Footy Guru Puma V1.11 SL Review
Blogger Note: I will be honest and start out by saying that this is only the second ever Puma boot I have ever tested/worn. I do not have a lot of experience with the Puma boots probably because I live in the town of the other two big brands aka Nike and Adidas which call Portland, OR home. Growing up my club team was sponsored by adidas and then later Nike so I have always felt obligated to wear certain brands and then in college I could only wear Nike boots. However, after testing the PowerCat and now the Puma v1.11 SL I feel like I missed out on some great boots during my youth especially the Puma King which I used to marvel at in the soccer.com mag but was always too scared to try something new.
In the end, after testing the Puma boots I have been somewhat converted and now when I have a men’s league game I usually end up going with the Puma boots depending on my mood. I just wanted to tell you a little back ground about my past and my experience with Puma and after reading this review hopefully you will be interested and give the boots a chance as well.
The Good: Coming in at 5.6 oz the Puma V1.11 SL is one of the lightest boots on the market. Pieced together with a microfiber upper the Puma SL compared to other synthetic speed boots offered extreme comfort and flexibility right from the start. Many boots now a day’s especially speed boots are put together with synthetic upper in order to reduce the weight of the boot but in boots like the adizero and Vapor the upper seems firm, rigid and like a foreign object on your foot. With the Puma SL the upper, weight and overall comfort were key reasons this boot was rated so highly here at FootyG.
The Bad: The main negative I have with this boot is its price. The boot retails for around $220 and as a consumer I believe that anything over $200 is a little over the top because with many of the speed boots durability is an issue so I think the price on these boots is too high.
The Bottom Line: One of the most underrated and unknown speed boots on the market. The Puma SL offers extreme comfort for a boot that weighs an astonishing 5.6 oz. The price may seem scary but I assure you that the Puma V1.11 SL has the whole tool set to make you successful on the pitch.
Comfort/Fit: 9/10
Compared to other speed boots on the market with similar make ups in terms of synthetic upper I think the Puma v1.11 SL offers a point of difference in a speed boot because the microfiber upper is one of the most unique uppers I have ever seen/felt within the boot world. With this upper it seemed to wrap around my foot and never once did I notice that the upper was stiff because it felt that natural on my foot. Along with the upper the boot also features an asymmetrical lacing system which allows the boot to follow the feet’s natural shape. Which then results in increased comfort/fit and allows for more leeway/width in the boot. By far in the last decade, this off center lacing technology/technique which is also called the athletic fit has reshaped how well your boots can fit. From the moment I put this boot on it mirrored my foots natural shape with no hot spots which is super important. Many times consumers believe that boots will break in or they will get used to the feeling but from experience I have seen that everyone’s foot, game, and style are different on the pitch and if you have not found your go to boot keep looking because it is out there. With the Puma SL another aspect that I felt was amazing on the boot was the flexible heel cup which is lined with synthetic/swede material that naturally mirrored the shape of my heel. The only issue you might have with this boot in terms of comfort/fit is what size you need because I found the boot to run at least a half to a full size smaller. Usually I wear a size 9 but even a 9 in this boot seemed smaller then I would have liked so keep in mind that when you are ordering this boot that they are running on the smaller size.
Performance: 9/10
In terms of performance the Puma SL passed and even succeeded my expectations as a speed boot. The weight of this boot will be the first thing you notice when you handle the boot because at 5.6 oz it rivals the adiZERO and the Pele Trinity in weight. In saying that, I believe the SL is one of your better options in terms of a speed boot. To be honest, the SL really does offer a dream ride and right from the get go the boots felt amazing and needed no break in period or adjusting like I experienced with the zero and Pele Trinity. Another performance aspect that stood out during testing was the outsole and how flexible it is. With many speed boots you have to sacrifice comfort for the lighter weight boots but during testing the outsole of the boot was very flexible and rather than firm or rigid the carbon fiber plate was perfectly placed to provide support and stability when I stopped or accelerated. Overall, the unique microfiber upper, off center lacing and outsole provide one of the most comfortable rides in the speed boot world that you will find.
Value: 8/10
As an experienced soccer boot junky, whenever I buy a boot I look at three different categories that factor my decision to either buy a boot or go another direction. I base my decision as a consumer on the comfort/fit of the boot, performance, and the overall value the boot offers aka is the boot worth the price point. With this release the Puma V1.11 SL exceeds in all of my assigned categories. The Puma SL in terms of comfort/fit is one of the best speed boots I have tested in 2012 mainly because it’s unique microfiber upper which is so different than any other boot on the market. The microfiber upper on this boot is soft, supply, form fitting and offers more protection than the Trinity and the adizero. To describe the upper on this boot it feels similar to the CTR360 Kanga-Lite but even softer if that gives you any indication how unique the microfiber upper is on this boot. In terms of the performance of this boot it flat out does its job. The boot is designed for pure speed and it does not let you down. Combined with a carbon fiber plate along with the off-center lacing this boot offers a lock down affect one speedster can only dream of. The overall value of this boot is well worth its price point which is around $220 and with this boot you are getting a fast, light dynamic speed boot that offers a different feel and look compared to popular adizero. I gave this boot an 8/10 for value because during my three months of testing I have noticed wear and tear on the boots which is normal but overall if I had not been given the opportunity to test these boots I am not sure I would have taken the chance because the price point is a little too high for my liking. The Puma V1.11 SL is now available in stores now and I urge you to give them a go. Too many people have the adizero and so if you want to be different on the pitch I suggest you try the Puma SL.
Footy Guru Rating:
Comfort/fit: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Overall Score: 8.6
Boots Supplied for review by Puma)