25 Soccer Cleats to Watch Out For This Season

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Complex Original

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Superfly Id
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Bryan Byrne is the founder of SoccerCleats101. Got a question about boots? Hit up Bryan on Twitter.

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[caption id="attachment_173866" align="aligncenter" width="625"]Image via Soccerbible.com Image via Soccerbible.com

No. 25 – Under Armour ClutchFit Force

The overall design of the ClutchFit Force is very bizarre, yet they are highly effective in game. There are not many boots on the market that feature a complete rubber cage across the upper, but that is how the ClutchFit is designed. This is a boot modelled after several previously release American football boots, so there has been prior development on the range. This season, watch out for players such as Brad Friedel and Michael Dawson that will be wearing them.

Available for: $174.99

adidas Copa Mundial
Image via adidas.com

No. 24 – adidas Copa Mundial

When it comes to the classiest of the classy, there is no higher profiled boot than the adidas Copa Mundial. A boot that has been on the market fit seemingly forever, the Copa range has been worn by the best of the best in the game. It is the classic, super soft K-leather upper coupled with a traditional chassis that makes them easy on the eye. Although the overall make-up is somewhat out dated, there is still a huge fan base for the range and top pro players still choose to wear them. Jussi Jääskeläinen, Matthew Upson, Roman Eremenko and Mitja Viler are all examples to watch out for.

Available for: $179.99

Diadora DD-NA 2
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No. 23 – Diadora DD NA

One of the most underrated speed boots currently on the market is the Diadora DD-NA. There isn’t a great deal of media attention focused on them, and other than Antonio Cassano we don’t see them very much in action. Yet, they are continually applauded by boot reviewers who appreciate the extremely modern approach Diadora has taken in creating them.

Available for: $149.99

Umbro GeoFlare
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No. 22 – Umbro GeoFlare 2 Pro

During the World Cup this summer, Mauricio Pinilla was kitted out in a custom camo style pair of GeoFlare 2. They looked good, he played well and the design caught plenty of attention on social media. Another boot with a limited list of players wearing them, the GeoFlare has a lot of potential and is likely to be a boot picked up by more players looking to fill their sponsorship deals.

Available for: $119.99

Warrior Gambler II Released
Image via SoccerCleats101

No. 21 – Warrior Gambler II

Although the number of players wearing the latest version of the Warrior Gambler might not be excessive, the performance of this second generation boot is much improved and well worth considering as a top end control boot. Marouane Fellaini and Robert Green are the most high profile you will see wearing them, but with the continued rapid growth of the Warrior Sports brand, don’t be surprised to see more players catch hold and wear them in game.

Available for: $179.99

Lotto Stadio Potenza
Image via soccer.com

No. 20 – Lotto Stadio Potenza IV 200

A new release to market, this is a control boot with a lot of positive vibes floating around them right now. Already players such as Cristian Zapata, Luca Toni and Emiliano Moretti have taken to wearing them so don’t be surprised to hear that Italy is where you are most likely to see them in action. The benefits to a boot like this focus around comfort and durability. Lotto use a water-resistant microfiber upper with a hybrid power/control micro-injected inserts on the forefoot for incredible touch on the ball.

Available for: $149.99

Image via Soccerbible.com 
Image via Soccerbible.com

No. 19 – Mizuno Wave Ignitus 3

In their three generations on the market, I haven’t yet heard about many people that don’t appreciate what the Mizuno Wave Ignitus has to offer. As one of the leading power boots currently on the market (yes that includes the US since they are now readily available and sold here) there is a definite need to keep an eye on players wearing them to see just how the boots perform to their style. Watch out for the likes of Maya Yoshida, Jonas and freekick specialist Keisuke Honda who will be wearing them in action this season!

Available for: $209.99

1.

Puma King Lux Prof

No. 18 – Puma King 2014

This one is somewhat a mix of the new and the old, with an upcoming version of the King on the verge of being released. The current King 2013 is being worn by players like Leon Osman, Jonas Olsson, Oliver Kirch and Rômulo, so they are also likely to be the selection of players that move to the new release. Built to be a traditional styled boot on a modern chassis, the King has continually evolved to serve the soccer market. Where some other heritage boots have stood still, the King has trended toward the values of current day players.

Available for: $229.99

Image via Umbro
Image via Umbro

No. 17 – Umbro UX 1

Umbro has faced some difficult times of late, particularly since Nike came, stripped them of their key relationships and left them at the door to figure out a new marketing strategy. It came in the form of the UX-1, a new type of power boot that has received plenty of positive feedback since their introduction to the market. Sadly, the list of players wearing them is not very long and it is continually injured Andy Carroll that lead the list. Juan Vargas had been wearing them up until a few weeks ago, but it looks like he has jumped ship. Still, there is potential with this one and they are worth watching out for this season.

Available for: $219.99

Image via SoccerCleats101
Image via SoccerCleats101

No. 16 – Warrior Skreamer II

Visually, they don’t get more interesting than the current second edition of the Warrior Skreamer. Designed for power, Warrior Sports made a very wise decision to release a boot in the mold of a category where other brands have opted out. And with some key pick-ups in the EPL – notably Man City captain Vincent Kompany, Nikica Jelavić and Jonás Gutiérrez, we are sure to see more of these through this season. They might not be the most highly prolific boot on the market, but they have received plenty of positive player feedback and they have potential to pick up some new fans who value a boot built to strike firm shots.

Available for: $199.99

Predator Instinct Accelerator
Image via adidas

No. 15 – adidas Predator Instinct “Revenge Pack”

Ok, so outside of Paul Pogba, this is a boot we haven’t seen much of other than through the huge media release campaign that took place a few weeks back. But, Paul Pogba chose to wear the Predator Instinct Accelerator in several games recently, and it was extremely stylish! We give him huge props for that and only wish it was something that more top players chose to do. Rather than this being a “you are likely to see more of these” it is more of a “we would love to see more players wearing these”. Maybe Pogba is the first to set a new trend?

Available for: SOLD OUT

Adidas 11Pro
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No. 14 – adidas 11Pro

Built to provide a no-nonsense level of performance, the 11Pro is the boot of choice for players in a similar mold! With comfort and a traditional feel in full effect, Tiago, Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos, Hernanes, Nicolás Gaitán and Atsuto Uchida have all called them home. We had the opportunity to see plenty of them during this summer’s World Cup, and with the number of players wearing them increasing (even if that is geared toward defenders) we are bound to be exposed to more 11Pro during this upcoming season.

Available for: $139.99

Morelia Neo World Cup
Image via Mizuno

No. 13 – Mizuno Morelia Neo

When it comes to lightweight boots that are designed with an emphasis on providing a heritage feel, they don’t get any better than the Morelia Neo. Over the past few seasons, Hulk has been the primary figure used through media campaigns, with Kyle Naughton, Lazar Marković, Roque Santa Cruz and Samir Ujkani also offering some attention. Of the boots on this list, the Morelia Neo is the one that somehow receives more positive media attention without being overly prominent in European markets. Head to Asia, notably Japan, and you will see a lot of players choosing to wear these!

Available for: $224.99

Nitrocharge 1.0 2
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No. 12 – adidas Nitrocharge

Designed for energy retention and providing “the engine” with a solid base to impose their style on the game, you won’t be surprised to hear the list of players wearing these is not overly extensive. Topping the exposure list is Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer and Javi Martínez. Other players to watch out for include Sven Bender, Eduardo Salvio, Felipe Melo, Lars Bender and Steven Naismith. In recent weeks, adidas has made some redesign changes to the boot that has improved the over visuals. This should play a positive role in increasing the stake of the range pending the players wearing them get some positive media attention.

Available for: $199.99

Nike Magista Opus
Image via unisportstore

No. 11 – Nike Magista Opus

From a performance perspective, this is a boot that has so much potential but hasn’t hit the busy lights of pitches across Europe. Thibaut Courtois, John Terry, Glen Johnson, Jordan Henderson, Arda Turan and Morgan Schneiderlin lead the list of wearers who have highlighted the quality of the boot in recent weeks. We have found that more defensive styled players are opting for the Magista Opus over attacking players, so it is quality of work on the back line that is going to help elevate the stature of this release.

Available for: $199.99

Puma evoSPEED Tricks SR
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No. 10 – Puma evoSPEED 1.3

It has been a labor of love for the evoSPEED 1.3, as its introduction to the market hasn’t received as much positive feedback as past models. They still provide a platform for extreme acceleration, but the overall package is not quite as high as expected. There is potential, however, with an exceptionally talented list of players currently wearing them. If the likes of Sergio Aguero, Olivier Giroud or new Manchester United signing Radamel Falcao can score some goals this season, the boot is set for primetime in the spotlight. Gael Clichy and Marco Verratti are two more players to watch out for.

Available for: $224.99

Superfly Id
Image via Nike

No. 9 – Nike Mercurial Superfly IV

For some readers, having the Superfly listed so low might seem like sacrilege, but when you consider the lack of high profile players currently wearing them and the fact there has been a list of players to switch away from them, it might make more sense. They are a boot built for the spotlight, and players such as Alexis Sánchez, Claudio Marchisio and Romelu Lukaku have the ability to bring it. But the list doesn’t really improve from there, with the likes of Jefferson Farfán, Marcos Rojo and Xherdan Shaqiri adding the back-up. This is a boot that will always to be easy to spot thanks to their mid-cut collar so they are one to watch out for. Final note, this is the boot that Cristiano Ronaldo wears, but he has customized his pair to look more like the Vapor X.

Available for: $274.99

Magista iD
Image via Nike, Inc.

No. 8 – Nike Magista Obra

Since their release, the Magista Obra has demanded attention and got it thanks to its technically advanced design and its list of high profile endorsers. What is most interesting about the list of players wearing them is the high number of attacking styled defenders. Thiago Silva, David Luiz and Patrice Evra like to make their attacking presence felt while wearing them, with Joe Hart and Martin Škrtel added to that defensive list. Going forward, they also have fans such as Nuri Şahin, Goran Pandev, Christian Eriksen and of course Andrés Iniesta! Oh, and did I mention these were the boots worn by Mario Götze when he scored the winning goal at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil?

Available for: $274.99

Predator Instinct Boots
Image via adidas

No. 7 – adidas Predator Instinct

In 2014, Adidas is set to release an incredible 14 versions of their current power boot. Now first off, labelling them a power boot might actually be a little strong, with adidas placing an emphasis in control and hybrid. So you could say they are a power/control hybrid. Either way, they have a lot to offer and are one of the most flexible boots around right now. A wide range of top talent are currently wearing them with the likes of Mats Hummels, Oscar, Steven Gerrard, Julian Draxler, Daley Blind, Ángel Di Maria, Leighton Baines and Aaron Ramsey fronting the boots advertising campaigns.

Available for: $219.99

New Hypervenom Fall Pack
Image via Nike

No. 6 – Nike Hypervenom Phantom

One of the hottest boots on the market right now is the Hypervenom Phantom, with the list of players wearing them providing us with a clear answer as to who wants to wear them. Leading a list of world class strikers is Neymar, with Nike choosing to supply him with some custom colorways. Wayne Rooney, Robert Lewandowski and Mario Mandžukić have also received a lot of coverage of late for their on-pitch goal scoring performances. While Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck are also on the verge of getting back to top form while wearing the agility focused boots. Plenty of players wearing these, and given they are highly successful with attacking players, we should be seeing a lot more of them through this season.

Available for: $224.99

Liga & UCL Messi adiZero
Image via adidas

No. 5 – adidas adiZero F50 Messi

Technically, we are only going to see one player wearing the adiZero F50 Messi, and that is obviously Messi himself. Not only has adidas primed him with a signature La Liga pair, but they also just released a funky new design that he is set to wear in Champions League action. That is two separate colorways released at once and something that we haven’t seen a brand do before. With his ability to light up games, expect to see plenty of ESPN worthy highlights of these boots!

Available for: $229.99

Puma evoPOWER Tricks
Image via SoccerCleats101

No. 4 – Puma evoPOWER 1

A boot that you might be very surprised to see sitting so high on the list if the latest Power boot from Puma, the evoPOWER 1. All you need to do is look at the long, extensive list of players wearing them to know Puma is serious about really pushing these as one of the top performing boots currently on the market. Yaya Toure, Marco Reus, Davide Astori, Giorgio Chiellini, Gianluigi Buffon, Cesc Fàbregas, Mario Balotelli, Diego Godín and Dante all wear them and at the highest level of the game. With some additional Graphic releases slatted for later this year, this is a boot we are going to see a lot more of!

Available for: $199.99

New Tiempo Fall Pack
Image via Nike

No. 3 – Nike Tiempo Legend V

The list of players that wear the Tiempo V is endless, spanning across all positions on the pitch. For example, you have two of the top EPL keepers in Tim Howard and David De Gea, top European defenders like Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique and Branislav Ivanović and a host of world class strikers including Carlos Tévez, Chicharito and Francesco Totti. Add to all that the absolute legend that is Andrea Pirlo and this is a boot that you need to watch out for. Given the latest Red/Blue Fall colorway that was just released to market, we are sure to spot a lot of this on pitches over the next few months.

Available for: $199.99

Nike Mercurial Vapor X
Nike

No. 2 – Nike Vapor X

When we talk about explosive speed, there is no other boot that comes to mind other than the Nike Mercurial Vapor series. The popularity of the range has grown over its ten generations, to the extent that they now have their own unique following known as the “Vaporheads”! It is attacking styled players that get the most out of their lightweight mold, with Eden Hazard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Arturo Vidal, Franck Ribéry and Javier Pastore all plying their trade a pair. One note here that also applies to the Superfly, Cristiano Ronaldo wears a hybrid pair that sits in between both boots – it is a case of the world’s best getting exactly what they want!

Available for: $199.99

adizero F50
Image via adidas

No. 1 – adidas adiZero F50

These boots sit top of the list and for good reason. The adiZero F50 has become the boot of choice for a large majority of the top attacking players currently playing the game. Gareth Bale, Arjen Robben, Luis Suarez, James Rodriguez, Edinson Cavani, Diego Costa and Robin Van Persie are just a few players that you will currently spot wearing them. Built for explosive speed, adidas has marketed the adiZero in a fantastic manner to the extent they are the most talked about boot choice for players across the web. With Champions League back in action, expect to see a lot of high profile goals being scored by this 5.6oz speed boot over the next few months!

Available for: $219.99