New Nike futsal shoes in these difficult times. If that’s the case, the American brand has decided to give us a breath of fresh air despite the adverse conditions – a move that will give us die-hard fans on the court the motivation and little boost we need to face the few remaining fixtures. Over the past year, the ‘Swoosh’ brand has done nothing but leave us speechless. That fusion of colour, quality and inspiration… To be honest, Nike’s offerings in recent years haven’t quite wowed the futsal player, but as we say, you can see the care and determination the American brand has put into becoming number one in the 40x20, especially since the return of the Lunar Gato and the introduction of the React Gato.
The Small Sided Pack from Nike Football
We’re already familiar with Nike’s core philosophies. It’s not just about reaching footballers through the quality and uniqueness of its futsal shoes, but also ensuring that players feel there’s a story behind them. In this Small Sided collection, the Swoosh brand is making a bold statement, taking our sport to the very top.
Nike Tiempo Premier II Sala futsal shoe
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 boots 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 outsole, it is the same as that found on Nike’s ‘IC’ or indoor models: a hexagonal pattern that extends across the entire surface and blends seamlessly with the ‘Lunarlon’ midsole, a material that is not only responsive but also ensures the shoe fits like a glove.
Nike Lunar Gato II futsal shoe
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 boot 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 entire 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 futsal shoe
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 during 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.
Nike React Tiempo Legend VIII Pro futsal shoe
Up until now, we’ve understood that Nike’s PRO range is considered the mid-range within each product line; in this case, however, that isn’t the case, as the ELITE range has no place in the Tiempo line and instead represents the high-end range. The fact that the Swoosh brand isn’t the favourite among most of the futsal-playing public doesn’t detract from the fact that they offer us some real gems, as is the case here.
The upper is crafted from ultra-soft natural leather designed to make contact with the ball, aided by a 3D hexagonal design. This allows the leather to flex and adapt to the foot without creating gaps or becoming too loose, whilst also providing extra grip when controlling the ball. The standout feature of these Nike futsal shoes lies in their midsole, which incorporates one of the leading technologies in the world of running, React, responsible for providing excellent cushioning and energy return with every step.
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