SoccerToday Soccer Locker Review: New PUMA Boots For: Speed and Agility / Power and Accuracy
SoccerToday Soccer Locker Review: PUMA has released its latest colourway of the evoSPEED 1.3 football boot, refreshing the line with a bright plasma, white and peacoat design. The evoSPEED 1.3 is a high performance football boot, featuring PUMA’s latest innovations that help players move with greater speed and agility. PUMA’s star players Sergio Agüero, Marco Reus, Radamel Falcao, Marco Verratti, Antoine Griezmann and many others will wear the new colourway on-pitch.
Every feature of the evoSPEED 1.3 boot has been designed with speed in mind. To reduce weight, the upper is made from a super soft and ultrathin microfiber material. A flexible material composition improves players’ manoeuvrability and ability to react faster. The evoSPEED 1.3 boot will also ensure optimum ball contact and control thanks to PUMA’s GripTex technology on the boot upper, which helps enhances ball control in all weather conditions.
Comfort and stability are also front of mind with the evoSPEED 1.3. The external midfoot cage wraps around the outside of the boot enhancing stability, and a new optimised footbed helps give a snug fit to increase comfort.
PUMA player and Manchester City star striker Sergio Agüero said; “I am a really big fan of the evoSPEED boot and I really like this new colourway. It will definitely stand out. I’ve been working hard over this past month to regain fitness and I am very happy to be playing again. We have some big games coming up in the next few weeks, it is an important stage of the season and I’m very keen to score some more goals to help my team.”
Borussia Dortmund Midfield Maestro Marco Reus said: “For my style of play I need a boot that allows me to move quickly on my feet and the evoSPEED 1.3 is perfect for that. It’s nice to have a good-looking boot as well, I think PUMA has done a great job with this colour. The past couple of months have not been ideal for me because of my injury, but now I’m looking forward to regaining my form and helping Dortmund climb the table.”
The new bright plasma, white and peacoat colourway of the evoSPEED 1.3 is available in-store from 2 February 2015. A full collection of training apparel, goalkeeper gloves and other accessories will also be available.
PUMA also launched the new evoPOWER 1.2FG football boot. With new innovations and improved technology, this next generation evoPOWER boot generates even more Power and Accuracy when kicking.
Like its predecessor, the new evoPOWER 1.2 FG is inspired from the power generated through a barefoot kick. The boot’s lightweight and super soft microfiber Adaptlite upper material stretches in a longitudinal not lateral direction allowing a freedom of movement while maintaining support. Combined with the Gradual Stability Frame (GSF) outsole technology, the foot bends with a kinetic motion similar to a barefoot to help a player create increased power, especially when shooting.
Accuracy is further improved with the GripTex print that runs across the full length of the upper. The print enhances the grip of the ball in both wet and dry conditions, giving players increased control. Added precision is created through the lightweight AccuFoam lining that combines with the upper material to provide a clean kicking surface, which helps to increase accuracy when passing and shooting using different areas of the boot.
Speaking about the new evoPOWER 1.2 FG boot, Cesc Fàbregas said: “Accuracy is the basis of my game, it’s very important for a midfield player both when I pass and shoot. I love the improvements that have been made to the evoPOWER boot that have an increased focus on accuracy as well as power. Football can be won and lost in small margins, having a boot you believe will help you perform at your best gives you a confidence to perform at your best. I am very happy with what PUMA has done with this boot. “
Mario Balotelli also commented: “The new evoPOWER boots are really impressive. I’ve been testing them for a few a while in training and PUMA has made an already very good boot even better. I can feel the power evoPOWER gives me when I shoot, that’s very important for a striker of course. I’m looking forward to wearing this new boot on pitch.”
The new evoPOWER 1.2 FG boot will be available globally in-store from 2 February 2015. A full colour aligned collection including training apparel and accessories, shin pads and balls will also be available to purchase.
PUMA also interviewed Cesc Fàbregas about his experience in the Premier League and his thoughts on the new evoPOWER boot.
Question: Describe your first season back in the Premier League so far. How has it been?
Cesc Fàbregas: It’s been great so far, I’m enjoying it a lot. The Premier League has definitely improved since I left three years ago. The passion is still the same – from the fans, the players. Physically it has always been a really hard league because it is so competitive, but tactically it’s now much better. I think to break down defence these days is more difficult than before.
Question: From your first game back in the Premier League, it was like you had been playing with Chelsea for years. Were you surprised how easily you adjusted to playing for a new team?
Cesc Fàbregas: I was lucky to have a good pre-season. We played four or five games pre-season and that really helped me find my rhythm. We have a very young and talented squad and I get on well with everyone, so that made my introduction really easy.
Question: What impresses you about Chelsea as a club?
Cesc Fàbregas: It’s a very well structured club. The people inside the club, the people who work for Chelsea are really nice and make you feel very welcome and I settled in very quickly. It’s been very positive.
Question: What can Chelsea achieve this season? Can they realistically compete for four trophies?
Cesc Fàbregas: It’s obviously difficult to say, but at the moment we are still competing in all of them, so I’d never say never. We will try our best, but we’ll only see at the end of the season.
Question: How important is Matic in that holding role for Chelsea to enable you, and other creative players perform further up the pitch?
Cesc Fàbregas: It’s called the holding role, but I don’t think he is the typical holding midfield player. He runs a lot, he is all over the place because he loves winning battles and he loves winning the ball back. So we move quite a lot in midfield and everyone helps, but definitely Nemanja is a key player for us because his defensive attributes are really important for the team.
Question: You have played a lot of football this season. Do you feel that’s the case – are you tired, is your body tired?
Cesc Fàbregas: No, you know, this coach knows very well what he does. We play a lot of games but he also gives a lot of freedom to the players. If he feels that players are playing a lot, that they are getting tired, he will give you three days off, so you can rest and spend time with your family. He is very intelligent and he is doing very well.
Question: What you think of the new evoPOWER boot?
Cesc Fàbregas: It’s really good. I tested it for a few weeks, the boot felt really comfortable, it’s actually the best boot I have ever worn.
Question: What has improved in it since the last boot?
Cesc Fàbregas: They are very comfortable, they are light, and your touch with the ball is even better now.
Question: What is more important: Power or Accuracy?
Cesc Fàbregas: Both are very important, but I believe more in accuracy because the power is more about how physically strong you are, and accuracy is about the technical ability that you have. So, I personally believe more in accuracy.
Question: Do you think of yourself as an accuracy player, when you shoot, when you pass?
Cesc Fàbregas: Yes, 100%. I am definitely an accuracy player.
