Right after posting the Trinity 3E review, I am at it again with another Pele Sports review. This time, I’ll be writing about the 1970.

Along with the Trinity 3E, the 1970 was released in 2010 as Pele Sport’s first cleats to be released. As it was released more than two years ago, the 1970 definitely is not the most recent release, but Pele Sports has yet to make a follow-up boot for the line. The 1962 Redeemer was just released, but there have not been any signs of a new 1970.

Comfort and Fit

Pele Sports have taken their time with the 1970 in creating a shoe based around comfort. The upper is extremely padded, and the kangaroo leather used is super soft and flexible. Also, the tongue is made out of kangaroo leather, which ensures a pillow-like feeling on the top of your foot. While I found the upper to be fantastic, the amount of slippage I got was disappointing. Due to a slick insole and heel liner, my foot tended to slide around quite a bit. If you do have this issue, you could just switch out the insole for one with more grip. Overall, the 1970 was very comfortable, but the slippage problem was bothersome. You do get some extra padding by the form of Poron, in the insole.

I tested the 1970 in my regular size, but probably could have gone down half a size. They fit a bit long, and I’m guessing the leather would stretch a good amount if you buy them tight. Also, they have a lot of room, so people with wide feet can fit into this boot with no issues. So if you like a tight fit, go down a half size; if you like a roomier feel, order your regular size.

Breaking In

One thing that I found with ordering your true size is that the 1970 takes a while to break in. The outsole used in the 1970 and 1962 is very thick and stiff right out of the box. You will have to spend a good amount of time wearing these until the soleplate moves in-sync with your feet. At first, the whole entire shoe felt extremely bulky, and I felt like I needed to go a half size down. But, I found out that you just have to take your time with these cleats.

After wearing them for about the fourth time, I felt like the upper was breaking in and molding to my foot. Along with this, the soleplate became a lot more fluid and became much more flexible. When I first began to shoot with these, I felt like there was too much material between my foot and the ball, causing a loss in power. But after the upper formed to my foot, I got a clean and solid strike. Even though the 1970 takes a while to break in, you definitely want to do this before playing with them in game.

Technology

Despite being considered a heritage boot which is characterized by being clean and simple, the 1970 has a good amount of technology added to the upper and sole.

The Upper

If you have seen the unboxing I made of the 1970 (Click here to watch), I mentioned the upper to be very tacky. Pele Sports has actually treated the upper using Dual Friction technology to provide perfect grip on the ball, no matter if you are playing in sunshine or rain. If you look at the upper, you will see that it is very shiny because of the Dual Friction technology. This creates a very unusual upper that I had to get used to when playing. I did notice that when you dribble the ball does stick to the shoe. I haven’t played in them in the rain yet, so I cannot tell you how they perform in wet conditions, but in dry conditions, I was not too fond of the extra grip added when dribbling.

The Midsole

What I found to be very unique about the shoe is that is has a 5 mm rise from the toe to heel. A molded midsole provides support for your heel region, and also reduces stress on joints. Like running shoes, the midsole will provide more cushioning while running, which is a large part of soccer. Pele Sports was very smart about including this piece of technology in their boots.

Performance

As the boot took a while to break in and form to my foot, I did not especially enjoy playing with them the first few times. They felt heavy, loose, and bulky. But, all of this changed after I played in them a little more. The soleplate eventually did break in, and it was decent after. Bladed studs on the outsole are much more suited for natural grass, and will catch some on turf.

Shooting with the 1970 is fantastic. Due to the finish on the upper, you are able to generate a good amount of spin when striking, as the upper grips the ball. Once the kangaroo leather formed to my foot, I also had a very solid striking surface, and the laces are asymmetrical, so there is a large area to shoot from. If you like to knuckle a ball, this is also a good shoe for you. The tackiness on the whole upper stops the ball from rotating as you strike it to perform a knuckle shot. Right when I started playing in them I made the connection to the Mukaiten Panel on the Mizuno Wave Ignitus. If you are looking for a good shoe to shoot with, these may be for you.

Along with shooting, the soft kangaroo leather has other benefits. Given that the leather is fairly thick, lack of protection is no issue. The leather is padded, meaning that it will provide a natural cushion, but I did find the thickness of the upper and finish to be a trouble when dribbling. I felt like I did not get a great feel for the ball, and the texture of the upper made the ball stick to my foot more than I would like. I would have liked to see the coating not on the whole upper, as it can cause some issues.

Durability

With companies stripping shoes of materials to reduce the weight, there are not as many very durable boots. Pele Sports has not worried about the weight, and has used quality materials that last. One thing that barely ever say when writing a review is that I have seen no signs of wear throughout the entire boot; But with the 1970, I can make that statement. I have not had any separation between soleplate and upper, and there is no ripping or tearing of the upper. I am very impressed that the whole shoe is intact, so props to Pele Sports on that.

All in All:

If you are looking for a shoe that is comfortable, durable, and equipped with a modern kangaroo leather upper, then do not hesitate to try on a pair of 1970s. Pele Sports is continuing to rise in the soccer market as a big name brand. I really appreciate their attention to quality in their materials, and how they have not sacrificed quality for weight or cost. Shooting was very enjoyable with this shoe, and the Dual Friction leather upper is very unique. It is quite hard to find a pair now, but there are still a few sites that will sell them, but other than that, they are pretty hard to find now.

Performance: 6/10

Comfort: 7/10

Durability: 10/10

Technology: 6/10

Value: 7/10

Breaking In Period: Long (May have been different if I ordered a half size down)

Feet Width It Can Fit: Medium – Wide

Thanks for reading, and if you wear a size 8 – 8.5 and are interested in a pair, contact us on our Facebook Page, or comment below.