the rest without being too much of an eye sore.
8. adidas Predator Edge
The second of the three-part ‘Game Data Pack’, the Predator Edge again takes a supporting role to the X Speedportal, much like the COPA Sense. The “Solar Red/Team Solar Green/Core Black” colourway is again, a little jarring, but it gets a pass for its summer feel, while it’s also reasonably well represented on pitch by the likes of Jude Bellingham and David Alaba.
7. Nike Phantom GT II
Really not feeling the ‘Lucent Pack’ look for the Phantom GT II. Sure, it’s not as bright and brash and so doesn’t stick out quite as much as others on this list, but that colour combo just doesn’t quite sit right. Officially "Glacier Ice/Black/Yellow Strike”, it features that small hit of yellow in the forefoot to tie it in with the headliner of the ‘Lucent Pack’, the Air Zoom Mercurial, and it’s a popular choice on pitch.
6. New Balance Furon v6+
New Balance’s flagship boot is what you’ll see most of the brand’s athletes wearing on pitch at the moment, from Sadio Mane to Raheem Sterling. As with the Tekela, the “Impulse/Illusion Blue” colourway isn’t bad, but it’s also not that much of a departure from Sadio Mané’s signature look for AFCON, and as such it loses marks. It’s also due a tech upgrade…
5. PUMA Ultra Ultimate
The first wide release of the new PUMA Ultra Ultimate kicks off the top 5, and its highlighted with a “Fizzy Light/Parisian Night/Blue Glimmer” that plays on the summery vibes. The execution of the formstripe aesthetic is one we can solidly get behind, while there’s a host of new tech under the hood to enjoy.
4. Nike Tiempo Legend IX
Just a classic. While the rage for the summer is bright and bold, the Tiempo Legend IX cruises in in an understated palette, with a off white "Guava Ice” letting the "Sunset Glow" Swoosh take the attention. Another silo that’s long overdue a tech upgrade, but when it looks this good we’ll let it slide.
3. PUMA Future Z 1.4
A darkened delight to play off the bright of the Ultra Ultimate, the Future Z sees a “Parisian Night/Fizzy Light/Pistachio” colourway that works perfectly for the silo’s main man, Neymar and his PSG home threads. The Z graphics on the rear heel flash alongside the branding and soleplate in the same shades that dominate the Ultra.
2. adidas X Speedportal
A new generation needs to be shouted about, and the X Speedportal was launched in a loud “Solar Green/Core Black/Solar Yellow” colourway, with adidas playing of multidimensional speed in a Rick and Morty-fuelled marketing campaign. That aside, the boot features some nice upgrades from what went before, and the colour choice reminds us of the ACE 16+ Puercontrol. Good times.
1. Nike Air Zoom Mercurial
A new Mercurials is always going to grab attention, and when it’s combined with a dedicated Zoom Air unit? Well, enough said. The Air Zoom Mercurial, in both Vapor XV and Superfly IX guise, has pretty much stolen the headlines this season, and with it also on the feet of countless pros in that "Yellow Glow/Sunset Stroke" combination for a final injection of summer… a rightful number 1.
Shop all new boots at prodirectsoccer.com
