Pele Sports are an up and coming brand and in a very short period they have created a buzz within the soccer industry. To say the least, I am a big fan of the boots and the apparel they have been producing. The products are very unique, extremely durable and for each boot or piece of apparel a story is told through that product.
Although, at first many consumers were skeptical of the brand partly because many soccer fanatics are very brand loyal and often times closed minded when it comes to their boots of choice. However, with one of the greatest players ever to play the game of soccer backing the company it seems the skeptics have been pushed aside and consumers are very interested/open in what the Pele Sports brand has to offer.
So without any further introduction, I would like to introduce the new Pele Sports 50/50 Turf Trainer from Pele Sports.
The Good: Built to last, the 50/50 features a full grain leather upper and also includes performance features that include a TPU shank and an internal heel raise which enables you to push off your forefoot faster and provide quicker ground contact which are essentials in small sided games.
The Bad: Only negative I can think of is the price tag. The boots are currently $85 which makes many people skeptical especially if they are unfamiliar with the brand.
The Bottom Line: This is an awesome boot if you are looking for a very durable boot that you can wear in the street and on the pitch. The only other boot on the market I can compare this boot to would be the Nike5 Street Gato but the 50/50 is lightyears ahead of this boot. The boot is built to last and with the TF outsole you can sport this boot out on the town or to the pitch.
Comfort/fit: (9/10)
Compared to other boots on the market like the adi5 boots I have in my closet the 50/50 is very different in a good way. While the adi5 series is thin and light the Pele Sports 50/50 offers a different relaxed feel right out of the box. Designed from the looks of a lifestyle shoe the 50/50 offers a relaxed shoe much like you would get from a casual/running shoe which makes it very unique in the fact I sometimes forgot I was wearing a performance boot at work or playing Footy.
Like most players I am very particular about my footwear and the odds of me wearing a boot without break in time a rare, but with this boot it was like a glove. The leather upper improves with each wear and once it is completely broken in the fit improves and the leather conforms to your foot in just about every angle of your foot.
As I mentioned, the more you wear the boots the more supple the leather becomes and I noticed this with the leather above the toes on the 50/50. The patch of leather above your toes is perfect for a first touch lay off or a snake/double touch to get yourself an extra yard of space. Another important aspect of the boot that has a leather upper is the instep which features patches of leather that improve durability and your touch on the ball. In terms of receiving a ball with a synthetic boot compared to a leather boot there is no question the leather upper offers a better/softer touch which is what the Pele Sport 50/50 offers. To describe this boot and its durability the only word that comes to my mind is premium.
Testing Note: To point the 50/50's durability and comfort a couple weeks ago I was involved in a car accident that left me car less for awhile and I relied on public transportation and in one instance I was stranded and was wearing my Pele Sports 50/50 boots after work. I could either walk home or run and because it was so cold i picked option two. So I ran almost 7 miles in these boot all the way home and had no blisters or hotshots. To be honest, these boots are tanks and the durability and comfort are second to none especially after running 7 miles because there is no way I would have tried that in my Gato's or adi5 boots.
Performance: (9/10)
To be honest, to paint you a picture of how these boots fit and feel they remind me of the old Nike Zoom T5 boots that offered excellent touch and a glove like feeling. The Pele Sports 50/50 is the Nike Zoom T5 boots reincarnated but with more technology and does not come in flaming flamingo colors because the boot is not flashy it is simple made to get the job done on the pitch and lets your play/skills do the talking.
Furthermore, another aspect of this boot that I believe is one of the best technologies/introductions to the boot world within the decade is the off-center lacing or what I like to call it is the athletic fit lacing. With the off center lacing on these boots it hugs the shape if your foots natural shape so these boots really do feel like sock and provide a glove like fit. While the fit is glove like due to the lacing the lacing offers you are bigger striking surface which enables you to really get ahold of the ball which increases the power of your shots.
Another performance aspect that is Pele Sports brings to the soccer market is the internal heel raise that they use in their boots. By raising the heel of the boot slightly it keeps you on your toes toes and allows for quicker ground contact and better force dissipation which means you will always be on your toes which matters in small sided matches/intense game of muff.
With the performance of the boot being exceptional another aspect of the boot that I would like to point out is the detail that many of the Pele Sports boots feature that is unlike any other boots on the market. For example, every-time I lace these boots up I notice minor details on the boot that I never noticed before. For instance, the tab on the back if the heel features two roman numeral fives (V) join together which represents small sides Football while cleverly forming the roman numeral 10 (X)- the number Pele made famous throughout his Footy career. It is examples like this that separate this boot apart from any other TF boot on the market. The boot is covered in rubber symbols that tell the story of Pele and his passion for football.
Value: (9/10)
At $85 the Pele Sports 50/50 is one of the more expensive boots on the market but compared to the other boots this boot is built to last. Sometimes you get what you pay for and if you are looking for a rugged boot that you can wear on the streets and the pitch then the Pele Sports 50/50 might become your best friend.
I put these boots to the ultimate test which you can see from the pictures. I wore them as daily lifestyle shoes, running shoes haha and played multiple Futsal games in these boots. In the end, based on comfort, durability, and overall value the Pele Sports 50/50 are head and shoulders above any other TF boots on the market. The 50/50 is truly a unique boot and I highly recommend this boot to any one in need of a new TF/Futsal boot.
Blogger note: With the weather turning many consumers including myself have been playing more small sides matches and indoor/futsal games and after heavy testing i thought many of you would appreciate this review.
Footy Guru Rating:
Comfort/fit: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Overall Score: 9
(Excellent) This boot gets a 4 star rating from FOOTY GURU
(Boots supplied for review by Pele Sports)
