Summary of 2012:
Taking a look back at 2012 we were blessed with some great boots and saw silos improve and others fall behind due to the lack of change and innovation.
I would not call 2012 the year of the speed boot race like we saw in 2011, because unlike last year where adidas was king! This year we saw the F50 lack change and innovation where this year in 2012 Nike pretty much ran away with the trophy. It did not help that adidas failed to innovate the F50 and just changed the color again and again rather than the boot itself until right before the new year.
However, in 2012 we saw the big guns in the footy market change the price, color, and technology of their footy boots in order to sell boots and separate them from the competition. Every year it is a battle and some boots kill it and other boots sink but usually every company creates a good boot that beats the others depending on what you are looking for. Do you want a speed, control, power or a heritage boot because each company had a boot of 2012. Here is a look back at the boots that caught my attention and why this past year.
Most disappointing boot of 2012: F50 adizero
The F50 came in a variety of color ways but although it looked pretty it did not produce and was not improved in 2012 until the last minute. The upper on the synthetic version remained stiff and many consumers felt it was none conforming or un sock like compared to the new sleek glove like Vapor 8. The once infamous F50 adizero which was Footy Guru's 2011 boot of the year saw boot nerds quickly turn towards the Vapor 8 to feed their speed needs.
Overall, Adidas sat on the boot instead of innovating it to feed boot nerds thirst. The synthetic remained the same outdated stiff upper while the leather still provided a consistent fit but lacked the hype/buzz because it was the same old boot just with a different paint job every 6 months.
Aka Adidas fell in the trap that Nike did in 2011 with the Vapor. They failed to innovate and lost many of the fans because of it. From a consumer stand point, even if a boot is awesome, it's lifetime on the market should not last longer than six to eight months because as a boot nerd I am ready for the next big launch after 6 months.
I would have personally innovated the F50 sooner in the year(2012) and provided footy fans with a new look to the F50 by putting the LZ upper aka the hybrid touch on the boot to improve the fit and durability of the boot. Imagine the F50 with the predator upper and a redesigned look/feel and I think boot nerds would of been more than satisfied with the changes.
Check out the review of the original F50 release below:
Best concept/elite boot of 2012: Nike Green Speed Series
The best concept boot of 2012 was hands down the Nike Green Speed release. Nike somehow managed to create a "limited edition" environmentally friendly boot and infuse it with current technology which really hit home with consumers.
The fact that it was limited, eco friendly and lighter than the Vapor caught the attention of consumers worldwide. Not since the SuperFly have i seen a boot with so much hype or buzz surrounding it. It just goes to show that limited boots create hype and hit home with crazed boot nerds that want the boots that no one else has. Exclusivity is a trend that i think will hit home in 2013 because when a boot is limited the demand increases which means if the market is not flooded with that color way consumers/boot nerds are happy to shell out the extra money to feel and wear the supposed exclusive boots. The boot had limited quantities, offered at a reasonable price, had untouchable unique styling and somehow weighed an astonishing 5.6 oz. As a soccer boot fanatic, I seek boots that offer/bring a point of difference to the soccer market and this boot did just that.
Overall, the Nike GS is a pure concept boot and for Nike to keep it under wraps and produce a boot lighter than the Vapor out of thin air. The GS really created a buzz on the market and the demand for the boots was outrageous. The first time they launched the boots were going for $600 on eBay!
Best Power boot of 2012:Predator LZ
The Predator LZ took the boot world by storm in 2012. Especially my world! The fit, durability and styling was a point of difference in my opinion. Completely re-engineered adidas made this Predator LZ release a mixture of power and speed which is something we have never seen before. With the insertion of the sprint frame adidas were able to drastically decrease the weight of the boot to 7.8 oz which had the market and consumers in a buzz.
In addition, as the year went on we saw many pro-level footballers in all positions change boots and endorse the Predator LZ. I have always had a love for power boots and with this release adidas were able to keep the key things that make the Predator the Predator.
For example, adidas inserted the zone technology that I liked and actually believe was a point of difference compared to other boots. In terms of fit, the LZ was one of the best boots on the market. With the new hybrid touch upper the boot offered a tremendous and durable and consistent fit. No other boot on the market had that because overtime boots stretch and loose the form/fit but even after eight months of use my LZ's are my go to boot!
Overall, the Predator LZ was a great release by adidas and I appreciated that they kept the predator elements while also making the boot lighter and more agile. Adidas made this boot for the modern game and if you have a boot that pro players around the world in multiple positions are endorsing it must be special. The LZ release is what it should be when it comes to a new predator release.
Adidas brought something completely new to the table and in terms of innovation and a point of difference the Predator LZ set a bench mark that the Predator series is here to stay and is all about innovation. I thought they killed the predator with the Predator X release but with this release adidas reinvented/innovated the boot and it hit home with consumers and predator fans. LZ was made for the modern game and was a highlight of 2012!
Check out the video below for a review of the Predator LZ:
Best Control boot of 2012: CTR360 III
One of the most underrated boots on the market in 2011 was the CTR360 II. Can you believe a year ago the boot went brand new for only $180. In terms of value, comfort and durability the CTR is by far one of the best boots Nike has created in the past decade.
In 2012 we were introduced to the third version of the boot that was completely revamped to improve fit and comfort if that's possible. New upper highlighted the boots point of difference in 2012 and with the changes if anything the CTR360 fan club expanded. We saw the boot become lighter, change color, price and get a new upper.
No other boot on the market offers or has what the CTR has and with a price point of $200 it is a steal. Unlike most boots the CTR offers off-center lacing/ an athletic fit which allows players with wider feet a chance to sport the boots. Usually Nike boots run very narrow but the CTR is wider and has all the tools you need in a elite boot.
By far it is one of the more comfortable boots on the market. However, it is a little heavy weighing in at around 9.2 oz but for the price and comfort it is hard to turn the CTR360 down once you slip your foot in it. With the third version, Nike inserted the second generation of kanga lite which mirrors the fit and feel of real leather but in fact has a synthetic base to it which proves durability and water absorption. Overall, in terms of comfort, durability, and value the CTR360 once again ruled the control department. The change in upper was the big selling point in 2012 for this boot. The upper improvement was really a selling point for consumers because compared to the second generation the third offered a better fit which hit home with footy fans.
Best heritage boot of 2012: Tiempo IV
With this boot Nike have done all off the small things right. They drastically improved the fit of the Tiempo IV and updated the exterior of the boot which was in need of a makeover after the last release.
They also improved the performance and fit of the boot by changing the out sole which helped the boots flexibility and comfort. In terms of value, this boot kills it on the market because at $160 you get a k leather boot that is around 9 oz. Consumers both old and young wanted the services of the Tiempo IV in 2012 because of the great value, comfort and OG look/feel. The Tiempo IV was my classic/heritage boot of 2012.
Best NEW speed boot of 2012: Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII
In the 2011 the MV7 was the most disappointing boot here on Footy Guru. The Vapor 7 was very outdated and it seems for Mercurial fans that it took ages for Nike to update the silo and change the performance fit of the boot. So when the Vapor 8 hit the market it created a buzz and caught the attention of boot nerds all over the world because it was something completely new and everyone was very interested how the MV8 would compare to the MV7.
Overall, the MV8 did not let footy fans down because Nike completely re-engineered the boot from top to bottom. Compared to the MV7, the release with the MV8 was like night and day in terms of overall performance and fit. In simple terms, there was no comparison and as a footy fan I was impressed with the release because not only did they change the look but they totally revamped the boot and it smashed on its previous model the MV7 which is hard to do in the boot world.
In terms of overall change, the main point of difference that caught footy fans imagination was the upper. Nike was able to hammer the Teijin microfiber synthetic upper down and the feel and fit of the boot was almost mind blowing because no other boot could even compare. The MV8 inserted with the new upper gave consumers a sock like fit that so many speedsters desire when it comes to their ideal speed boot.
In addition, to changing the upper Nike was able to improve the performance/comfort of the boot as well. The MV7 for example was stiff and featured a very rigid out sole that was uncomfortable and many times the boot flexed in the wrong place. However, with the MV8 Nike was able to re-engineer the out sole to make it more flexible which translated into a smoother fit and feel for consumers. Around the mid-foot Nike used a single layer glass out-sole which gave the boot a tremendous torque and flex to the boot compared to previous Vapor models.
Overall, the MV8 was the best speed boot of 2012. Although the boot was not the lightest (6.5 oz.) on the market it did however offer one of the best fits in the speed game which many consumers really liked. The boot saw a complete remake and with the innovation and changes to the boot many consumers jumped ship and gave the MV8 a try. Throughout 2012 I saw more and more consumers endorsing the MV8 because of the fit and performance the boot had to offer on the pitch. In addition, it did not hurt that the boot dropped in some of the most exciting colors we saw during the year. For example, Nike chose to launch the "mango" color way as the launch color and the moment the boot launched everyone and their grandmother was all over it. It was a bold paint job to launch but in the end it worked because that's all you saw on the pitch! The boot was a point of difference because of the changes Nike made to the MV8. In terms of performance and fit Nike completely revamped the boot which really caught the attention of consumers.
Check out the Nike MV8 review below:
2012 Footy Guru Boot of the Year will be posted tomorrow...
