The Gear

Our Opinion- 1998 Vapor IX

May 15th, 2013
by Jim.
1 comment

Old made new

As everyone on the boot world knows by now Nike have recently released a modernized version of the original 1998 vapor. They have taken the design of the original Vapor and have given it all the modern tech we see in the Vapor IX. The release was met with open arms by fans and was very well received. Here is what a few members of the SC101 team have to say about Nike’s most recent limited edition release!

Initial Reaction

Jimthesoccerguy Says

First thoughts were “Didn’t they just release a bunch of other limited edition boots” and “They are really starting to capitalize on the amount of vapor heads out there”. I absolutely love the fact that nike have decided to pay homage to the first boot in what is the most popular boot series of all time but the fact that they have once again made it limited edition with a sky high price tag kind of irks me.

Tyler Says

I was 6 years old when the Mercurial Vapor debuted. I had just started playing soccer at the developmental level and even at such a young age I could tell that Ronaldo was something else. I love the design of the boot and the modern innovations including the one piece upper and much lighter chassis add substance to the flash. I think this is an awesome boot with an awesome history.

Richard Says

The originator of the speed boot is back. The original edition still looks modern today and I’m sure there are a few people who wish that the originals were still being manufactured by Nike. I’d actually be one of them, whereas the Volt colourway gives it a bit of a 2013 makeover, I’m not sure the design fully needs it, it was bang tidy in 1998 and it’s still bang tidy now.

Colin Says

Is this real? Have Nike really reached into their “vault” to bring back one of their most iconic boots? To say I was in shock may be overkill, but I just can’t get over how good of an idea it is to bring back classic boot designs. We always hear a clamoring for Nike to bring back the Vapor II or Adidas to bring back the Predator Mania, and I was never sure how they could do that in an ever-evolving boot market. Obviously the folks at Nike have figured out a way to bring back the classics by applying old colors and designs to new boots, and we can now have the best of both worlds.

Joe Says

To me, this boot just looks like a great color way on a strange version of the mercurials due to the fact that I was just 4 when this boot was first released. I think it looks great though and I would love a pair if I could get my hands on them.

Nike-Vapor-XV retro look

See what else we have to say after the break!

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The Vapor IX on Nike ID

May 1st, 2013
by Jim.
No comments yet

Starting offAdidas and Nike have both gotten to the point where you can customize the look of your boots and are ever improving and advancing the options you have to make your custom boots look totally unique. I think this more than makes up for some of the hideous colorways they are known to release once in a while. It has been almost a year since I detailed miadidas and the predator LZ so it is time to go over nike id and the Vapor IX!

Upper selectionChoosing your upper:

Nike have made a good move by including the leather finish along with the “golf ball plastic” finish. Sadly your choices for colors if you go the way of the leather finish is basically half that of the golf ball finish and you can’t use the fade effect. The colors are also very basic so you can’t make your boots scream if you go for the leather. I find that the golf ball upper has more appeal though so I think nike are steering people the way of the dimples.

See what other features Nike have to offer after the break!

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Vizari Trofeo Review

Apr 22nd, 2013
by Tyler.
13 comments

Vizari Trofeo soccer cleatsOftentimes in today’s boot market, many players are swayed towards purchasing wholly from the ranks of the big three: Adidas, Nike, and Puma. These companies are financial powerhouses, raking in billions of dollars in sales per year while placing huge sums of capital into ad campaigns and marketing. Unfortunately for lesser known companies, establishing a foothold in the market is less a matter of how good their product is and more about how well they can market on a comparatively “shoe-string” budget. Companies such as Joma, Lotto, Mizuno, and Umbro all have high-quality boots and products but cannot keep up with the top three in terms of popularity and market saturation here in the states.

Personally, I have prior experience with some lesser known brands (namely Kelme) so I was quite eager to get my hands on a boot from a brand I was totally unfamiliar with. The Vizari Trofeo in the Blue/Orange colorway showed up on my doorstep and was eager to put it through its paces!

Aesthetically, these boots seem to have borrowed a few bits and pieces from bigger names. The upper itself is quite obviously modeled on the Pele Trinity line in terms of appearance, and the Mercurial Vapor VIII Retro/Orange in terms of color. This isn’t totally untoward when it comes to lesser known brands, as Pirma seems to borrow colorways from Adidas at will.

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“Coach, Did I Get the Right Cleats?”

Apr 17th, 2013
by Charlie Whiteman.
1 comment

 small_Nike_collection

“Coach, did I get the right cleats?”  Last week one of my players told me he was worried about his new Nike Mercurials.  Last season he was wearing boots from the Adidas F50 range and this season he purchased something different.  Because of the change, he was not seeing as many studs on the soleplate.  I told him it was ok, there was a big difference between the F50 and Mercurial range.  He told me thanks and went back to warming up.

For most soccer players and coaches, the question of “did I get the right cleats” may seem like a no-brainer.  But, where I coach, American football is King.  In a town of 6,500, boys are groomed to play under the Friday night lights.  So, many of the kids I coach are still learning about the game of soccer as teenagers.  Including their equipment.

For many of the players in my club, buying boots consists of finding the nearest sporting goods store and purchasing the color they like best.  And many times it follows the latest release from Nike or Adidas.  There is very little consideration to which position is played or the player’s strengths.

This takes us back to the original question from my player.  Did he get the right cleats?  I tried to explain to the group as they were warming up the difference between the brands and ranges.  Some of them didn’t realize shoe companies stick to four basic designs (speed, control, power, and heritage).  I quickly noticed many of them were wearing something from the Mercurial range.  At that point I asked why they chose which boots to wear.  The answer was overwhelmingly design and color.

There are a few exceptions.  A couple of players wear Adidas.  One in particular wears a great older Predator model.  I believe it is a hand-me down from an older sibling, but he has made them his own.

adidas_hand_me_down

Another player purchased from the Under Armour Blur range.

Under_armour_blur

But the majority are Nike this season.

 small_ Nike_T90

Many of the boots are brand new for the spring season, so over the next few weeks I will be talking with the boys to find out their likes and dislikes.

Feel free to send me your feedback on Twitter @C_Whiteman_51 or on G+

Until then, thanks for reading.

Gloves Currently Worn by EPL Goalkeepers

Apr 16th, 2013
by Joe Zehna.
4 comments

tim-howardGoalkeepers are some of the craziest players on the pitch. To be a successful keeper, you need to have confidence and poise. Nothing will give you the confidence to make that crucial save like a pair of quality keeper gloves. If you want to be sure that the gloves you’re wearing are the best, then you’ll want to wear what the top professional goalkeepers are wearing. In this article, you’ll see what some of the best English Premier League keepers prefer to wear between the sticks.

Petr Cech – Adidas Predator Fingersave Allround

Petr CechPetr Cech is one of the most well known goalkeepers around. He has established himself as one of the all time greats and is still adding to his impressive resume. Naturally, being one of the best keepers in the game, Cech wears one of the best gloves in the game. The Adidas Predator Fingersave Allround has established itself as one of the most common gloves in professional soccer. This glove is also sported by the likes of Iker Casillas, Manuel Neuer, and Brad Guzan. The Predator features Adidas’ Fingersave technology, which keeps your fingers from bending backwards past their natural positions. Personally, fingersaves have saved me from many broken fingers.

See what some of the other top keepers are wearing after the break

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Top 5 Boots, The Hard Hitting Central Midfielder Edition

Apr 15th, 2013
by Richard Wyatt.
3 comments

Real-Madrids-Cristiano-Ronaldo-is-tackled-by-AC-Milans-Gennaro-Gattuso-960x800 (1)

It takes a special kind of player to play the role of midfield destroyer. When I envisioned this column I thought about a certain type of player; the Roy Keane’s, Vinnie Jones’, Gennaro Gattuso’s, Mark can Bommel’s, the Desiree Scott’s (a Canadian Women’s National Team player who has been dubbed ‘The Destroyer’). The type of player who would run through a brick wall, deliver a crunching tackle, then play the ball off. When I think of this style of player and the boots they’d wear three things come to mind, a no nonsense colour scheme, a leather upper, and a comfortable boot. So without further ado here are the five boots I’ve selected as being the best for a hard hitting central midfielder. (Disclaimer: As I have not had the personal opportunity to wear each and every boot I’ve chosen, this list is presented in no particular order)

Asics Lethal Testimonial 2
asics-lethal-testimonial-itA classy looking offering from Asics. The Lethal Testimonial is a fine option for the hard hitting central midfielder and features Asics patented 10mm Heel Gradient, which as Jim explained in his injury prevention column are great for preventing over use injuries . The black K-Leather upper definitely has some class about it, and the little shock of red on the 10mm heel doesn’t distract from the point of view that this is a work horse boot. At 9.8oz (270g for our metric friends) it’s not going to win you any sprinting titles, it will however, ensure that you’re not hobbling away from that tackle you flew into after tracking back 40 yards. That said the Lethal Testimonials are a bit on the pricey side retailing at $149.99 over at soccer.com, with the Testimonial 2 IT model selling at $66.99

See what other boots made the list

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Soccket: Using Soccer to Produce Power

Apr 13th, 2013
by Ethan.
No comments yet

Using Soccer to Produce PowerWe live a world where there are still many communites and even some countries without power and light. Fortunately we also live in a world where football is played in every town and village across the globe. A company that goes by the name Unchartered Play has come out with a product to balance the scales.

The Company

If you are not familiar with Uncharted Play it is basically a company that is dedicated to improving lives through play.  Their flagship product is Soccket, an energy harnessing soccer ball.  By using kinetic energy to generate electricity, they hope to bring light to remote areas around the world that would be without it otherwise.  When they first introduced their prototype they received overwhelming public interest and demand.  Unfortunately the assembly process is mainly physical labor and as a result they were limited to producing a few hundred per week.  To help reach demand and to reach more people around the world they launched a project on Kick Starter which asked the public to pledge money to help reach their goal. It turned out to be a great success and $92,296 was pledged, well over their goal of $75,000.

Find out more about the Soccket after the break!

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Cleats and Culture, Part 1 – USA

Apr 11th, 2013
by Kevin.
No comments yet

imageDifferent countries and cultures have always fascinated me, I don’t like to stereotype but when you think of certain cultures you can’t help but think of certain things. For example, if you were asked to describe Italy the vast majority would say stylish and fashionable. Or when asked to describe Germany, common answers would be efficient and solid.

I was researching some football boots one day last week and I noticed an occurring theme; the cultures and the boots seemed to go hand in hand. I will try and do a little break down of some countries and the boots that originated in that country to support my theory.

imageI will start off with the United States, a common view of American’s are that they are colorful, innovative, loud and confident. Some of the most colorful boots we have ever seen have come from American companies. I will start with the biggest and most well known of American brands.

Read more about the companies in the football industry after the break!

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Rooney and The Nike Bomba Finale II Take on Small Sided Games

Apr 10th, 2013
by Colin.
2 comments

Rooney coverIn an extension of the FC247 campaign, Nike have turned to Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney for some insight. The accompanying photo shoot features Rooney in the new Bomba Finale II, a specialized turf shoe released as part of the Nike FC247 collection. Nike talked with Rooney about his experiences playing small sided games, his youth and everyday training. Check out some of the highlights from the interview and photo-shoot below.

Rooney BikeWhen asked for his tips for playing small sided games, Rooney listed five attributes every player should focus on. According to Rooney, Awareness, vision, technique, strength and finishing are the most important ideas in a small sided game. Rooney was able to hone these skills on a five-a-side pitch just steps from his back door where the local youth club set up camp.

Rooney 5v5Keep reading to hear what Rooney had to say about the current Premier League season

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Introducing the Nike Davinho

Apr 10th, 2013
by Kevin.
No comments yet

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Have the best of both worlds as the Nike Davinho have been made for indoor football but would be just as stylish as casual wear. The Davinho feature a soft synthetic and breathable mesh upper for a great fit, comfort, and ball feel. These feature a traditional central lacing system to ensure a snug fit, whilst soft padding around the ankle and heels allow these to be easily broken in.

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The gum rubber sole features a multi-direction pattern for optimum traction and ball control for indoor surfaces. It is unique to the Davinho, the Lunar Gato II and Elastico Finale II have completely different patterns. The Gato is made to be efficient on a number of surface types, the Elastico is court specific. These have been designed to be an all-round indoor shoe. These weigh in at a very respectable 9.2oz or 267g (size 9us/8uk).

Read more about the Davinho after the break

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