Puma V1.06 i FG at sale price

I have just noticed that the ever popular Puma V1.06 is on sale at a terrific price at the moment! The cleats, normally priced at $190 are currently on sale for appoximately $80 to $90 depending on the style you want. I have just purchased a pair, and as anyone else who has ever owned a pair will tell you, these cleats are ultra light and when you break them in they are super comfortable. Weighing in at 6.80z and with a covered lacing system, these cleats are perfect for wingers and speedy forwards. Puma might have an updated version of this cleat, but for the price I would recommend buying a pair while they are available, even if just as a back up. I would recommend ordering a size up as these cleats are small fitting. I am a size 9 but ordered a size 9.5. Check out the links below for more information.
PUMA v1.06 i FG - Camo Red/Metallic Silver Current $89.99
PUMA v1.06 i FG - Ebony/Orange/Metallic Currently $79.99
Puma v1.06 i FG - White/Black/Red Currently $79.99
PUMA v1.06 i FG K Currently $79.99
PUMA v1.06 i FG K - Black/Black/Red Currently $79.99
PUMA v1.06 i FG K - Dark Shadow/Blue Currently $79.99

Puma King XL 40th Anniversary Edition

The introduction of the original Puma King cleat came in 1968, 40 years ago, and today it is still one of the most popular cleats around, standing the test of time. The cleat was introduced in 1968 in honor of the great Eusebio, the legendary Portuguese international (he was born in Mozambique) who at the 1966 World Cup scored 9 goals. Eusebio was part of the development team that created the Puma King cleat.

Over the years, the King became synonymous with soccer players around the world and was worn by legends including Brazil’s Pele, Argentina’s Maradona and Dutch maestro Johan Cruyff.

This year’s special limited edition 40th year anniversary edition comes in a red color. The newest addition to Puma’s range retains its classic lines and traditional styling, but it has updated materials, enhanced features and some new design details. Super-soft, ultra-thin full-grain leather is complemented by a high-density silicon heel counter and conical firm ground stud construction for optimal stability and maneuverability.

Reviews about the cleats have been very positive. Great feel and touch are the main reactions of players wearing the cleats. Puma are renowned for the comfort of their cleats, and from wearing the v-Konstruct II personally I would agree with the comfort level of Puma Cleats. Also, by purchasing at the right place, you are also given a really nice shoe bag that contains a shoe brush and polish. Worth watching out for!

My favorite feature of the cleat is the tongue, where the cleats 40 years, 1969 to 2008, is stitched on.

Taking care of your cleats

You have just bought a new pair of cleats, and its time to break them in. So, what should you do to break them in the right way and make them last? Let’s look at some of the steps you can take to ensure that you get the most from your cleats.

Breaking them in:
It is important that new cleats are ready for their first 90 minutes. In order for them to be ready, you need get them loose and comfortable on your feet. The ‘shower technique’ is one that many pro players use to get their leather cleats ready. Chris Loftus, Neil Jones, Andy Dorman and David McGill have all talked about this technique in their reviews. The hot water helps the leather expand/loosen a little, giving you some breathing room for when you use them. Another important step is to wear them jogging or during warm-up rather than wearing them for the first time in a game. The more you can do to loosen up your cleats and get them snug on your feet, the better they will be for that first game. A lot of professional players have several pairs of cleats at one time so that they can break pairs in over time.

Avoiding Blisters:
Breaking cleats in properly will help reduce the possibility of blistering. You definitely want to avoid blisters! If you wear your boots and notice you are feeling the onset of blisters, it is very handy to have some Vaseline around. Just smear it on around the areas you are feeling the blisters. The Vaseline will help your foot move a little more smoothly against you cleat reducing the friction that occurs.

After the game:
There are certain steps to follow when the game is finished. First, it is important to dry and air your cleats. One of the worst things that about 60% of soccer players do is leave their cleats in their bag until the next practice! It is very important to take them out of your bag so they can dry naturally. One tip that the pros do to help dry out cleats is to put newspaper inside. This helps soak up any of the dampness that is inside. Where you leave the cleats to dry is also important, don’t leave them in direct sunlight or somewhere that is very hot. This will only dry them out and cause them to crack. In order to keep you cleats soft and supple, you need to ‘moisturize’ them.

Keeping them soft:
The best solution for this is leather food. A majority of professional soccer players use leather food. I know when I came to the US from Ireland, I would have to fight guys off after practice from using it all!! My preferred brand is Chelsea leather food. It has nothing to do with the Premier league team, so it’s ok to buy if you are a Man Utd fan!! In Danny Kennedy’s review he talks about how he cleans and leather food’s his cleats the day before any game.


Using polish:
Polish is something I used on my boots all the time as a kid. I always had to have the shiniest boots! It never hurts to polish your boots. The most professional players will grab a brush and shine those bad boys up. It is important to make sure that you use a brush to clean off any excess dirt beforehand. Boots like Copas and Puma Kings are definitely shoes you will want to polish up. A few hours after polishing, use some leather food to keep them feeling soft.

So, recapping, it is important to break your cleats in slowly, dry them naturally after games, and keep them supple by using leather food. If you fancy, stuff some newspaper in them for drying, and some shoe polish for that professional player look. For more info on what the professionals do, check out the player reviews on this blog!

Ronaldo's new Nike Mercurial Vapor IV

Nike have unleashed Cristiano Ronaldo....in his new marina and volt Mercurial Vapor IV. At the weekend, Ronaldo debuted the cleats with a second half goal vs West Brom, and also wore them during the Champions League clash with Celtic. During both games, Ronaldo was his usual creative self, setting up some great opportunities with crosses from both the left and right hand side. The Vapors are designed for the fast paced player, someone who likes dribbling and pulling off tricks. They are aero-dynamic and have a large surface area for a cleaner strike zone. Players that currently wear the cleats include Theo Walcott and Robinho...flair players.

And it looks like Nike have picked up the right players! Robinho's big move to Manchester City, Theo Walcotts emergence with Arsenal and England(his hat-trick vs Croatia being the highlight) along with Ronaldo, who is one of the favorites for the World Player of the year has certainly helped their sales numbers and is helping them push ahead of Adidas in boot sales.

Buy Nike Mercurial Vapor IV FG - Marina/Volt/Metallic Silver

Tony Lochhead: Nike Legend II

Name: Tony Lochhead

Position: Left back/midfield

Team History: UCSB 2001-04

New England Revolution 2005-07

Wellington Phoenix 2007-

New Zealand National team: 17 senior caps

Cleat: 9.5US Sneaker: 10.5US

What cleats do you wear?
Last season i was wearing the Total 90 lasers but I have gone old school and now wearing the Nike Legends. I prefer leather boots, they dont last as long as the lasers but alot more comfortable and fit my feet better than this years Total 90.

How much would you pay for the 'perfect' pair?
I would pay a couple hundread, you cant really get a good pair without spending that.

What advice would you give to someone choosing a cleat?

I try to find a cleat that is going to fit my foot well, it has to be comfortable, especially in the conditions that we play in. Alot of the fields are hard as we play in the summer months.
Advice I would pass on would be to have a pair of cleats to train in and a pair just to play your games in, as I have been told that your cleats only have about 6 games of life in them before you should replace them. Because we play in the summer here, most of my cleats are molded and I only have one pair of studs. I have a couple of pairs to train in and a pair of game boots. These days I tend to wear the white cleats which I would have never done when I was younger but the majority of the boots seem to be white and it looks weird when you wear black, haha!!

Danny Kennedy - Adidas Predator

Name: Dan Kennedy
Position:GK
Team History:UCSB 2001-04
Puerto Rico Islanders 2005(USL)
Club Deportivo Municipal Iquique 2005-08(Chile)
Chivas USA 2008-

Cleat size: 10.5
Sneaker size:11

Preferred cleat? Predator firm grounds
In one sentence why? Very comfortable and I like the control I feel that I have with the ball.

What do you look for when choosing a cleat? Color- I usually wear black cleats, Comfort- I do not enjoy blisters, and weight- nothing too heavy

How much would you pay for the perfect pair?
$200 seems to be the standard for nice cleats these days, so I guess I wouldnt pay more than that.

What advice would you give to someone when choosing a new pair of cleats?
I usually have about 4 pairs of cleats, three firm grounds and one soft ground...I like the firm ground cleats to play in when the conditions permit, I also like to train in them. I always have a firm ground broken in and ready to go...for rainy and wet conditions...I usually rotate my cleats using them for games only in the begining, then once they start showing wear and tear I turn them into my training boots. I usually clean and leather food all my cleats the day before the game.

Danny Kennedy is currently one of the leading goalkeepers in MLS. His leadership qualities are well renowned, shown by his captaincy of the 2004 UCSB team that played in the schools first ever National Championship Final game. We thank Dan for sharing his knowledge on soccer cleats with us!

Newest Released Cleats Review

So what are the newest cleats on the market? Here is a look at what pro's in England and Europe are taking to the field.

Patrice Evra debuted the new Black/Orange Blaze Mettalic Silver Nike Total 90 Laser II. This is the newest color release of the Laser II series. The cleat that is most worn in the English Premiership, has an innovative front panel called the Shotshield system, which increases the 'sweet spot' area.

Others to wear the cleat include Evra's team mates Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, Liverpool's Fernando Torres, and Real Madrid's Wesley Sneijder.
Check out the commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmcl2qq85Vs

Designed for speed, the new Puma V1.08 was released for the start of the 2008/09 season. The newest version is available in a black/white/olympian blue. The lacing in these cleats is off center, allowing for a better distribution of of pressure on ball impact.

These cleats are worn by Tottenham's David Bentley, Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka and Mauro Cameronesi of Juventus.
Check out the commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nty9NVINL_4

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Michael Owen is the center piece of Umbro range of cleats, and their 2008/09 release the Umbro Speciali Anatomical has aided with Owen's goalscoring this season. With Newcastle struggling at the bottom of the table, Owen has continued to score goals! The laces on this cleats are shorter than on normal cleats, allowing for a better striking area.

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The Reebok Sprintfit Lite Pro have just been released onto the market in this gold/red/black design. It follows the success of the Reebok Sprintfit cleat, and these new cleats own the title of Reebok's lightest cleat available on the market currently. These cleats are perfect for the speedy player who looks to dribble fast with the ball close to their feet.

These cleats will be debuted by both Thierry Henry of Barcelona, and Manchester United's Ryan Giggs.

David McGill: Umbro

Name: David McGill
Position: Center Midfield
Team History: UNC Charlotte 2000-01
UCSB 2001-03
Dublin City 2004-06
Shamrock Rovers 2006-07
Shelbourne 2007-
Cleat size: 9-91/2
Sneaker size: 10

Preferred cleat? Umbro
In one sentence why? Because I have broad feet and they are a broad fitting boot.

What do you look for when choosing a cleat?
A boots comfort is the priority, not its label. If the boot is not comfortable then you will not be able to play to your best. Second would be the leather of the boot, make sure it’s a good quality so it can last more than one tackle!

How much would you pay for the ‘perfect’ pair?
I wouldn’t really have a limit on a price. If I'm comfortable in the boot then I'd pay whatever the price is, be it $20 or $200.

What advice would you give to people when purchasing new cleats?
First and foremost is comfort. I would always have at least 2 pairs of boots, 1 pair of molded and 1 pair with studs, but usually I try to have 2 pairs of each. This is because of the weather conditions here in Ireland. The 4 pairs should do me for the season. To break in my boots I’d ask someone with a slightly bigger foot to wear them in training once or twice. If you can't get someone that will do that then put on a couple of pairs of socks, soak the boots in water and wear them in training yourself.

Are there any tips you can give for maintaining cleats?
Always look after your cleats by washing them as soon as training or your game is over. A good polish or some leather balm on them when they have dried should also help increase lifespan.

David plays professionally in Ireland for Shelbourne FC. He had a very successful career in college, before turning down the chance to sign for LA Galaxy, opting to sign for Dublin City, who were at that time in the FAI First Division.
He is best known in Ireland for scoring the winning goal in the first division play-off in 2006, helping Dublin City FC win promotion to the Premier division for the first time.

What your soccer cleats say!!

Do you wear a pair of white, blue or even green cleats? Or are you a fan of the traditional, old school English black 'clogs'? Well, here is a recap of a recent English study conducted by top sports phsychologists. Find out before you chose you color!!

The Old Pro: Black Boots
- A safe colour and suggests certainty and authority. Always worn traditional black boots, and always will.

The Maestro: White Boots
- White represents purity and light and the Maestro oozes talent and class, and has everything except sweat-inducing work rate.
The Hot Potato: Red Boots
- Red is an intense colour which generates emotions. This fire-brand is impetuous and rash and will make their mark on the game, and their opponents.

The Veteran: Blue Boots
- We look for blue skies, for peace and tranquility. He is convinced that his experience and nous more than makes up for a lack of pace. He switched to blue boots to demonstrate his coolness and calmness under pressure.

The Enigma: Green Boots
- Here is a player who has the manager tearing his hair out in frustration. On his day, he can win a match by himself. One week, storming the barricades; next week, missing in action. Why? Who knows?

The Entertainer: Yellow Boots
- Yellow brings good cheer and optimism. Our yellow-booted entertainer is the life and soul of the team and shows lots of energy and enthusiasm.

The Organiser: Brown Boots
- Our brown booted player will be a smartly turned out defender, unyielding and dependable with a penchant for a sliding tackle.

The Golden Boy: Gold Boots
- The colour of sun brings warmth and wisdom. He is super talented, but he might believe too much in his own publicity.

The Headless Chicken: Silver Boots
- Silver offers light and balance, and he has speed and pace to burn. However he is sometimes known as a headless chicken and his passing can be erratic.

The Eccentric: Orange Boots
- Orange offers freedom and emotional release. Your orange booted player can be prone to impulsive decision making and heart stopping gaffes - the boots express his individuality and desire to be different.

Another Soccer Cleat review!!

Well, it is more reviews than just a review! Check out the latest soccer cleat reviews over at http://www.soccercleats101.com, (our sister site) where the team have been working hard to bring quality content and information on all the latest soccer cleat releases.

The site has also had a recent redesign and I recommend getting on the email subscription list as you will receive emails with all the latest coupons and discounts from online soccer stores, as well as information on the latest reviews. Rumour has it that they are currently testing the Adidas Predator X, which will be released in late October!

Andy Dorman: Adidas Predator

Name: Andy Dorman
Position: Center/Right Midfield
Team History: Boston University 2000-03
New England Revolution 04-07
Saint Mirren FC (Scottish Premier Division)
Cleat size: UK 9 (US 9.5)
Sneaker size: UK 9.5 (US 10)
Preferred cleat? Adidas Predator
In one sentence why? I have wide feet and the predators seem to stretch a lot and are a perfect fit for my feet.

What do you look for when choosing a cleat? Comfort first and then the look

How much would you pay for the 'perfect' pair? Up to $200

What advice, from your experience, would you give someone buying cleats?
I prefer to buy my boots a half size smaller and wear them in the shower before I use them to stretch them out. Thats just personal preference because when I buy the correct size and wear them in the rain, they stretch too much and dont fit. I have 2 pairs of firm ground and 2 pairs of soft ground. They are all predators and i use two of them for training and the other 2 for games. I would say once you find a pair you like and are comfortable with dont change them.

Are there any other tips you can give?
Dont put your boots on the radiator to dry them. Use vaseline to keep the leather soft.

Andy Dorman played college soccer at Boston University, before being picked up by the New England Revolution in 2004. In 97 appearances, he scored 17 goals before making a big move to St. Mirren of the Scottish Premier League. Since his move, Dorman has established himself as a regular fixture, playing a key role in recent games against Celtic and Rangers.

Neil Jones: Adidas Adipure

Name: Neil Jones
Position: Forward
Team History: UCSB 2001-04
NZ National Team Full international, U-23, U-20. U-17 level
Queensland Roar, Kuala Lumpur FC
Cleat size: 10.5 Sneaker size: 11
Preferred cleat? Adidas Adipure
In one sentence, why? Simple, clean design, made from leather that is comfortable to wear and light.

Neil, thanks for joining us and letting our readers in on your tips!
First, What do you look for when choosing a cleat?
First and foremost, they must be made of leather. I am not a fan of the new plastic type cleats, they do not conform to my foot and are not comfortable in my opinion. I am also not a fan of colored cleats, I guess I am just old fashioned! I like black cleats. Also, I would rather have round molded cleats on the sole as opposed to blades. My perfect pair of cleats would be Adidas Adipure upper with Adidas Copa Mundial sole.

How much would you pay for the 'perfect' pair of cleats? $200

What advice would you give someone who is deciding what types of cleats to purchase?
Well, you have to have at last 2-3 pairs of cleats. One for hard ground, one for soft/wet surfaces and one for training. I like to keep my game cleats separate. A lot of games/trainings these days take place of artificial surfaces and on these surfaces I like to wear turf shoes. It does not feel natural to wear normal cleats on these surfaces sometimes. So, if a pair of turf shoes fits in your budget, I would recommend those too.

What tips do you have on 'breaking' cleats in?
I have always found the best way to break cleats in is in the shower or bath. Take a nice long shower/bath in hot water (as hot as you can handle it!) with your cleats on. The hot water helps to make the leather of your cleat more supple and conforms better to your foot. After you get out of he shower/bath, walk around the house in the cleats. This is the best way to break shoes in quickly.

Do you have any other tips on how to maintain cleats?
Clean your cleats after each practice/game. Cleats are expensive and they need care. A quick clean and a bit of leather food on the cleats goes a long way in not only extending the lifetime of your cleat but keeps the leather supple and prevents it from drying out.


Neil is currently assistant coach at UCSB, where he played for 4 years, captaining the team to the 2006 National Championship game. He had the honor of playing with his native New Zealand at international level, and marked Demarcus Beasley once in a game vs. USA.>

Chris Loftus: Adidas Predator

Name: Chris Loftus
Position: Forward
Team History: Duke University 03-06
New England Revolution 07-08
Limhamn Bunkeflo (Sweden) Current
Cleat size: 12
Sneaker size: 13

Preferred cleat? Adidas Predator
In one sentence why? I like the Adidas Predator because it fits my foot best and is a comfortable cleat.

Chris, thanks for taking the time to share advice with our readers.
First, What do you look for when choosing a cleat?
I have very narrow feet so Adidas shoes have always fit me best. The first and most important thing for me when having a cleat is comfort. I also like the end of the shoe near the toe to be more narrow and pointed like the end of a foot so that I can feel the ball. I've found that many shoes, like Nike, are wide and rounded so it makes it harder to feel the ball. I also prefer leather shoes asopposed to the synthetic shoes because I feel that the leather molds and forms to your foot better. I've also always been a fan of black shoes, but having a comfortable shoe that you can feel the ball andhave a good touch with is most important.

How much would you pay for the 'perfect' pair of cleats? $200

From your experience, what advice would you give to people choosing new cleat?
I think it's always important to have at least one pair of cleats for hard grounds and at least one for soft grounds. What I do when I first get a pair of cleats is to put them on and wear them in the shower. Once they have gotten really wet I wear them around for about 20-30 minutes so that the leather has a chance to stretch and mold to my foot. Alot of players don't break in their soft grounds until the first time they wear them. This can cause blisters and also hinder your touch on the ball. This shower technique has always worked for me. In terms of taking care of your cleats...if they do get wet make sure to leave them out to dry so that the stitching in the leather doesn't get too lose. Sometimes I will put newspaperinside of them to dry them out. Most importantly though when buying a shoe is to buy the one that feels most comfortable.

Finally, are there any other tips you would like to give our readers?
Whenever I get a cleat I usually have it one size smaller than my regular shoes. I do this because ithelps me feel the ball better. I've found that when the cleats get wet, especially leather cleats, they will stretch a little.

Chris played college soccer at Duke, making it the College Cup in 2004. After a year in the MLS with New England Revolution, he decided to try his luck in Europe where he currently plays for Limhamn Bunkeflo in Sweden.

Lotto Zhero Evolution

Previously worn by: Luca Toni, Simone Perrotta, Gregory Vignal

Well, these cleats are pretty easy to review as I have worn them over the past 2 years! I wore these cleats throughout the 2006 season, and they were the cleats that I wore in the National Championship game. I found these cleats to fit very well, and they have good durability. They are blades, and are best for natural firm surfaces. I wore them on turf for practice, and on grass for games. They lasted a 6 month college season, so thats approx 100 practice sessions and 24 games. I prefer to wear lighter, tight boots. And at a weight of 8.0 ounces, these are exactly that. Compared to the like of Adidas Predators, these cleats are lighter.

More info on the cleats:

• Water repellent microfiber upper with EVA padding and asymmetrical lacing
• Puntoflex, external heel counter
• Removable anatomical insole with Shock Absorber in the heel area
• Nylon and fiberglass frame, stitched outsole
• Wt. 8.0 oz

Jamie Redknapp Review

This article comes from the daily mail. Jamie Redknapp is an ex Liverpool and England international, and in this article he reviews several of the newest pairs of cleats.

Jamie Redknapp talks Cleats