The Bad: Hard to break in, narrow last, & pressure points on the A Frame Cradle technology.
The Bottom Line: If you are looking for a speed boot that offers great value, comfort, and performance without breaking the bank then the Umbro GT Pro is the boot for you.
Footy Guru Rating:
Comfort/fit: 8/10
Performance: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Total: 8.3 (Excellent)
Since being taken over by Nike, Umbro have made a splash in the soccer boot market in recent months with boots such as the reinvented Umbro Speciali and the Stealth Pro after being left in the dark for what seemed like decades. However, Umbro have come out with their newest boot, the GT Pro that I have been testing the past four months. In addition, these boots are the lightest that Umbro have ever made at 8.3 oz. and some of the features that they boast are a Teijin Microfiber upper which reduces the overall weight of the boot. Along with the ‘A Frame Cradle’ technology that acts as a support system, similar to Flywire connecting the soleplate up along either side of the boot to the laces, so that you have more support and it brings the boot closer to your foot.
Breaking In:
When I first bought these boots I was a little skeptical, but after testing them I admit I am now a huge fan. At first the synthetic upper was firm and I felt moderate stiffness but as the training session went on the upper started to give more and more. I recommend that before you wear these in a match to break them in with a couple of training sessions. Most of the time with synthetic boots it takes time to break them in so be patient. With these boots for example, the more hours I put in the boots the more comfortable these boots felt. Throughout my games and matches which totaled up to more than forty hours of testing the boots kept their shape and did not fall apart which is rare for a speed boot. In addition, with these boots I noticed they ran a little long in length, so in my case I purchased a size US 8.5 instead of a US 9.
Comfort/fit:
Like most speed boots the GT Pro has a narrow last and weighs a staggering 8.3 oz. It may not be the lightest boot on the market, but in terms of price, style and comfort I believe Umbro have produced/introduced a banger of a boot to the market. One component that really liked about the boot was the cradle technology which helped keep my foot from sliding from side to side which you sometimes get from a vapor depending on your foot shape. With the cradle technology, the boots felt as if they were slippers due to the support, narrow shape of the boot, and the way the upper wrapped around your foot once it was broken in.
Performance:
The boots were stylish, easy to break in and extremely effective on the field. With this boot, Umbro have done all of the little things right. The technology, style, comfort and price of this boot make it one of the most under rated speed boots on the market in my opinion. All around, the combination of the light Teijin Microfiber upper, cradle technology, along with the narrow last makes the Umbro GT Pro the ideal lightweight performance product built for speed.
Value:
The GT Pro is a blend of the classic Umbro look injected with Nike’s bold color ways and newest footwear technology. In the end, if you are looking for a speed boot that will not break the bank, the GT Pro based on comfort/fit, performance, and overall value is one of the best boots you can get. As of now, you can get these boots for under $80 which is an unbelievable low price.