Speed boots are perhaps the most highly touted shoes in the soccer world. With some of the flashiest players wearing them, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, every young soccer fanatic is looking to be just like them. Along with this, the lightweight aspect of a boot is all the hype.

Despite having some of lightest soccer cleats in the past while maintaining quality, Puma has still yet to overtake the F50 adiZero and Mercurial Vapor in popularity. But with the new release of the evoSPEED 1, along with new player signings (the evoSPEED’s lead sponsors are Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero and Bayern Munich’s Mario Gomez), has Puma finally proved to the market that they can surpass the other two big brand’s speed releases?

Comfort and Fit

Given that the evoSPEED 1 K is a speed boot (just look at the name) and also leather, I was curious to see if Puma kept comfort aspects of the boot while also cutting the weight of the down to 6.8 ounces. The v1.11 K was known as a very comfortable speed boot, but take in mind that it is significantly heavier than Puma’s new generation.

Despite having to make the boot a little more minimal, there are still some aspects from the v1.11 that stuck with the evoSPEED 1 to create a comfortable shoe. First off, the heel liner is made of synthetic suede. Although, it is not the type of suede found on Nike boots like the CTR360 or Tiempo which is very plush and almost like a carpet. Instead, the suede being used here has a feel comparable to suede used on some couches. It still feels extremely soft and smooth, and the suede secures your heel for a nice fit.

Puma has definitely improved their sockliner with this release. To replace the one layer foam being used on older models, there are actually two layers to the insert now. The top layer is much like the one layer used on past models; it’s not too thick or thin, and it gets the job done fine. On top of the first foam layer is suede covering that is fairly comfortable and does not let your foot slide around. Below everything else is denser foam that adds extra cushioning. This is something very common now, as it is very similar to Poron used on Nike and Umbro inserts and adiPrene by Adidas.

The evoSPEED 1 K does fit very true to size, so you will not need to go up or down any sizes. I have a medium width foot and they fit perfectly. I would guess that very wide foot people would have trouble with these, just because the leather does not reach the widest part of ones foot. Also, Puma has taken away the awkward, too thin fit in the mid-foot. Along with this, the anatomical toe box is not as dramatic as before. The curve in from outstep to the big toe is still apparent, but not as noticeable as in the V-Speed series. In the heel, a external heel counter secures your foot and a soft and flexible heel section lays tight against your heel.

Breaking In

Coming with the evoSPEED 1 K, you get a very average break in period in terms of length. During the first week or so of wear, I felt pain throughout the arch of my foot after about 30 minutes of play each time. This went on until the sockliner properly formed to my foot. Also, the leather does take some time to stretch and mold to your foot size. This not a shoe I recommend to wear straight into a game, and instead you should take time to fully break in the boot.

Technology

To tell the truth, there are not any big technologies used in the evoSPEED. If the synthetic version was being tested, there would be the Everfit cage to talk about, but that just is not the case with the leather option. The only technology that comes to mind is the Duoflex grooves in the outsole. These channels are sections of the forefoot where less material is used to create a more flexible boot. Because of this, the whole shoe flexes and moves with your foot much better.

Performance

Being a k-leather speed boot, I had high expectations for the evoSPEED 1 K, as kangaroo leather and lightweight combine to give you the best of both worlds. When I first received this pair, I was surprised about how much of the upper the kangaroo leather covers. While most ultra-light leather cleats only have a small portion of leather in the forefoot, the leather with this release covers the forefoot and around all lace holes. This gives you a better feel when you strike the ball, as the leather gives a more solid feel than the synthetic material used in the rest of the boot.

The quality of the leather is actually really good. Instead of using lower quality leather such as calfskin to lower cost and weight, Puma has opted to use quality kangaroo leather that feels like it should be on a traditional boot. It is thinner than something like a heritage shoe such as a Tiempo Legend or a Speciali, but it is not paper thin; the thickness would still be more similar to a classic boot, rather than something like a synthetic adiZero. Due to the quality leather and no added elements you do get a very good feel of the ball. The only aspect of the upper I am disappointed in is that the instep is not leather, and the synthetic isn’t very soft, so when you pass or receive the ball you don’t get that leather feel.

Weighing in at a listed 6.8 ounces, these boots feel extremely light on your feet. Given that there is a good amount of leather on the shoe, I am very impressed at the weight of the boot. There are a few sections of the boot where Puma has really cut weight from the V1.11 K. First, the upper is definitely thinner than past models, and the whole upper is not kangaroo leather like it was on the V1.11 K. Second, the outsole is much different. Instead of a carbon fiber insert and a pebax outsole, the whole outsole is one piece of TPU. Even though the weight is cut down, the outsole is still very sturdy, but there is not as much support in the forefoot compared to the past V-Speed series.

Durability

After using these cleats pretty heavily for around one month now, I have not seen any issues with the durability of the cleat. No rips in the upper have occurred, and no separation between the upper and outsole is visible. This is something very impressive, especially with a speed boot. Because less material is used to make the cleat lightweight, a less sturdy boot usually is the tradeoff when buying a sub 7.0 ounce shoe. This does not apply to the Puma evoSPEED 1 K. I have used them on both natural and artificial surfaces and they have held up fine. Really, the only wear on them is a tiny bit of paint chipping on the toe, but this is just normal after use on turf.

 

All in All:

So has Puma finally proved to the market that they can surpass the other two big brand’s speed releases? While I can’t say that they have surpassed the Adidas adiZero miCoach and the Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII, I can say that Puma has produced a fantastic lightweight kangaroo leather shoe. Some high points of this boot are the fantastic leather upper along with a snug fit and it’s pretty durable. Puma has really put effort into creating a quality boot, and their work paid off.

Performance: 9/10

Comfort: 7/10

Durability: 8/10

Technology: 6/10

Value: 7/10

Breaking In Period: Medium

Feet Width It Can Fit: Narrow-Slightly Wide

You can purchase the evoSPEED 1 K for a retail price of $199.99 or the synthetic version for $184.99, which is fairly standard for a high end release. Remember to check out Azteca Soccer and go like the Facebook Page!