"Wow, those make you look fast," a team mate said sarcastically.
I am not fast. I'm a 35-year old, Hamilton-based footballer attempting an extremely poor man's version of The Last Dance at Melville United. And my Air Jordans are a pair of bright yellow, cheetah-looking Puma boots I've been sentto review.
I shouldn't be wearing boots like these. Not at my age. I should be wearing jet black, sensible, practical boots, with a nod to a simpler time when colour options were black, or black with white.
But I'm also at the stage of my career where it's hard to justify a new pair of boots. So we wear the cheetahs.
The PUMA FUTURE 5.1 is the latest release from Puma.
It's been over 20 years since I last wore Puma boots. The Puma Kings used to be a killer boot in the late 90s and I desperately treasured my pair. But for reasons hard to remember, I gravitated towards adidas' Copa Mundials, World Cups and Predators through my 20s, with an occasional Nike sprinkled in.
But we're back with Puma and when I slip on their latest release, the Puma Future 5.1, my first impression is they're irresistibly comfortable. The 'upper' of the boot is fully knitted, made from a slightly denser form of evoKnit material and almost melts at your touch. Super soft.
There is also a thin silicone layer applied to the lower areas of the upper for some grip and protection against abrasion against the ground you play on. This is important as blisters in new boots are a real turn-off.
The Puma Future's feel slightly heavier than the adidas Predators I've also been wearing recently, but, and this is incredibly unscientific, the Future's feel like they have a softer, more precise touch.
Zlatan Ibrahimovich wearing the Puma Future 5.1 boots.
Aesthetically, I'm not a fan. The design, the colour scheme, the 'loudness' is a bit much. How a boot looks should be less important than comfort, weight, quality, but, much as in life, it can be really hard to shake first impressions.
But, if you can get past the jungle flavour, the Future's are a great boot. Striking the ball felt good due to their large surface area and hitting the ball with power was clean.
The Future 5.1 doesn't fit into the conventional silo of a slim and light "speed boot" or the "shooting boot" with strike zones. They seem to be built for any forward thinking player who loves an elegant soft touch without compromising on a close feel of the ball.
After three training sessions the Future's feel like putting on a shoe. Comfortable, but with enough tightness to lock the foot in. They're also great for a wide-footed player, which I happen to be. It all feels so easy.
When the boot's bright yellow dims from the mud, and the gags from the team mates have run their course, I'm left with a boot as comfortable as any I've worn. Would wear again.
What: Puma Future 5.1 How much: $NZD 310 Short summary: Comfortable, soft, wide, knitted. Rating: 4/5
