Each year, AVID Soccer selects the "Best of the Best" in a variety of categories.  The Best Boot award goes to the boot that provides the ideal combination of touch, comfort, quality and value.  This year's entries include the adidas Predator, Nike Vapor, Puma Powercat and Pele Sports 1962.

The Predator (a perennial favorite) makes our list almost every year, both from reader feedback and our own evaluations.  This years Predator X TRX is an evolutionary advancement including a redesigned heel counter, better fit properties, and new power platform.

The Nike Vapor Superfly II was the boot to have in the World Cup with purple and orange seeming to be on every foot.  They are light, fast and expensive.  Nike also fixed the durability problems of the first generation Superfly.

Puma's family included the lightest boots, the most comfortable boots, and a solid balanced boot.  We ran each through their paces and the PWR-C 1.10 become the winner of our Boot Shoot-Out.

We, at AVID Soccer, have always prided ourselves in being supportive of new brands.  Pele Sports entered the market in 2010 with a solid line-up of boots and apparel.  We selected the 1962 for its balance of quality, comfort and value.

Our criteria consists of:

• Playability (touch and comfort)
  • 1962 was a good year for Brazil and the Pele Sport boot celebrates this with comfort and touch
  • The Vapors have great touch and feel, but padding is sacrificed for weight
  • Predators have always been known for soft uppers and a good fit (on wider feet) and the X is no exception
  • The Puma PWR-C 1.10 is the most comfortable boot we have ever tested - until next year
• Quality
  • Every one of these boots is top flight... even the mid-level 1962 holds its own with quality stitching, fit and finish
  • The Puma's raise the bar with innovative design and padding in all the right places
  • Nike took a very light Superfly boot full of compromises and created the Superfly II with almost none
  • The Predator holds a Honda like position in first place for quality that is unmatched
• Value
  • We loved playing in the Superfly's and they were the most desirable boots on the planet during the entire world cup, but they are twice the price of anything else on this list
  • Puma's Powercat is a remarkable boot and we would wear them into any game
  • Again, the Honda like quality of the Predator keeps it near the top
  • At half the price of the Puma or Predator and a quarter the price of the Vapors, the 1962's are a true value leader

Looking at the results for our test categories, it is easy to see why this year's Best Boot was so difficult to decide.  Pele Sports, adidas and Puma each won a category and Nike was strong in each. 

We ended this year with a split decision.  We are awarding the Pele Sports 1962 the Value Boot of the year, receiving 2 out of 6 votes for first place.  Our over all winner is the adidas Predator X TRX with 4 first place votes and the highest overall rating.