AVID Soccer Equipment Review

Veloce Balance Board

2010-03-12T01:00:00Z

The Veloce Balance Board ($20) is intended to improve balance and strengthen all of the little muscles required for that. It is a hard plastic disk with an open cell structure for strength.

A balance board or pad is not a typical training tool. It is certainly not a piece of equipment that most individuals would use. It is a piece of equipment that could be useful for personal/club or team trainers. It is used both as a strength tool and to improve balance. We have players start by balancing with both feet., then just one. We have them try heading the ball, trapping, etc. while balancing.

The device itself is quite simple. It is a 16 inch disk with small studs and grooves for traction. Underneath is a spider web of supports with a 4 inch rounded column in the center. This is the balance point. Only the very center (about an inch) is actually flat. It is about 2 inches high.

This is a specialized tool that can provide a great deal of benefit to players at the right stage of development. For most players, that is around puberty. At this stage, muscle memory is easier to develop and stays longer. Players can progress quickly if they will work hard. It gets more difficult to train balance after age 15-16, but it can be useful. Any player, u-6 or adult, will benefit from building the stabilization muscles.

Overall, we would recommend the Veloce Balance Board only for trainers and coaches focusing on ages 10-15. Any one can benefit from balance training, but the Wii Fit is a lot more fun and provides most of the same benefits.

Cleatskins Premier

2010-03-08T17:00:00Z

Cleatskins ($25) are the equivalent to an ice skater's blade guards. The Premiers are designed for soccer, rugby. Many other sports can use the Pro version.

Each cleatskin is a single piece of compression molded SKINTEK. It is a proprietary rubber compound that stretches to fit over the boot. The sides are high enough to keep some of the mud and grass for ending up on the carpet. The skins are available in black, white, burgundy, red, royal, green and navy. They can also be screened with custom logos. Cleatskins have licensed the Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC Milan logos with others to follow. Logo models are $30.

They serve a few functions: They provide protection for the cleats, the player and the car. The sides are high enough to cover about half of the boot. That should keep most of the mess contained. The material is soft and flexible enough to slip over mud/grass filled cleats. In dry conditions, most of our testers prefer switching to slip-on shoes or sandals, but the Cleatskins to provide a better walking surface than cleat alone. The extra weight and the "rain boot" aesthetics were not appealing. In wet conditions, they were far more desirable. The players (and parents) were much happier slipping the Cleatskins on over muddy cleats instead of changing shoes in the rain or even on wet grass. They also help contain the mud when changing shoes in the car.

The biggest advantage in the change from cleats to skins is the amount of surface area when walking or running. Trading a dozen hard pointy cleats for a mostly flat and flexible surface creates a much more stable sole. The material is sticky enough to handle some wet surfaces. They provide a very stable platform for walking and fair grip on wood floors, concrete or asphalt.

The skins also add a significant weight. They could be used on street shoes around the house in the same way as ankle weights. We would not recommend playing in them as it can adversely affect a players motion, balance and touch on the ball. In fact the manufacturer does not rate them for play on any surface.

The general consensus from our tester put the Cleatskins as a nice to have category. At $25-30, they are a bit steep to use for the typical rec league player who is only using $30 cleats. For the travel team or beginning club player who probably wears $50-100 cleats, they might make sense in wet weather. For the top tier player, owning multiple pair of $150-400 cleats, they make more sense. Often, players at this level have several pair of cleats for different conditions. The skins can be stored on soft ground cleats for muddy games. Dry games will have firm ground cleats and sandals.

Cleatskins were conceived in 2005 by Rick Kay. There are varieties for metal cleats (baseball/softball - not soft ground soccer cleats), golf and court shoes (not released at the time of this writing). Cleatskins is based in Southern California and can be found at a variety of online and brick-and-mortar retailers.

NOTES:

Some of the content of this article was clarified at the request of the manufacturer on 12 March 2010. A note on the picture below: We selected combinations that show the highest contrast between the boot and skin for comparison purposes. Choosing complimentary colors provides a much more appealing presentation as seen in the logo image above. To see how the skins would look on your boots, visit the Cleatskins site and try the different colors on the boots you wear.

ASER 2009 Innovative Product of the Year

2010-02-01T15:00:00Z

This year, AVID Soccer selected three very different "products" for your consideration. We highlighted a new league, a new kit manufacturing technique and a new boot. The winner was obvious.

We select our innovative product based on the potential to change the game. It was certainly difficult to compare the relative merits of each of these offerings. The Women's Professional Soccer league may not seem like a game changer, but in the US it is. The MLS is a collection of teams entirely owned by the league. "Owners" simply have the marketing rights. The league makes final decisions on the trades and often bends or rewrites the rules to fit the situation (just look at the travel or salary cap rules and the Beckham exceptions). The WPS married the positive parts of the MLS structure with individual ownership. They also agreed to share stadiums with MLS franchises to provide an intimate soccer first experience, while avoiding the building costs or local tax burdens. Unfortunately, some of the owners haven't shown the same commitment or innovation. Some teams lost over $2 million dollars in the first year. The team with the highest attendance, the LA Sol, has been disbanded because the WPS couldn't find a new owner. At the same time, they are adding two new teams in smaller markets. The WPS has a great deal of potential. We hope that it lasts longer than its predecessor.

The Lotto Team Sport kit has all of the makings of a shift in the aesthetics of the game. By spraying the uniform graphics and styling during manufacture, almost anything is possible. Sponsor or league logos can be integrated with the design, not just placed on top. Designs can be adjusted for a variety of themes (animal prints, gradient fades, geometric or fractal designs, etc.). Recreational leagues can build a common theme for each age group without overlapping or running short of colors. The biggest drawback right now is the price. Current single kit pricing prohibits their use by the entire recreational division. We hope that improvements in process/materials and economies of scale will push prices down to lower levels and open up the possibilities to many more teams.

The biggest innovation in 2009 was the Concave striking plate. It is a concave (truth in advertising - right?) padded patch just above the laces. This cup cradles the ball and ensures a cleaner strike and more direct power transfer. When we originally tested the PT+ and PT1, our hypothesis was that this was a good boot for beginner to intermediate players. That proved to be true. It provided confidence and accuracy to the less skilled feet.

We expected higher level players to miss the feel lost by the striking plate. Some did. We also expected to lose some bend on the ball as the striking plate minimizes this from the top. We didn't. One of our top testers felt the sides of the boot were just as good as anything else he played in. In fact, the PT+ became his favorite boots.

Our readers agreed with our assessment. And while we think Caitlin exaggerated a bit when she stated "They are they only ones to innovate like that in the last 30 years!" We do think it is the most innovative idea THIS year.

Congratulations to all of our nominees and thank you for your innovations. The Concave striking plate is the most innovative product of 2009.

ASER 2009 Best Kit Winner

2010-01-31T20:00:00Z

Uniforms are not just what sets one team apart from another, but they help define the club's image. This year, we selected kits that ran the range from small amateur to national team.

In this heady company, the value kit from Sarson finished just out of the running. The Bonn/Athens uniform we tested over the summer has a fair range of colors and good quality. The style is spot on in both comfort and aesthetics. There is space on front and back of the jersey for logos, sponsors and numbers. there is also five Sarson logos. On a sponsored shirt, this is fine. On a paid product, it seems excessive.

The Athens short is a solid garment and highly recommended as either training or game gear. Unfortunately, it also suffers from logos. The right leg carries a Sarson logo making numbers awkward.

The only thing that keeps the Russian National kit out of first place is price. It is absolutely stunning and we cannot wait to see it on Arshavin in South Africa. adidas created a spectacular combination of embossed and flat spaces on the stripes. Besides, Russia has one of the coolest national logos in the double eagle.

The fabric is the top climalite polyester microfiber from adidas. It is comfortable in most conditions, wicks away moisture well and breathes.

Both the jersey and the shorts have the national emblem embroidered. Finally, they are some of the best colors in burgundy and gold.

Our winner is the Diadora Ermano. Like the Sarson, the jersey is designed to have some style while still allowing space for club logos, sponsors and numbers. We tested both the uniform and warm-ups for this kit. Every component is first rate, while keeping a very reasonable price. The colors available should support almost any team with three blues, yellow, red purple, green, black and white.

Because the Ermano won our summer shoot-out, we put it though a long-term test. The kit has held up well and become favorite training gear. Together, price and quality make for the best value and our Best Kit winner.

ASER 2009 Best Ball Winner

2010-01-31T17:00:00Z

When all you need is a ball and a goal, the ball is pretty important. This year, ASER selected three professional level balls for consideration. We included the WC ball, EPL ball and a variant of the WPS ball.

Football / soccer comes down to two things: a ball and the goal. Without those, it isn't our game. Since almost anything can be used to mark a goal, that makes the ball the most single piece of gear. We have played with everything from $10 Walmart balls to the World Cup balls. The quality of the ball makes a difference.

This year, we started with the Nike Ascente ball. This is ball used in the English Premier League, La Liga (Spanish Premier League) and Serie A (Italian Premier League). There is no question that it takes a world class ball to meet the requirements of the top three leagues in the world. The Ascente is a high tech version of the 32 panel ball. It is constructed with multiple layers to provide a bigger sweet spot. The cover is textured to provide improved laminar flow over the ball for better flight. Unfortunately, at $140 it is priced out of reach for most families.

The Jabulani is the latest premier match ball from adidas. Entirely new, the Celebration ball was used for the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup in the UAE and the 2010 African Cup of Nations. It will also be the official ball for the World Cup in South Africa. The design uses thermal bonding to ensure precise seams. The cover itself uses 3d molded panels to ensure spherical shaping. The ball is textured with bumps and groves to improve laminar flow as in earlier TeamGeist II balls and the Nike Ascente.

The colors are traditional African as fits the WC Hosts. Unfortunately, it is somewhat boring compared to the German World Cup. The surface structure is more complex than prior generations and constructed of more advanced material. Still, at $150, it is the most expensive ball in this group. Worth it, but out of reach form most families.

Our winner is the value choice. It is a traditional Puma 32 panel hand stitched ball with a smooth skin. The bladder is a six wing natural latex with good feel and consistent touch. The King XL is definitely a half step behind either the Nike or adidas offering, but it is still a professional level match ball. At a third of the price of our other nominees, that half step wasn't enough to keep it out of first place. This is well within the range of most club teams and many high school or college players.

In the end, our readers and we have to buy most of the gear we play with. Both the Ascente and Jabulani are more playable balls, but most people would rather have three King XL's. Many teams would much rather have a King XL and and a few Liga training balls.

ASER 2009 Best Boot Winner

2010-01-30T05:00:00Z

With two perennials and a newcomer, we knew that this years awards would be interesting. We didn't think they would be controversial. We were wrong.

The adidas predator is the strongest line of boots in recent history. In fact, the Predator X won the best boot at the NSCAA Conference. There is no question that adidas improved the predators. It just wasn't enough to get the attention of our testers or readers. In truth, the predators have becoming the Honda Accord of soccer cleats. They have won every award imaginable; they are consistantly top performers and top quality. Sometimes perfection can be boring. There is also no question to the loyalty of predator owners [editor included]; however, the general consensus left them in third place here. adidas needs to do something spectacular and surprise us.

In second, we have the Puma v1.10. This is the newest in the v family that includes (from least to most expensive) the v3.10, 2.10 and 1.10. Worn by Hotspur's Peter Crouch, these are some of the most comfortable boots we have tested. They balance the objectives between light/flexible and sturdy/power. About half of our testers selected the Puma as top boot.

Finally, the boot of the year goes to the Concave PT+. The Concave design is the must unique here and nominated for Innovative Product of the Year. One of our tester fell in love with the Concave striking panel. Our readers agreed (albeit with some help from the group marketing Concave).

Your 2009 Boot of the Year: The Concave PT+

ASER 2009 Coolest Lifestyle Product Winner

2010-01-29T17:00:00Z

ASER selected products from Nike, Calle Republic and adidas for this years Coolest products. They include a hoodie, a track jacket and footwear. In the end, the word from the "street" made the difference.

Our two big name nominees represent endorsed products. Both Nike and adidas can call on their relationships with national teams and players to add panache to an otherwise good product. In our case, it is the Netherlands National Team and Lampard/Messi for Nike and adidas respectively. Each of these, and the Calle Rilo, is worth our money.

In a distant third, Nike's Holland Anthem Track Jacket. This is a wonderful garment in both quality, style and value. It is very traditional and works both as a practice and street jacket. Unfortunately, it is not an official product, it is a throw-back. That might be enough if it represented a significant period in the team's history or demonstrated a unique style. Neither are present here.

Second place goes to the other jacket. In this case, it is the adidas Hero Hoodie. The hero is unique and earned serious interest by our team when it arrived for testing. This nostalgia done right. Both the Messi's (our choice as the more attractive) and Lampard's jacket are in team colors. They have player's name and number embroidered on the front surrounded by a worn graphic. The kangaroo pocket has a small patch with player details making this almost like a [baseball] card.

Unlike our other nominees, Calle Republic must rely on innovation and ties to the street for inspiration. This year, we debated between two products for inclusion. The Calle Herrin is a light weight jacket that one a NSCAA Soccer Product of the Year award. Instead, we selected the Rilo street shoe. Our testers absolutely raved about the feel and style of the shoe. The Rilo has good grip on a variety of surfaces. Both our readers and our testers selected the Rilo as their favorite off-the-pitch product.

The 2009 AVID Soccer Coolest Lifestyle Product is the Calle Republic Rilo street shoe.

Puma v1.10 Firm Ground Boots

2010-01-26T16:00:00Z

Puma's latest generation boots are an interesting balance between the light weight speed slippers and the power platforms. The v1.10 ($200) brings a variety of technologies together for a bright future.

There are three schools of thought when it comes to boots. The quick footwork and speedy players that want the lightest boots possible. The power players trade weight for stability and power transfer. Finally there are boots that follow the traditional approach with quality components and basic design.

The v1.10 is available in two color combinations. We tested the blazing yellow/black/chili peper colorway. It is a "Love it or hate it" combination that will definitely call attention to the player. So, you had better have the skills because everyone is going to see you trip over your feet if you don't. There is also a red/white/black combination that is a bit more subtle and considerably more attractive. the boots are also available in a soft ground variation. We found the boots to run about a half size small, so try a pair on before you buy or adjust accordingly. Current players using the v1.10 include Peter Crouch and Samuel Eto'o.

The v1.10 tries to take the best of each design. The upper is a combination of light weight materials. The toe is a soft and shiny microfiber. It provides good feel, but very little friction in wet conditions. The rest of the upper is made up of a textile. It looks like what any 1980's teenager would have called parachute fabric. Puma claims it is soil and stain resistant. Since So Cal has been a swamp for the past two weeks, we can confirm this. The lacing is minimal and hidden below a small flat patch. The tongue is mesh for breathability.

The forward midsole is carbon fiber providing both weight savings and strength. The sockliner is a single molded piece of foam with a felt top. The mid-foot is thin and flexable. The heel is thicker and cups the foot.

The outsole is a combination of a clear hard plastic and softer molded covering. This cover carries the bladed cleats. The forefoot has two flex points making the boot very comfortable to run in. At the arch, there is a reinforcing structure. The vee shaped design provides strength and torsion resistence to bring the boot into the power class. It is a composite material that should hold up to normal wear.

One of the most unique features of these boots is the UNI construction. UNI is the method that Puma uses to secure the upper to the outsole. Normally, this would be lasted, glued heat sealed. By sewing the pieces together, Puma can create a softer interface and support flexibility with less wear on the join.

Overall, these are some of the best boots we have tested recently. They upper is very comfortable and breathes well. One of our testers felt that his foot slipped in the heel cup, but no one ended up with blisters. The shape of the toe is somewhat unorthodox and may be part of the reason they feel small. Puma also includes a boot bag for storage and transportation.

ASER 2009 Innovative Product of the Year Nominees

2009-12-31T20:00:00Z

The highest award the AVID Soccer presents each year is for the Innovative Product. This is the product that did the most to change soccer in the past year. Our nominees include the WPS, Lotto's custom kit and the Concave striking plate.

Lotto has created a nearly infinitely variable design in the manufacture of their new Team Sport line of kit. The innovation is the method of manufacture that allows the entire jersey surface to be screened. This presents the opportunity for teams or clubs to create a truly unique kit. Teams can encorporate their logo into the entire jersey, incorporate a sponsor logo or create special event jerseys.

We have extolled the benefits of the Concave design as have many others. The special kicking plate provides a large sweet spot and can improve the stike of players at any level. Our testers are still using the PT+ over many of the other boots we have tested. Even John O'Shea is now wearing them.

You might wonder why we would nominate the Women's Professional League for an innovation award. The answer is the approach. The WPS has tied itself to the MLS allowing for shared stadium use, share revenue streams, cross-promotion, etc. They also avoided the biggest flaw in the MLS system by allowing individual ownership.

To vote, add your comments here or send them to the Review Desk. Voting will close on January 22, 2010. Winners will be announced shortly afterwards.

ASER 2009 Coolest Lifestyle Product Nominees

2009-12-31T17:00:00Z

While AVID Soccer is all about our game, we all spend most of our time off the pitch. In order to make that time as enjoyable as possible, adidas, Calle Republic and Nike bring style and fun.

I have to admit, that the Lifestyle Category has become my favorite to write about. Considering that it represents about 25% of all the articles read, you must agree with me. This year, we saw innovation from Calle; team spirit from Nike; and player history from adidas.

Unlike our other categories, lifestyle is really all about design and desireablility. Each of our nominees fills a different role.

Calle Rilo Street Shoe ($70)

The street shoe is part indoor shoe, part skate shoe and completely cool. They are comfortable, durable and perfectly suited to its purpose.

Nike Holland Anthem Track Jacket ($75)

Hop Holland. The Netherlands have been a serious soccer powerhouse since the inception of Total Soccer. The Anthem jacket celebrates the Oranje.

adidas Hero Hoodie ($55)

A step up from the usual fleece, the Hero uses a closed loop terry cloth for longevity and comfort. it is lighter than the most hoodies and perfect for after the game or practice. It is available with stats and colors for Chelsea's Frank Lampard and Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

To vote, add your comments here or send them to the Review Desk. Voting will close on January 22, 2010. Winners will be announced shortly afterwards.

ASER 2009 Best Kit Nominees

2009-12-31T17:00:00Z

At AVID Soccer, we get to see some of the best jersey's available. This year, we have selected items from Sarson, Diadora and adidas. Each is in a different price point and you will decide the best.

Because our Best Of awards balance price, quality and style, we selected three very different jerseys to represent the best in each price class.

At the value end, the Sarson Bonn/Athens Uniform ($52).

The Bonn is a great team kit. It is constructed of a polyester microfiber that breaths well and holds up well. The fit is comfortable and the style works for team jerseys.

In the middle is the Diadora Ermano uniform ($65).

The winner of our Kit Shoot-out, the Ermano is light, comfortable and sturdy. Styled to compliment a team logo and numbers, the kit is a quality choice for any team.

At the high end, we present the adidas Russian Federation WC kit ($110).

Each of the top manufacturers released new designs for each national team. All are top flight materials and construction. Puma and adidas always have the most interesting designs. This year, we selected the Russian Federation jersey. It is gorgeous burgundy color with stylized gold stripes. The Russian crest is embroidered on the chest. A byzantine pattern is embossed in the fabric.

To vote, add your comments here or send them to the Review Desk. Voting will close on January 22, 2010. Winners will be announced shortly afterwards.

ASER 2009 Best Ball Nominees

2009-12-31T17:00:00Z

To play our game, all that is needed is a players, goals and the ball. This year did not see fantastic improvement or astonishing changes. Our nominees from adidas, Nike and Puma represent professional level balls.

First up is the adidas Jabulani ($150).

This is the South African World Cup ball. It represents the evolution from the first TeamGeist ball used in the 2006 WC. This "celebration" ball is a unique uses a 3d panel design constructed of thermally bonded poly urethane. This allows for near perfect balance and consistency. Like the previous generation, the cover is textured.

Next is the Nike Total 90 Ascente ball ($140).

The T90 is used in the English Premier League. The color patterns are designed to be easy to see, while including subtle grey scale images for style. The cover is textured for better aerodynamics. The Ascente's panel design blends traditional pentagons with uniquely shaped joining pieces to provide a more consistent shape and feel.

Third, but definitely not last, is the Puma King XL ($50).

A varient of this is the official ball in the WPS. At a third the price, it provides a traditional 32 panel design with a twist (see our earlier review for more details). The bladder alos has a unique six wing latex implementation for outstanding feel.

To vote, add your comments here or send them to the Review Desk. Voting will close on January 22, 2010. Winners will be announced shortly afterwards.

ASER 2009 Best Boot Nominees

2009-12-30T20:00:00Z

We open this year's nominations with our Best Boot category. The top boots come from adidas, Concave and Puma, but they all focus on power.

At the beginning of the year, it looked like the lightweights would win the day. There were some outstanding entries from the refresh of the adidas Tunit to the Puma Ferrari edition and the Nike Superfly.

There is no question that the Superfly would have made the list... if it were not for a global recall and a $350 price tag. It is one of the coolest boots we have seen and among the lightest ever offered. For the style or speed player, these are the boots to have. That is, if you can afford them. The Superfly gets our honerable mention this year.

Our nominees, in alphabetical order are:

adidas Predator X TRX ($220)

The tenth version of the Predator, the X improves on almost every aspect of the all-world best boot over the past decade. It was designed with input by the best (known) players like Zidane and Beckham. It is currently worn by Beckham, Gerrard, and Van Persie. The Predator utilizes a new calf leather upper instead of kangaroo. The heel includes a molded foam that keeps the last snug.

Concave PT+ ($175)

The PT+ is the top boot from a new player in the market. Concave uses a unique shaped plate that provides an ideal kicking surface. The remainder of the boot is standard for this price class.

Puma v1.10 ($220)

The v1.10 is best looking in this bunch. It has a sythentic upper that promises light touch, while providing strength and weather resistance. The boot uses exotic materials throughout including a carbon fiber foot plate, TPU in the midsole and Pebax in the outsole.

To vote, add your comments here or send them to the Review Desk. Voting will close on January 22, 2010. Winners will be announced shortly afterwards.

Concave PT1 Soccer Cleat

2009-11-19T00:25:00Z

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Like its big brother, the Concave PT1 ($120) is a uniquely designed boot. This calf leather version has most of the same design features with less expensive materials. It retains the comfort and power of the line.

The PT1 is offered with studs in hard ground, firm ground (tested), soft ground with removable/replacable studs, and a bladed firm ground version (tested). It is constructed of a mid-level calf-leather upper and integrates a synthetic microfiber for durability and comfort. We found the PT1 to be a bit stiffer than the PT+ as would be expected. The upper was easy to break in and became more comfortable after a few hours of hard play time. The mini-laces and concave block function as well as the more expensive sibling.

Concave uses a TPU outsole constructed of a 2-part injection molded support. The external heel counter strikes a balance between the light weight nothings (e.g. Vapors) and the power boots (e.g. Predators). The PT1 features a removable sock liner designed with higher arch sidewall. One of our testers is a runner and felt more comfortable with the high arch than many of the lightweight boots. The sockliner is supportive and fits well thanks to TPE Wave pads.

Concave uses a component they call the SBS (Shank Balance Stabilizer). This is a mid foot reinforcement for controlled balance between forefoot and rear. The goal is to reduce the risk of metatarsal damage. It is a feature found on many top boots.

In the end, we found the PT+ to be more comfortable, but the PT1 is probably the better value. The price is a bit high for boots with this build quality, but the unique nature of the concave panel may justify the premium. One of our testers, who has a collection of boots bigger than some sporting goods stores, said: "I really like the design of the Concave [PT1]. After we broke it in, the cleats are comfortable and I can really see the extra power. There is a little loss of feel, but it is worth it."

Although we didn't test the lower level boots, but we wanted to pass along the prices and descriptions from Concave.

PT Midi ($70) is a full synthetic upper with rounded mold outsole.
- The sole plate provides an evenly spread mould configuration, avoiding pressure on the forefoot. Softer stud density for additional comfort.
- The outsole is comprised of lightweight 2-part injected TPU with added minimal external heel counter contributing to additional stability and
  comfort.
- The PT Midi features a removable sock liner designed with higher arch sidewall and TPE Wave pads for tight fitting and support of arch region. Also features Anti Slip Forefront pad, high density rubber moulded shock resistant heel pad.
PT Mini ($50) Full synthetic upper with rounded mold outsole.
- The outsole is comprised of lightweight 1-part injected TPU and heel counter for added stability.
- The sole plate provides an evenly spread rounded mould configuration, avoiding pressure on the forefoot.
- Removable sock liner designed with Anti Slip Forefront pad, high density rubber moulded shock resistant heel pad.
PT Dome ($80) Indoor shoe, calf leather and micro fiber combination.
- The PT Dome's outsole is constructed from 3 parts with variable densities to aid in positive traction while contributing to maximum comfort and control.
- Removable 1 density Rubber/Phylon sock liner for added comfort.

Concave PT+ Boot

2009-11-10T17:00:00Z

The Concave PT+ ($175) is the top of the line and receiving a great deal of attention. Like all of the Concave boots, it is uniquely designed to bring new power and accuracy to the game. The boots are comfortable, durable and different.

Concave is a new player in the soccer world. With new blood brings new ideas. The new idea is over the laces. All Concave boots have a cupped plate on the top of the foot. The concept is similar to an oversized head on a golf club or tennis racket. The idea is to give the player a larger sweet spot to improve accuracy and power. After testing the boots for a few months, we can confirm that it works.

The PT+ is constructed of a soft kangaroo leather upper, removable sock liner and variety of outsoles. It is available as firm ground (with studs), firm ground (with blades), hard ground with blades and soft ground with removable studs. We tested the firm ground boots with both blades and studs. Both have ample grip and it is more a personal preference than significant difference.

The concave component is constructed of an polyurethane in several densities to provide both padding and structure. Because is raises the top of the boot by about half an inch, they obviously stand out. Our testers were asked about the boots at almost every game.

There is some education required. During one friendly/pick-up game, a referee disallowed the boots. Granted, this was only one (in many games) and considering some of the calls, very "uninformed". We have confirmed with Concave and with a more a experienced referee that the boots meet all regulations.

Calle Republic Women's Shirts

2009-10-16T01:13:00Z

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Calle Republic remains one of the coolest names in Street Soccer. The two latest offerings for female pigeons are no exception. ASER tested the Calle Divsy ($25) and Pomona ($20).

The Pomona is a tank top with a razor back. It is available in an attractive peach color with white piping and a large white logo front and center. The material is very light weight and may be too thin to be worn as a single layer. Our ladies preferred to wear it over a camisole or under another shirt.

The Divsy is a woman's cut t-shirt of a sturdier material. The Divsy has blocks of color against a white background. One of the blocks has the Calle name and another has the dead pigeon. Thanks to Nick at Night, some of out testers are familiar with the Partridge Family. The first comment was "It looks like the bus." We did find the Divsy fading much faster than anything else we have tested from Calle Republic.

Calle uses a signature blend of cotton and polyester (65/35) that is very soft and comfortable. It breaths well and cleans up easily. Several of our testers have been wearing Calle gear for more than a year (long-term testing, right?) and it still looks very good. The quality of the shirts is on par or better than most logo tees from other international brands. In the end, it is all about style and that is a personal preference.

Calle Herrin Jacket

2009-09-16T04:00:00Z

The pigeon people have given us a lightweight jacket for the evenings and light rain. The Calle Herrin ($45) is a very thin breathable shell.

The jacket is a very thin polyester fabric with no lining. The cuffs are a ribbed knit fabric. There are slash pockets with zippers. The collar a drawstring and hides a hood in a zippered compartment. All of the seams are double stitched for strength and many use flat seams for additional comfort. There is a screened logo on the chest and a tag at one cuff. There is no ribbing or synch at the waist.

We decided that a jacket needed to be tested in real weather, so we sent it off to our the AVID Soccer test labs on the shore of the Charles River in Boston. Test conditions included warm humid days and rainy nights.

Our first test scenario was light rain on a warm day. The jacket didn't add much weight or heat for our tester. In a light drizzle, it did a great job of keeping the tester dry. Test two was playing the next morning. With 96% humidity and 75° F (24° C) we wanted to test comfort. The jacket did provide a bit of warmth at the beginning. It was comfortable through most of the 40 minutes. Near the end, it got tossed. Then next challenge was a Boston Downpour. The jacket soaked through fairly quickly. Our last test was a BU Women's Soccer Game. Temperatures at the end of the game dropped below 50° F (10° C). The jacket didn't provide enough warmth for this.

Considering Calle's philosophy, the Herrin makes a lot of sense. It is light enough to put on for an early morning or late evening game. It moves very well during play. It will keep you dry in a rain light enough to play in. Heavier rain or colder temps need different gear.

Imagine Soccer Captain (NintendoDS Game)

2009-09-09T14:00:00Z

Soccer Captain ($30) is a typical soccer game targeted at tween girls. The game is a five side game against progressively tougher opponents.

The game follows the usual pattern. You enter the league as a new player. There are some team management issues that come up. After easily winning the into division, you move to the professional division.

Each team represents a different stereotype: lack of focus, bigger players, smaller players, older, etc... The game play is fairly simple. There are tutorials at the beginning of each level and at the options menu. New levels get new tricks and options.

Advice is provided in between games by the coach Mia Hamm. The graphics are such that you wouldn't know it was Mia if she wasn't on the box. There are no vocals since the DS doesn't support them.

There are some interesting twists in the game. There is a uniform design option. It is limited, but appealing to the target audience. Even the players character can be customized. We did not test the multi-player mode, but we think that would add variety to the game.

We gave the game to three different testers to gauge reactions. The first was a coach to judge the team management. The second was a hardcore gamer to evaluate the gameplay. The third was Imagine's target audience.

Coach: There really is no team management. It is a five side with a keeper. The remaining players are in a 1-2-1 diamond. There is no way to change the formation. The field players can be swapped to different positions, but there is so little difference in their ability that it makes little difference for anything other than morale. There are also no reserve players for substitutions or team balance. Even player decisions are part of the storyline and the captain has no say.

Gamer: It is a fairly simple game with very little variety. Some of the play seems to be arbitrary. The goal keeping is odd and doesn't seem to relate to the activity. You tap random squares in the net. I could tap all of the squares and still get scored on.

Tween: I really liked the uniform designer, but I wish I could change the size of the logo. I wanted more colors. Having a slider to adjust the color would be better than just picking colors. I wish there was more difference in the games. Almost every game seemed the same and playing through five seasons seems like a lot. The best part of the games was the slow motion fakes.

Imagine is a division of Ubisoft that is targeted at tween girls. Since launching in late 2007, they have sold more than 13 million Nintendo DS games.

Calle Republic Rilo Street Shoe

2009-09-04T17:00:00Z

The Calle Rilo ($70) is the first boot designed strictly for the street. It is a cross between an indoor shoe, skate shoe and training shoe.

The Rilo is constructed very well. The outsole is a vulcanized rubber that provide good grip on a number of surfaces. The toe and heel have a jagged diamond pattern that works well on hard dirt. The middle of sole is an indoor herringbone pattern that provides grip on asphalt, concrete and wood floors. Grass is hazardous, especially when it is wet. Indoor turf . The ball of the foot has two flex points.

The upper is made of a strong perforated leather. The toe and heel are covered with additional material for added durability. It is a different surface providing more control. The laces and ankle each have an embroidered Calle logo.

The insole is a custom part made by Staat. It works like a running insert. There is a good arch support and gel padding at the heel and the ball of the foot. This extra padding makes a world of difference on hard surfaces.

The Rilo is a very comfortable. It would definitely work as an every day shoe. It is available in a black on black or black on white. Our white/black example came with both black and white laces - black laces (as pictured) are definitely the ticket.

Calle's motto is 'When pigeons are your audience, when your statium is an alleyway, when it happens on the street, it's Calle.' We have tested the best shoes from most major manufacturers. There is no question that Calle did their homework. Without question, this is the coolest thing to come out of the pigeon coop. We hope this is successful enough that Calle offers more colors - black/red or orange/black and in a woman's version. Our lead testers final comments, "I want these enough to buy them. Order me a pair of white."

Win Green Sports Detergent

2009-08-14T14:00:00Z

Win Green ($30 - four 21oz bottles) is a specially formulated laundry detergent designed to clean the sweat from synthetic fibers and performance clothing. Endorsed by the US Olympic Committee, Win claims to preserve the garment and remove the stink.

Win is available in two version. The original Win detergent was created to remove sweat and smell from all clothing. The newer version Win Green, removes all of the dyes and perfumes. It is made with all natural ingredients from sustainable sources.

AVID Soccer gave Win to two different families to test. The first used the detergent in normal loads that included uniforms and training clothes. In general, the family could not tell much difference between standard detergent and Win. The one repeated comment was "Nothing smells." In a family with four teenagers, that isn't bad. We did notice that it takes very little detergent to wash a full load. It is also formulated for high efficiency (HE) washers.

Our second family of testers gave Win a much more difficult series of tests. The first series of tests included fast food uniforms. These clothes are polyesters that hold the grease and smoke from the fryers and grills even after washing. The second series involved campfire smoke. The soot and smoke often lingers or spreads to the rest of the load. In both cases, the clothes came out smelling fresh with no lingering evidence. This is probably the best evidence that Win does what it claims.

In the end, we can confirm Win does remove the smell out of man-made fibers. We didn't have enough time to test the claim that it will preserve the fabrics. At about $0.54 a load, it is three to five times the cost of other detergents. We think it is worth it for specific purposes, but we would not use it for every day loads.