Nike Total 90 Laser III Elite WC Review

Nike Total 90 Laser III Elite WC Review

                The Nike T90 Laser III is the third edition of the famed Laser line. The Laser III experienced many major changes from its predecessor, reinventing the boot, and ultimately building it from the ground up. The boot was worn by many players like Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres. As the 2010 World Cup came around, Nike unveiled their latest project: The Elite Series. All the major boots made by Nike soon came implemented with carbon fiber on the outsole. The T90 Laser III was one of these boots, and I have put the Laser through a lot of testing to dictate how well it performs.

The first thing that caught my eye about the World Cup edition of the Laser III was the color. I am a big fan of the neon orange and metallic purple, and I believe Nike hit a home run with this color way. The metallic purple really pops out in person, and I believe the pictures on the internet do it little justice. The only negative thing to report about the color is that scuffs are easily noticeable on the neon orange. However, scuffing is a normal thing, and is inevitably going to happen.

                The main reason why Nike implemented  the carbon fiber to their boots was to reduce the weight and strengthen the boot, making it more durable. This comes at a cost however, for carbon fiber is not only strong, but extremely stiff. The boot has little to no flex, and makes for an uncomfortable experience.  I found that my feet were aching after full games, and that it took a solid month to break in the boot.  And honestly, the weight difference between the regular Laser and the Laser Elite is about .4 ounces. The advertised weight of 8.4 ounces is inaccurate, for it actually weights in around 9.8 ounces. The stiffness of the boot and disappointing weight left me feeling cheated by Nike.

                The carbon fiber dilemma aside, I can confirm that the T90 Laser does add an extra "pop" to your shot. This was Nike's main focus: Make a boot that adds extra power and accuracy to a players shot. Nike was able to accomplish this goal by implementing five shot pods on the "strike zone" of the boot and by adding swerve fins on the instep. The shot pads do add more power to your shot, and I found them to be quite useful for long shots and clearances. The swerve fins also seem to add extra swerve to the ball, and they also help with trapping. The fins seem to cushion the ball to your foot, and make harder passes easier to control. As far as technology goes, I think Nike have done well with this release.

                The last point I would like to cover is durability. So far, the cleats are mainly intact. There is some loss of swerve fins in the instep region, and more seem to be barley holding on. This is something that Nike improved upon with the Laser IV,  so it's good to see they learned from their mistakes. Overall however, I am thoroughly pleased with how they've held up.

                The T90 Laser III Elite WC Edition is a great boot for any position. The cost of the boot may be a problem for some, but they are now currently available for very cheap on sites like Ebay. I would recommend these shoes to a player looking for extra power and accuracy, but not for those looking to speed up their game. 

Comfort: 6/10                                                                                                       

Technology: 9/10

Durability: 8/10

Color: 10/10

Value: 6/10

Overall: 39/50 or 78%