I want to start this post giving you some background on what New Balance is and the relevance of its enter in the football market. It's not just a new brand entering, it's the enter of an American brand that has been in the sports footwear world since 1906. During all this time it has become one of the biggest brands in two of the biggest markets: Urban footwear and running footwear. In the 80' they had a short period in the football market too.
Bryan Robson with New Balance boots
How has New Balance managed to become a reference in these two complicated markets, the urban and the running? With innovation. A brand usually has two options: to follow the line of the brands which all already in the market or create its own line. And NB has chosen to follow the second option.
But now its time to follow the brands line in a market which is a lot more complex: Football. A market which is not as open to innovation as other markets. When you present a new shoe to a track and field athlete he can't wait to try it on. But that same operations with a football player is more complex because we tend to distrust too much.
But this time the new is very good, they have used their experience and technologies from the running world during the past years and they bring it so the footballer can also enjoy it.
For starters we will find two lines of boots:
New Balance Furon
New Balance Visaro
Although we've seen adidas prisenting the reduction of their collection two only two lines, New Balance was the first one in doing this, the past month of November when they presented it to us. Two types of players:
NEW BALANCE FURON // Take chances
New Balace Furon
This boot has been made for the players show are going to be the ones finishing attack action in the games. They might not receive as much passes as other players but their interventions tend to be decisive in the game. Player who can mark a difference in a game with one single action.
New Balance Furon, upper detail
The upper which is the main element in contact with the ball, features the mesh forefoot technology, inspired in the running footwear that will give you a barefoot sensation when runnig but always protected for all the game actions. New Balance has tried really hard to provide a good energy return and optimize the touch with the ball.
New Balance Furon, Fantom Fit Cage
The fit of our footwear is an obsessions for runners and it might not be as important in the football world. But the Fantom Fit cage of this New Balance Furon, is going to try to correct this characteristic and provide a better fit boot.
New Balance Furon, outsole detail
The outsole is an element with whchi they have probably spent a lot of time trying to innovate. The reason is that it is the element which the consider they can innovate the most with their running experience. For the past months they have been testing this element in the United States and have created an outsole with the following characteristics:
- Energy return. Bounce effect thanks to the stiffness of the front portion of the plate.
- Agressive stud pattern in the acceleration area so you dont lose traction at any moment.
- Nylon material that will provide elasticity in each step.
New Balance Furon, Buritto Tongue
And for the end I have left the part I liked the most when I saw it for the first time, the "Buritto Tongue". I guess all of you have had a Burrito in a Mexican restaurant, well it's inspired in that Mexican food. New Balance has givin this shape for the tongue with a special laces system that makes for a one-piece upper that will give a compression sensation and great fit. Great option and better name!
NEW BALANCE VISARO // Make chances
New Balace Visaro
For the decisive player to finish the acctions there must be a player to generate the situation. So we need a player with a creative profile that will provide the decisive player with those situations that can change a game. The player who is generating these situations is the Visaro player, and New Balance has created the perfect boot for them.
New Balance Visaro, Ariaprene material in the upper
At first look, most of you will say that this Ariaprene material of the upper looks a lot like the upper we got with the first generation of the Nike Hypervenom. And yes, they do look alike but they are different. One of the problems we got with the past Hypervenom was that the NikeSkin upper could bee too thin. This new Ariaprene is not going to feel the same because we get a thicker material, also with a good grip. In areas which are not in contact with the ball, the thickness is lower than 2mm and it can duplicate in areas in contact with the ball.
New Balance Visaro, Heelcounter
The gills in the upper, combined with the Fresh Foam insole will make for our foot not to slide around and will lock it in a good position providing a good cushioning, comfort and control.
New Balance Visaro, outsole details
As happens with the first model I presented to you, the outsole in this New Balance Visaro is going to be a very important element. The result is:
- A biomechanic study has determened the stud pattern.
- The nylon plate be more flexible than the Furon model but will not provide as good energy return.
- The pivot element is there for those actions with shap cuts and fast turns during the game and this way there will be less injuries.
Now you now all abou these new models. Soon we will have the video reviews available in our youtube channel SoloporterosTV International. You can pre-order now and we will start shipping on July the 1st.
