For week 4 in the SBC we can blog about whatever we want. I am interested in soccer cleats and am knowledgeable about them and how they are made.

Starting off there are two main brands for soccer cleats, Adidas and Nike.

Both brands make four “silos” of soccer cleats. Each silo is marketed for something different. There are silos targeted towards speed, agility, power, control, comfort etc. Currently both brands silos are marketed for, speed, agility, power, and control. 

The materials used for each silo are different. For example, for the silo marketed toward comfort, usually leather is used, because it offers a nice touch on the ball and is extremely comfortable.

The Materials used for the speed silo are lightweight and synthetic. There is minimal material to make the boots as light as possible. Because there is such minimal material if you get kicked in the shoe you can really fell it.

Each silo has its pros and cons. If you want speed you have to sacrifice comfort. If you want control you have to sacrifice speed. If you want comfort the boots are “heavy” (due to the leather) and you have to sacrifice speed.

For each silo there is a “Pro” model and a “tier 4” model. The pro model is usually around $300-$340. And the tier 4 model is around $60. With the pro model you get all the premium materials, traction, comfort etc. As you go down the list to the tier 2, tier 3, and tier 4 the materials, comfort, and traction get worse and worse. 

The brands have done this to fit everyone’s needs. Someone who plays recreational soccer, who isn’t trying to be in the best level might want to look for a tier 3-4 model as they are cheaper. 

Now, this all sounds fine and dandy but its not. Every year the company’s “UPGRADE” their boots. They claim they make a whole bunch of improvements so you can buy the latest model. I’m telling you know they don’t. The only thing they do is change the name, and maybe change the material. Or the changes they make are so slight you wont be able to see a difference. They market them like its a whole other shoe. It’s false.

But, to counter that, Around every 4 years the company picks a silo, and COMPLETELY replaces it. They completely change the show and what it is marketed for. They change the material, traction, shape, everything gets changed. There are new pro models, new tier 2-4 models. And it is spicy. One of my favourite things to do every once and while is to wake up and just read what the brand has changed, read what they added and watch reviews on YouTube on people first impressions of the new boot.

In case you were wondering, I have the Adidas X 18.1 (Pro)

They are marketed as control boots but the main reason I like them is because they are also very lightweight and comfortable. One of my favourite things about them is how warm they are. Soccer is played rain or shine and these cleats do such a good job of keeping the warmth in and the wet out. When it gets really cold or rainy and I take them off you can see my foot steaming!

There is one thing I have always wanted but never found that is specifically for soccer cleats. Luckily, we are doing a project this year called Blue Sky and I will be able to create these things. Stay Tuned