puma future 18.1 netfit

In a modern era of laceless design, PUMA's Future 18.1 NetFit boot provokes a theory; were laces ever the problem? Or were we just doing them wrong the whole time? One boot. Unlimited possibilities.

PUMA are preparing to hit up the World Cup with a dynamic duo of the ONE 18.1 and the Future 18.1. It's the latter we focus on here. Featuring EvoKnit turned into an ankle-cut collar, and a thin upper covered in an odd honeycomb pattern, the Future 18.1 series is instantly intriguing. While the obvious USP for this boot is all the numerous different ways that you can lace it up, it’s practically everything else that really steals the show. Is the Future bright? Or will we be looking for a time machine? We laced up to see what it's all about.

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Adidas Predator 18+

To carry the Predator name takes responsibility. For the boot it's the perfect balance of control, power, comfort and unmistakable visual identity. For the player it's character that complements ability. These are the ingredients to the Predator plate. After a two year break we're ready to see if adidas have cooked that up with the Predator 18+.No pressure then. The return of the Predator 18+ comes with a heavy weight of expectation. Players will naturally pine for the Predators of old. Red tongues, leather uppers and free-kick fire. That’s understandable, but at the same time it’s unrealistic to expect adidas to simply revert to the old school vibe. There’s a reason that no boot silos from a decade ago are still on the scene – far better technologies are available.The first piece of advice we can give about the adidas Predator 18+ is to be open minded. Were we big fans of the old Predator models? Of course we were, but we advise that you don’t go comparing it to the Mania, Powerswerve, Absolute etc. This is a different beast.

It’s impossible for a boot to be iconic from day one. Yes, previous Predators became legendary. Big players produced big moments – Beckham’s free kicks, Zidane’s UCL Final volley. The story of the Predator 18+ is there to be written by the likes of Dele Alli, Paul Pogba & Mesut Ozil, that’ll take time and big games… a World Cup say.

Will today’s kids be talking about the Predator 18+ in the same manner as we talk about the Mania or Accelerator? Perhaps not. But that comes down to the fact that the Predators of the late 90s and early 00s were at the early stages of innovation, completely unseen before. There wasn't anywhere near as much boot choice or innovation. There’s so much more now, so much that it becomes harder to stand out. Boots and colourways come and go far quicker.

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Nike Hypershift Performance Review!

Nike Hypershift

PERFORMANCE

FIT/COMFORT

A very light, mobile and minimal-feeling shoe. That’s a great start. The upper is soft, flexible and comfortable for your foot. Stability is there, no slippage or other issues, step transitions are nice and smooth.

So yeah, it’s a comfortable shoe. Everything combined works and I really had zero complaints while playing in these. It’s one of those shoes that just feel right and you don’t have to worry about them while playing.

CUSHION

The cushion’s fine for the most part. Nothing awesome though, since there’s only a single ZOOM unit in the forefoot. The unique thing about the shoe is its tooling. It’s anatomically shaped and basically blends with your foot’s exact shape.

That alone makes the shoe feel very mobile and grounded. Response is there, court feel is there, they’re stable. There’s barely any impact protection, but the shoe isn’t made for big dudes or super athletic players.

TRACTION

This is one of the weirdest traction patterns I’ve seen and even though I didn’t expect much, they did perform pretty well. Of course, because the pattern is made out of these rubber knobs and is SUPER dense, you’ll have to wipe very often and playing on very dusty courts isn’t a good idea.

Other than that, they grip the floor well, I did experience some minor slippage here and there, but nothing crazy. The rubber compound feels fairly strong, so I guess you could take these outdoors and see how they do.

SUPPORT

I will say this – this isn’t really my cup of tea in terms of support, but this is only my personal preference. There’s a TPU heel counter, a torsional plate, Flywire, lockdown is fine, which should provide proper support.

And it does, but because I drive and jump A LOT when I play, the shoe felt a bit flimsy from time to time. It feels like the upper just didn’t cope with my game, which is crazy to say. However if you’re a low-profile guard or just a player that doesn’t focus on explosiveness, then you’re all set, trust me.

MATERIALS

The upper is soft mesh with Fuse on high-wear areas. A setup that makes sense for a $100 shoe, so don’t expect anything like Flyknit. Still, it’s a soft type of material, so fans of that will love these.

It definitely doesn’t feel cheap or uncomfortable. There’s almost no break-in time, they’re breathable and fairly durable.

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Adidas Ultra Boost

Adidas Ultra Boost

Adidas releases the Ultra Boost as its premium road shoe blending the most Boost midsole cushioning in their line with their new primeknit upper material (similar to Nike’s Flyknit).

While the marriage of these two materials could work contextually, this is not the running shoe to spend $180 on.

Other premium trainers including Nike’s Vomero, Asic’s Nimbus, and Adidas’ own Glide Boost provide much better functional cushioning and fit.

When I first heard about the Ultra Boost, I was very excited about having a ton of Boost foam under my feet for easy days and long runs.

Unfortunately, Boost needs to be supported by a firmer EVA foam to really provide the responsive feel that Adidas lovers have come to expect.

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NIKE Air Vapormax Flyknit 2 Women

                                                                     

Product Details

• One-piece Flyknit upper for enhanced breathability, zonal stretch and support
• No-sew overlays for added durability
• Signature Flywire technology wraps the foot for a dynamic fit and is customizable through the laces
• Toe cap adds structure through the vamp and forefoot
• External heel reinforcements secures your foot for a locked in fit and feel
• Heel pull tab for an easy on and off
• Revolutionary VaporMax Air sole for soft, lightweight responsiveness
• Strategic cushioning allows for optimal flexibility
• Rubber pods in high-wear areas for enhanced durability
• Integrated lugs on the outsole for traction
• The Nike Air VaporMax 2 is imported

Over 7 years in the making, the Women's Nike Air VaporMax Flyknit 2 Running Shoes are a transcendent revolution. Looking to build upon the success of their initial release, this updated model places your foot directly on top of the Nike Air technology, removing any unnecessary layers.

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