Nike’s futsal shoes are no longer what they used to be. It’s highly likely that the American brand was focusing its efforts on football boots, whilst giving our beloved sport a lower priority. Since the return of the Nike Lunar Gato II, we can see that this attitude has changed completely. We can see how Nike has put real emphasis and care into its collections, becoming the most active brand in our sport, with futsal at its heart.
Home Crew Pack by Nike Football
We’re already familiar with Nike’s core philosophies. It’s not just about reaching footballers through the quality and uniqueness of their futsal shoes, but also ensuring that players feel there’s a story behind them. In this Home Crew collection, the Swoosh brand has decided to highlight the pride one feels for one’s people, one’s teammates, one’s friends and, above all, for one’s TEAM. That endless desire for the ball to start rolling again; to be back with your team and fight like never before to achieve your goals. After this enforced break we’ve had to endure, there’s nothing quite like looking your team in the face, in the eyes.
Nike Tiempo Premier II Sala
Let’s start with the upper, which is made from natural leather, although there are a few nuances. Firstly, the main material is once again that ‘mesh’, which shows us that this is a model designed specifically for this sport and not an adaptation, as we see in other cases where the upper is simply copied. This mesh is found in many types of futsal shoes and, as well as making the boot lighter, it helps with breathability. This construction is complemented by a suede overlay on the forefoot, giving us not only excellent durability but also a truly exquisite feel.
As for the sole, it is the same as that found on Nike’s ‘IC’ or indoor models: a sole with a hexagonal pattern that extends across the entire surface and is combined with a ‘Lunarlon’ midsole, a material that, as well as being responsive, ensures the shoe fits like a glove.
Nike Lunar Gato II
As always, let’s start with the upper. The upper is crafted from an extremely soft and flexible natural leather, providing perfect ball contact, whether you’re ready to shoot or to keep the ball close to your foot. One of the features that ensures durability is the reinforced, textured panel, both on the toe and along the sides. A synthetic material bonded to the leather using heat-sealing. The sides of the boot feature panels with Hyperfuse technology, combined with a mesh to make it lighter and more breathable, reinforced with side panels that provide rigidity, capable of withstanding all the lateral movements so common in the world of futsal.
Let’s move on to the sole, where we find one of the biggest innovations: PURE ERGONOMICS. This part of the shoe is divided into three main sections, each with a different design tailored to the specific needs of that area. In the forefoot and outer area, there is a design featuring small holes which, upon contact with the court, provide excellent grip. In the forefoot and inner area, we see a simple multi-linear design, intended for foot placement, and finally, in the heel area, there is a design similar to that of the inner forefoot but with much wider spacing between the lines to provide greater stability.
Lunarlon is one of the American brand’s flagship cushioning technologies. Lunarlon first appeared in 2008 in the running sector with the Lunarglide model. At the time, Lunarlon was Nike’s most cutting-edge technology, until the hugely popular React was launched in 2017. The technology behind the Nike Lunar Gato II shoe features a soft foam core injected into a lightweight structure. This ensures that all the impacts we experience on the pitch are distributed evenly across the sole, thereby significantly reducing the strain on our heels and forefoot, the areas that usually suffer the most. Lunarlon remains a staple in the world of futsal, primarily due to its high durability.
Nike React Gato
The upper of this shoe is one of the most important parts, as it has also been completely redesigned. The React Gato is designed to withstand abrasion from the pitch, impacts and also provide better ball contact. The softness you’ll feel the moment you touch these shoes is down to their extremely soft Flyknit upper, as is the case with most Nike football boots, but at the same time they’re also more durable thanks to the protective TPU overlay.
The sole is made almost entirely of REACT foam, the material that sets these futsal shoes apart from all others, as it provides players with much more responsive cushioning whilst delivering a superbly soft and springy feel with every movement and impact. For those of you who don’t know, there’s a long-standing debate about this foam: adidas Boost vs Nike React shoes.
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