Umbro is launching the Umbro Vision II, available in both the high-end Pro version and the mid-to-low-end Liga version. Here at Fútbol Emotion, we focus on the latest news and aim to provide you with the most detailed information on high-end football boots, as well as futsal shoes; however, we perhaps tend to overlook what is actually needed and important, namely the other ranges. That’s why today we’re bringing you our pick – what we currently consider to be the best low-end boot: the Umbro Vision II Liga.
Through the Fútbol Emotion Blog, we’ve put together a list of the best high-end futsal shoes, and we knew there was still something to cover in the budget range. Ever since we saw the previous generation’s new Umbro New Vision and the Chaleira Pro IC shoe, we knew that Umbro was making a strong case for itself, thanks to its heritage and the vibrant, positive influence of Brazilian futsal. This point is crucial in illustrating that the culture of sportswear is constantly evolving, and Umbro is certainly keeping pace with that change.
Umbro New Vision II Liga
As the name suggests, this shoe embodies a new way of looking at the game. Until now, there have been two very distinct types of player: on the one hand, the skilful and quick player; on the other, the powerful, hard-hitting player. Can’t a skilful player also have a tremendous shot? Or vice versa, can’t a powerful, big player also be skilful? Well, quite simply, New Vision is the answer to both these questions.
Let’s start with the upper, a part we might describe as straightforward. As we can see, it’s a ‘traditional’ style of shoe, with most of it made from a breathable micro-perforated fabric, which will keep your feet much cooler. This is important because the comfort provided by this fabric is in no way at odds with the reinforcements found throughout the shoe, which prevent ‘roll-over’ – in other words, the foot shifting inside the shoe – when we’re making the most aggressive moves on the pitch. The downside lies in the notorious wear zone, which appears to be completely exposed to this problem. It would have been great if Umbro were to incorporate a little more reinforcement in future, both in this area and in the toe box.
One feature not found on the high-end Umbro Vision II Pro shoe is its tongue, which is extremely bulky yet pleasant and comfortable. The standout feature of this Umbro Vision II Liga is its heel counter, where Umbro’s engineers have managed to perfectly conceal a sturdy, secure heel counter thanks to the design that dominates the upper. This will provide us with total stability during the fastest moments of the game.
A low-profile midsole, embodying the sport’s most skilful approach. A layer of EVA foam provides that little bit of cushioning so essential in this discipline, where heels and ankles take a huge amount of impact. Finally, on the outsole we can see two patterns that clearly stand out from the rest. The heel section features a zig-zag pattern to aid traction, whilst the forefoot section has a circular pivoting pattern to facilitate rotational movements.
There are many occasions when we need to think carefully about which product suits us best – both for our feet and our budget. We’re confident that this review will really help you make a decision. The Umbro Vision II Liga isn’t the best shoe on the market, of course, but if you’ve got €40 to spend on a pair of shoes, this is an absolutely brilliant choice.
