Umbro Specialli 98
The double diamond has to be here, because for just over £100 you get a classic, full kangaroo leather boot with unquestionable durability. The quality of this boot is extremely high and completely top-of-the-range in terms of construction, materials and comfort. We mustn't forget that this is also a special edition, as they are a replica of the 1998 Umbro Specialli.
The leather will mould to your feet after just a few minutes of wear, and with proper oil treatment and care, they will last a long time. You will feel the structure with every touch, and they also have a classic sole that is not heavy, which is a welcome feature in a boot of this type. Umbro is a safe choice.
Nike Premier 3
The most classic model from the American brand couldn't be left out of this top list and, of course, it gives us a boot with that essence and a great price. Natural leather on the front, with reinforcement on the side, very similar to what we saw in the Nike Street Gato leather, which guarantees a perfect touch.
The rest of the boot is comfortable and retains the sensational tongue with the typical Velcro fastening seen for so many years on Nike Tiempo football boots, which completes the classic look of this model. This tongue can be cut off and the boot worn without it. The sole has conical studs that are not overly aggressive, allowing us to feel and step comfortably on the ball.
They are not a bad choice for state-of-the-art artificial turf, as the studs are not very long. If you play on natural grass, we have a version with anti-clog soles, which, as you know, will prevent mud from sticking. Always a good choice.
New Balance 442
One of New Balance's newly released boots, and a real gem at that. For the price, you get high-quality leather, excellent comfort and a sole that is much better than it looks. New Balance hits the mark. This new version loses the classic tongue we had in the original model but still retains all the essence of a classic boot, as well as the name 4-4-2.
The leather will mould to your foot, giving you that elegant and precise feel that only natural leather football boots can provide. They will be extremely comfortable after just a few wears, partly thanks to the added reinforcements in the heel counter, with padding in the same area, which is something we usually see in high-end models and which is also present in this New Balance model. As for the sole, despite what it may seem, it will give us sufficient traction and grip with studs that are slightly longer and wider than normal. A luxury boot at a crazy price.
And that concludes our three choices. If we are looking for value for money, we have three boots with really competitive prices that offer us quality well above that value. These are boots that we can easily see on the pitches of the top flight and are a fantastic choice if we are looking for the highest quality at the lowest possible price. Which one would you choose?
