Can a boot be too light?

In today's fast paced game I think a boots weight plays an important part in on field performance. I like a boot that makes me feel light on my feet and is not too bulky. The game has become so technical so why not make products that help with technique and improve fit.

So first and foremost I focus on fit and then take a look at how light can I can go but still get the same sock-like fit/feel. Many boot nerds that come into Far Post ask about weight and then compare the boot they are interested in against other boots weight, then fit and style. A great example of this is the current Vapor IX compared to the f50 adizero. Many boot nerds ask about the weight of the f50 and even though it's lighter they prefer the Vapor because the fit/comfort the boot provides. So at 6.7 oz the boot is not the lightest but because of the fit/feel many consumers including myself go with the fit and sacrifice the weight in some instances. However, if adidas improve the fit of the synthetic upper which they will this December it could cause Vapor fans to switch. Only time will tell...

In terms of a boot being too heavy my cutoff is around 8.5 oz. ideally the perfect weight of my dream boot would be around 7 oz because at that weight you still have a boot but also speed properties to aid in quickness on the pitch.  The lighter you go I think the boot is seen as concept and gimmicky rather than useable and performance driven in the marketplace. We have already seen super light on the market place… The GS was a gimmick in my opinion and had a nice idea around the boot but awful execution. From the upper/fit all the way down to the outsole. I tried the boot on several times but with the lack of fit I could not talk myself into it no matter how light it was. For example, a boot coming in at 5.6 oz may be feather light but the moment the boot starts breaking down word spreads fast among the boot community and just like that the buzz and demand slowly diminishes because they want a boot that lasts and FITS.

At the end of the day, many consumers including myself research the boot before buying it because with boot prices raising it really is an investment for footy fans and their parents. The lighter you go on a boot the more protection you sacrifice and in many times you sacrifice the fit and durability of a boot which are held in high regards because now days consumers  are smarter and want a boot that fits and has a weight/style that suits their game.

Will speed boots make you faster? No, however they will make you feel quicker during the game and in tight spaces. At the end of the day, the super light weight boots are seen as gimmicks because if it does not have the correct fit or only lasts two weeks it’s not credible. So yes a boot can be too light on the market and adidas and Nike need to concentrate on fit and actually improving/making players faster on the pitch instead of just seeing how light they can go.

Cristiano Ronaldo Hot Water Trick 2.0 - Tutorial

Decrease the break in time on your boots with the hot water trick... 

Boot Spy: Eden Hazard uses boots to kick ball boy.

Eden Hazard used his Nike GS2 boots as lethal weapons on ball boy...

Nice to see Hazard still rocking the 2012 concept boot of the year. However, I don't feel that bad for the ball boy because from the looks of it he got to meet the starting 11 from Chelsea while milking his injury.

Nike GS2 Not so limited...

So it seems that limited does not mean limited when it comes to Nike Soccer pushing the marketing on the latest GS2 release. I thought they would only be only available at select soccer specialty accounts but after some research I realized that Dicks Sporting Goods has the boots and in big quantities. Dicks sporting goods?!? Like every other account the boots come in whole sizes but if you are having trouble finding the boots head over to Dicks Sporting Goods to get your pair.

If your a player and you buy your boots at Dicks sporting goods you need some help. This product aka the GS2 in my opinion should be special and in terms of special it should only be sold at select soccer specialty accounts. So in terms of limited edition, the GS2 has lost its ring for me as a consumer and boot nerd. I knew something was fishy when Nike never gave out a count of pairs produced and its because over the next couple weeks the market and the fields will be flooded with the boots.

I think they should of kept them limited because every release the few customers who got the boots would feel special and the demand and the meaning of the boots would be that much more for boot nerds/consumers. I see this as Nike getting greedy and rather make the boot ghost like the GS2 will soon loose its ring as limited and elite because once every body gets their hands on the boots the hype will be over.

The Nike GS2 Story:

From Bean to Boot: 

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Theo Walcott Talks Nike GS2

Nike Launch GS2:

As a boot nerd it feels like Christmas has come early. Whenever a new boot release drops I am always curious of the reception it will receive on the market and the hype it draws within the boot community. But in recent months, the boot that has drawn the most hype is the “GS” Nike Green Speed that was teased/offered to boot nerds this summer in limited quantities. The Nike GS has taken the boot world by storm. Nike produced a boot lighter than the Vapor and better yet they made it limited the first offering.

Ultimately, Nike has created an elite series boot all over again but was smart about it. Rather than flood the market with the boots they teased the boots at the Olympics and then released a select numbers of pairs. I have always said that when a new boot drops its dead after a month because the market is flooded with the boot/color. However, the GS2 will now be available for general release for the boot nerds who did not get the boot the first time around.

Furthermore, every component of the Nike GS2 has been optimized to reduce weight and waste, creating Nike’s lightest boot ever to date. The GS2 has boot nerds salivating not only because it is something new but because the boot will again weigh an astonishing 5.6 oz. Unlike the current MV8, which comes in at 6.5 oz the GS2 will be 9 oz lighter.

In terms of quality, the boot is born and manufactured in Italy. So those of you that know your boots, means that anything manufactured in Italy are for sure grade A. The Nike GS2 features recycled and renewable materials throughout the upper and outsole. The outsole along with the sock liner is made of 100% castor beans which ensure strength and flexibility. The GS laces, lining and tongue re made from a minimum of 70% recycled materials. In addition, the toe box and collar of the boot are made up of at least 15% recycled materials.

In addition, in terms of the performance the Nike GS 2 traction plate combines a high performance chassis with a strong responsive and agile form. The sole plate is made of 50% renewable Pebax (a plant derived material made with 97% castor beans) and 50% TPU, made from renewable materials. The plate is 15% lighter than a traditional plate composition which means the boot is just meant for all out speed.

In terms of the upper, the GS2 features a kanga lite synthetic upper which provides a touch in just the right spot. Combined with the kanga lite Nike reinforced the upper with synthetic bands that provides the boot with a tighter fit and lock down affect.

Overall, the style of the boot looks unique and the black/white contrast gives it pop on the pitch. As a boot enthusiast, I am interested to see how the fit of the boot is compared to the regular MV8. However, never mind the fit with this release. Nike have seemed to create a new silo and offered boot fans another option in the speed boot category. Expect the GS2 to be around $300 which is way more realistic then the last concept boot known as the Super Fly.  

The Nike GS:

The Nike GS has taken the boot world by storm. Nike produced a boot lighter then the Vapor and better yet they made it limited. So limited, that now the Olympics are over no one is wearing the boots now except the lucky amateurs that purchased them. Ultimately, Nike created an elite series boot all over again but was smart about it. Rather than flood the market with the boots they teased the boots at the Olympics via Neymar and then released a select numbers of pairs. I have always said that when a new boot drops its dead after a month because the market is flooded with the boot/color-way.

Furthermore, as a boot nerd/collector when a boot is limited the demand for the boot drastically goes up and so does the value of the boots. For example, you can now find the GS online for $600 almost double the initial price of the boot.  Unlike the old days when players had one pair of boots, Today’s crazed boot nerds have four to five pairs. Many consumers are frustrated that they could not get themselves a pair but those of the select consumers that were able to land the boots feel lucky and know for a fact that not everyone and their grandma will be sporting a pair. That’s important to the consumer!

With this release Nike can almost guarantee a sell through because it is a limited release with a preorder. On pro direct/Soccer.com they sold out within 24 hours. I am sure Nike is definitely making money off the boots but by making them limited it means the boots are special. If Nike was smart they would keep this release limited and keep the demand high for these boots.

Unlike the first elite series, with this release Nike has kept the boots limited. The first time around the elite series flooded the market and at first the silo worked but once the dust settled consumers learned the boots were over priced and not limited. In addition, Nike has a tendency to sit on boots for too long and rather than innovate faster or make changes they change the color scheme. For example, the current T90 is super dead at the moment yet each quarter Nike continues to flood the market with the same boot just in a different color.

In the end, hopefully Nike learns its lesson and keeps the boots limited so the select collectors/boot nerds can have a chance of owning them. If you are a true footy fan limited boots are special and the way to go. Props to Nike for thinking outside the box, as a footy fan I’m in love with the idea of the Nike GS.

Boot Nerd Photo of the Day:

Boot nerd photo of the day features two of the best concept boots ever produced from Nike. Note to self they were both limited which makes them that more unique/special. Picture features the OG Carbon Fiber Mercurial SL and the latest Concept which is the Nike GS. Would like to thank @adekocards for the picture of his limited concept boots. Welcome to Footy Guru @adekocards. As always boot nerds, many will apply and only a few will be chosen. #footyguru#footyporn #nikesoccer #NikeGS #mercurial

In the Sole:Nike GS

Nike GS Unboxing by freekickerz

Never before have i seen a boot with so much demand/hype. Enjoy Boots nerds...

Nike GS: Mystery player revealed...

Surprise Boot Nerds, Th mystery player is Neymar...

Nike GS Teaser.

Launch Update:The Nike GS drops August 15th and is limited to 2012 pairs.

Nike GS – “Green Speed” Boot.

Nike has caught the boot world by storm by releasing a never before seen boot that has the footy world going crazy. I personally am very excited for this release because it is limited and when something is limited/special edition in the boot world everyone and there grandma wants in. The new boot release room Nike Football is called the GS and is the first ever eco-friendly footy boot. Did I mention this will be a limited release?!? GS which stands for “Green Speed” is the first boot that is environmentally friendly and the lightest boot at that.

With this release, Nike developers were challenged to create a lightweight minimalist boot made only of recycled materials. Personally I would have loved to been a fly on the wall when the development of this boot was going down. The new GS mirrors the properties of the current Vapor 8 in that it is built for explosive speed. However, with this limited release the boot is constructed using renewable and recycled materials and design to have an impact on the pitch and on the planet.

Furthermore, every component of the Nike GS has been optimized to reduce weight and waste, creating Nike’s lightest football boot ever to date. The new GS has boot nerds salivating not only because it is limited but the boot will weigh an astonishing 5.6 oz. Unlike the current MV8 which comes in at 6.5oz the GS will be 9 oz lighter.

The boot was born in and manufactured in Italy. So those of you that know your boots, means that anything manufactured in Italy is for sure a thing of quality. The Nike GS features recycled and renewable materials throughout the upper and outsole. The outsole along with the sock liner is made from 100% castor beans which ensures strength and flexibility.  The GS laces, lining and tongue are made from a minimum of 70% recycled materials. In addition, the toe box and collar of the boot are made up of at least 15% recycled materials.

From the Vapor Legend himself….“The Nike GS is the lightest and fastest football boot we’ve ever made and really defines a new era in how we create, design and produce elite football boots,” said Andy Caine, global design director for Nike Football. “When you can deliver a boot that combines high end performance and a low environmental footprint that’s a winning proposition for players and planet.”

 So just how limited will these boots be? Extremely limited, because there will only be 2012 pairs manufactured worldwide! I have already begun to hit my friends up at Nike because anytime there is a limited release I have to have that boot.

The boots will retail for around $250-300 and will drop this summer around August 10th.