Trends

These boots are made for walking, wearing... and playing

Normally, an athlete buys a boot in order to play the sport he loves. In the first half of 2005, a player will be excused for taking up a team sport just to experience the absolute pleasure of wearing the beautiful boots.

The new boot ranges please most senses: colours that are a feast for the eyes; the soft materials used for the uppers invite touch; and new technologies provide flexibility, support and traxion that give a whole new feel.

Team boots now make a fashion statement.

Soccer footwear as we’ve known it, will never again be the same, promises Umbro SA marketing director Darryl Kroll. "Umbro’s new range has redefined soccer footwear. We are now offering players boots that will enable them to make an individual statement, even though they are playing in a team environment."

Futuristic styles

Boot styles are becoming more futuristic with a streamlined, modern look, says Steven Eckstein of Reebok. "The trend is going towards more modern, lightweight styling, with the laces covered over so that there is a maximum ball strike area."

Ian Wright, Football Category Manager of Nike SA agrees. "Trends are leaning towards lighter weight for speed and control, as well as different colours for individual expression. Nike offers boots in the traditional colours, but we’ve introduced the very latest styles in new cosmetics."

"Colours are stronger, other than the usual black. Black boots are still in demand but there seems to be a bigger demand for different colours such as white and silver," says Mickey Mallet of Hi-Tec.

According to Eckstein, gunmetal, silver and red are the new colours. "White boots and bright colours, as well as metallics, are the trend at the moment - with strong contrasts," agrees Lynton Picker of Footwear Trading, local distributors of Fila.

Distributors and marketers of boots have never had it so easy as designers are all attempting to outdo each other with eye catching ranges.

Innovative

"In keeping with our mission statement, to inspire and excite the world of football, Umbro’s boot range for the first half of 2005 is inspirational, innovative and dedicated to quality," enthuses Kroll. "Our boots have been designed to meet players’ needs and desires and will offer the consumer choice at high, middle, and entry level price points,".

Last season’s Umbro Xai boot (pronounced by most people as the "X" boot) has now evolved into their "Evolution X" generation of boots, launched in January 2005.

"This is a range of products designed specifically to take soccer to a new level. This is more than marketing hype, because this product doesn’t pretend to be anything it is not. Put it on — it does exactly what is says it will!" assures Kroll.

Apart from catching the customer’s attention, most design features also have practical applications. For instance, having the lacing system positioned on the lateral side of the boot results in cleaner ball strikes and sharper control. An example of this is the Skewedlace concept introduced by Mitre and the hidden lace tracks of Reebok, Gilbert and Umbro.

"Having the laces positioned on the lateral side of the soccer boot, increases the medial strike zone area around 60%, allowing for cleaner ball strikes and sharper control," says Mitre brand manager Peter Whipp.

Designs practical

Another example of design adding functionality is the "X" logo that Umbro incorporated in the heel area that not only protects the rear foot, but enhances medial stability.

Gilbert has created a sweetspot to improve feel — and as a result, increased kicking power and distance — by injecting lightweight rubber elements in strategically placed strike zones in the upper.

Like running shoes, the lightness and breathability of team boots are also becoming big selling points. Gilbert, for instance, uses mesh fabric to reduce the overall weight of the boot. Hydra Mesh is a breathable, water resistant material, which keeps the foot ventilated, reduces moisture build up, resulting in overall enhanced performance.

Grays has revolutionised the look of hockey boots. It looks, feels and cushions like a top range running shoe, but it has features specifically designed for hockey players. New features include new Turfhugger outsole with linear and lateral stabilisers to maximise grip, new EVA Midsole cushioning to help reduce the shock from Astro Turf pitches and new special heel system to disperse shock from hard pitches.

Comfort

Comfort features, however, address the particular needs of the athlete that participate in that specific sport. The days that a boot was a boot, was a boot are long gone.

The modern boots not only address the special needs of the players in a specific sport, but in many instances, the player in a specific position. In some rugby ranges the stud configurations for backs, differ from forwards.

Reebok, for instance have a sturdy 8-stud sole for the heavier forwards, while the 6-stud, similar to a soccer boot configuration, is aimed at backs.

Gilbert’s 8 XSO–Xact structured outsole features a unique stud configuration, positioned according to the specific requirements of rugby players. Flex grooves in the Gilbert boot soles improve flexibility and mobility in all necessary directions.

Nike’s ‘traditional’ forwards boots have different stud plates (eight-stud formations) and thicker leather to allow for greater grip and support, while many loose forwards and backs find they get extremely good value from the same footwear as soccer players. "It boils down to personal preference, but in the end the loose forwards and backs need lighter boots to allow for their range of play, hence the use of the same technology as football players," says Wright.

Nike has made the boot-to-ground point of contact a key performance area - for optimal grip and reduced stud pressure. Shock absorption is also addressed in the higher end boot ranges — with Nike’s top end running shoe Shox technology incorporated in their soccer range to absorb impact and provide greater responsiveness.

No doubt, boots are now designed with the same care that used to be reserved for top-end running shoes.