Last Friday, New Balance unveiled the new Audazo V4 futsal shoes. This range has been redesigned and improved on its predecessor, the New Balance 3.0 Pro. The American brand NB, known for its expertise in the design and manufacture of technical running footwear, has been gradually consolidating its position as one of the leading brands in the world of football. We may still view the brand with the ‘N’ logo as a newcomer to football, but we are convinced that, before long, we will all see it in a different light. We are talking about a brand that refuses to abandon its commitment to futsal – a sport in which brands such as Kelme, Joma and Munich have played a leading role for years – and in which NB continues to develop its flagship product for the 5-a-side format.
New Balance Audazo V4
These New Balance Audazo V4 futsal shoes retain the essence of the Audazo range. What has really changed with this new generation is the wearing experience, which has clearly improved, as well as the overall quality of the shoe. With all this in mind, we can only trust that NB will continue to harness its own potential to grow and carve out a niche for itself in a market as demanding as that of futsal boots. The new Audazo V4 stand out as much lighter and more breathable shoes. One of their key improvements lies in the upper, made from synthetic leather – a material that is far more flexible and feels more natural than that of its predecessor. The inclusion of mesh panels and strategically placed perforations significantly improves breathability and helps to reduce the boot’s weight. But just because they’re lightweight doesn’t mean they’re fragile. New Balance has incorporated a suede toe cap to reinforce resistance to wear and tear and further enhance their durability.
If we look at the upper, we find one of the major new features of this new NB futsal shoe: reinforced support around the ankle, which allows for greater freedom of movement and agility whilst playing. The inner tongue, which generated a lot of interest on social media following the official launch of the range in late 2019, provides greater protection for the instep against knocks, stomps and other common impacts during a match.
As for cushioning – one of the aspects that futsal players value most in a shoe – we can reveal that REVlite technology is once again featured in this range, with the same characteristics we’ve seen on previous occasions. In other words, it retains that now-traditional 5 per cent extra responsiveness on impact with the ground. We must bear in mind that ensuring such a delicate material maintains its performance in all game situations is by no means straightforward. However, when it comes to New Balance and REVlite technology, we can say that the American brand has succeeded. How? By bonding the midsole to the outsole, the latter being made from high-quality rubber that also offers excellent resistance to wear and tear.
