DESIGN:

The brand new Nike Magista Obra’s feature some of the most innovative design features in the world of rugby/football boots. Most of the hype surrounding the boots has been due to the flyknit upper and dynamic fit collar. The flyknit upper keeps the boots light and allows for a second skin like feel. The dynamic fit collar is designed to extend the boot and follow the natural contours of the foot. Also the boot’s tongueless upper makes the boot feel just like a sock. You could easily forget that you were even wearing boots! Included in the upper is a layer of padding to reduce any of the natural sting caused when kicking using thinner boots. This allows the boot to form a unique combination of a sock like fit with an almost leather like feel when kicking. The final piece of technology I will mention are the Brio cables within the upper. The laces are looped into the cables meaning tightening the laces tightens the whole boot. All of this technology leads to a fit previously only dreamed about.

PRICE:

£229.99 is a huge price tag for a pair of boots so you would expect them to be an impressive piece of kit. They are. I will repeat this point to the brink of exhaustion, but these pair of boots do not even feel like they are on your feet. If you have the money I recommend them, but as it’s such a large price, it’s got to score pretty averagely.

COMFORT: 

As you will have already realised, I am an absolute fan of the comfort of the Magista Obra. These boots are the epitome of comfort and even suit my wide feet! They fit true to size and require virtually no break in time due to the knitted upper.

PERFORMANCE: 9.5/10

These boots perform in any conditions due to the ACC technology (all conditions control) which is a layer designed to enhance touch in any weather. This also forms a water resistant barrier meaning the flyknit upper does not soak up water as many people seem to presume. The high heel counter and dynamic fit collar lead to a locked in feel which makes the boot extremely responsive whilst the flexible sole and conical studs allow for maximum agility and grip. Finally the cushioning allows for an easy kicking style with maximum comfort yet a great feel for the ball. All in all, these combine to make a great boot but I don’t think I can proclaim that a boot has a perfect performance.

DURABILITY:

I have worn these boots in all kinds of conditions even artificial ground and I’ve seen no signs of wear. As they are knitted people seem to think they will rip but they are just as stable as any other boots I own. There are many YouTube videos based on cleaning the Magista and although the collar may suffer some discolouration the main upper is easy to clean.

POSITIONS: perfect for any player from 9-15 but may be too unprotected for forwards

Skinny Summery:

DESIGN – 10/10
PRICE – 6/10
COMFORT – 10/10
PERFORMANCE – 9.5/10
DURABILITY – 9/10
OVERALL – 9/10 purely because of the large pricetag

Get your Magista Obra’s here!

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With New technology brought into the new line of the popular Nike Mercurial range, We needed to review this new piece of kit!

Design:

The new Mercurials stand out from the crowd to say the least. A striking Hyperpunch and Yellow/Gold combination delivers a look that isn’t for everyone however in my opinion the boot does look the part. The boot also has a new tongue-less design and lacing system that is coupled with a new super stretchy and thin microfiber. This provides an almost sock like feel to the boot. The stud arrangement has also changed which doesn’t perhaps look as good as the old ones but does deliver a simplistic look which I do like.

Price:

£160 (£150 on Lovell Rugby)- Certainly a large sum of money and for that would expect a very good boot and the Vapors are an exceptionally good boot that will not let you down. Flashy, eccentric and bright it is a boot that will let people know that you spent a lot of money on your boots and for some that may be off putting and others a plus point. Although the boots are very good I feel as if the price tag is a bit hefty and would be better suited around the £100 price range but don’t let this put you off them.

Comfort:

The most comfortable boots I have ever worn. So light you barely feel as if you have anything on your feet, the tongue-less design makes the boot a dream to get on and off and also gives a satisfying sensation when you kick the ball in the sweet spot. Only complaint would be that if you have wide feet then these are probably not the boots for you.

In-Game Performance:

Works well in both the dry and the wet with the grip never seeming to fail. Due to the lack of a tongue your feet stay very dry even in heavy rain. The lightness of the boot comes into its own when you are playing; they feel more like running spikes at times than boots when flat out sprinting. However I would not recommend these boots to a member of the tight 5 as the grip when scrummaging I found to be good in general but you are probably better off getting a stronger boot. This boot is probably better suited to a back or loose forward.

Durability:

No signs of wear and tear yet however I haven’t played too much in them. But they do appear to be strong boots. I thought the stretchy material they are made out of would be ripped instantly but I was proved wrong. Although there is a problem, which some backs will share with me, and that is that they get dirty very easily and are also hard to keep clean but that is a price you will have to be willing to pay to get the bright colours of this boot.

Skinny Summary:

• HIGHLIGHT: Really Light, vibrant looking
• CATEGORY: Speed
• WHAT POSITION: Loose forwards/Backs
• OVERALL RATING: 9/10

Get your Vapor X Boots Here!

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The Premier Nike FG Boots

The Boot

With rugby slowly ditching grass and mud for rubber and plastic, 3 and 4G pitches are slowly taking over grounds up and down the country, and this poses a new question for boot makers. With huge metal studs no longer needed to wade through swamps and bogs in the winter months of our season, what’s the next step for boots? Well Nike have cracked this problem with the gloriously classic Nike Premier FG Boots.

The black and white classic are a throwback to an era where the only variation in boots was the size, and protein was taken in the form of pre match pints. The design is based on an original 1994 classic named only as ‘The Boot’, which occupied the feet of every player from Dublin to Dunedin, but the modern take on the boots is by no means a step back.

Weighing a meagre 244g (UK Size 8), and with an arsenal of 13 solid mould studs, this boot offers the tools for a fly half to feel and guide every kick with pin point precision with minimal weight resistance, while also allowing props the ability to pack down against a freight train without giving an inch thanks to the stud placement which offers all round foot support.

Breaking In/Feel of the Boots

Initially the lightness of the boots is apparent, feeling comfortable and fitting well. Prospective buyers note that although the boot is a good fit from heel to toe, it is smaller than average across the foot.

While this may not affect the majority of people, if you are stuck in that awkward stage between two sizes, I would recommend opting for a size 11 for example if you are a snug size 10, (or if you visit Lovell Rugby, they are one of a few sites that offer a size 10 and a half).

We’ve all suffered from new boot blisters, but so far, my achilles remains safe from that old agony. As a utility forward I got the chance to test this boot all over the park, and as a sufferer of the plague that is recurring ankle injuries, I felt that this boot did not provide me a strong and safe support to my ankle, especially in the front row, although the grip and traction were fantastic, and far beyond anything I’ve previously encountered that was 100% moulded studs.

There is a mix of goat, kangaroo and cow leather all used in the making of this boot, which makes them as comfy as a normal pair of trainers, but with the extra effort that went into executing the tenants of a petting zoo to make them, this boot truly is a wonderful feeling piece of gear.

Summary

This type of boot will undoubtedly become the norm as pitches change and don’t accommodate to the metal studs we know and love, but while we may soon have to say goodbye to our long time metal friends, the replacement is more than capable of filling the role. While of course the grip is not as strong as metal studs are, it is by far an improvement of previous moulded studs and things can only improve.

Position

While I wore these as a forward, I feel these boots suit numbers 9 to 13, and possibly some particularly pacey loose forwards. It offers the comfort and lightness for an accurate kicking game to be played, and with well placed studs, agility is supported from all angles. Loose forwards would not be totally out of place in these either as they offer solid support and in the times where the burnes really need to be turned on, these boots will not let you down.

Price

At £100 (£90 at Lovell Rugby in the sales), these boots are in the upper regions of most peoples budgets for boots, and all things considered I would say that they are not value for money. These boots are a step ahead in moulds, but you could easily find a pair of solid boots for £30, and the extra £70 is near extortionate when you look at it that way.

OVERALL

• Fit: 7/10
• Performance: 9/10
• Price: 4/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

You can see the full Nike range from Lovell rugby here, get your Premier Nike FG Boots

HOW DID YOU FIND THIS REVIEW? LET US KNOW! 

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