Pele Sports 1970 Review

                Shrouded behind the fame of its more successful counterpart, the Trinity 3E, the Pele Sports 1970 is a boot that hasn’t received much attention. That’s why I was very excited to receive this boot for review. I knew that it wasn’t well known, but I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype of Pele Sports. Continue reading to see how it breaks down.

First Thoughts

                I was pleasantly surprised when I opened up the 1970’s box. (The box is awesome by the way; black and gold) The pictures of the 1970 in the White/Red colorway on the internet don’t match what it looks like in person. I immediately fell in love with the full white upper, for it had a very sleek and classic look. It’s virtually a white out boot, but I do enjoy the touch that the red adds to it. The kangaroo leather upper was somewhat stiff at first, but this stiffness was short-lived. Another thing that I noted was the weight of the boot. Unlike the feather like weight that the Trinity offers, the 1970 is a colossal 12 ounces. Personally, weight isn’t that big of an issue for me, but I know a lot of players care about the weight of their boots. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the 1970 to begin with.

Comfort

                Having tested/owned a fair amount of cleats, I can safely say that these are the most comfortable boots I’ve ever worn. The Poron insert delivers a satisfying cushion on the heel and forefoot, something that I found helped during full games and long training sessions. I did experience a little discomfort with the leather around the heel counter  (The place where you put your foot in... If that makes sense). The leather was very stiff, and rubbed up against my ankle during break-in. I only noticed this during my first few times playing in the boots however. The Kangaroo leather, once broken in, provided a very comfy experience, rather than the stiff feeling you get from synthetics. I experienced no blisters on my toes while breaking these in. One quick note: Be ready to dedicate a lot of time for breaking these in.

Durability

                Since this boot is one of the heaviest boots on the market, it makes up for this loss in its durability. The 1970 can be compared to many things, more specifically a tank. This boot is built with a lot of padding and solid materials, unlike the Trinity. This makes the boot extremely durable. I honestly had no problems to report with the durability on these boots other than the lace on the tongue. It began to show signs of wear, and I don't think it has much life left in it. If it does break, you can either purchase a Sweet Spot cover to hold down the tongue, or improvise with something like a rubber band. Once again, this isn't a big deal, and can easily be handled. Also, if you want to avoid a lot of cleaning, I recommend purchasing another colorway. This color scuffs easily, and is very hard to wash.

Performance

                The 1970 was released as a heritage boot, and featured little technology. The only main component of technology is the grip on the leather. The entire leather upper is coated in Dual Friction Technology. This technology is implemented to increase grip on the ball, thus giving the player a better overall touch. I did enjoy this for the most part, but at times I found myself tripping over the ball when I was doing tight spaced dribbling. The grip doesn't allow the ball to rebound off the foot while dribbling in tight spaces. The ball sticks to your boot, and I ended up tripping over the ball on several occasions. The grip does help with hard passes and air balls, and I felt that the grip helped cushion the ball down. However, I would have been fine without the grip, and I felt that it was unnecessary. Another thing that myself, along with a few others I let demo the boot, noticed  was that this boot is not meant for shooting. Maybe it had something to do with the Dual Friction Technology, but the boot seemed to decrease the power of my shots. It sounds weird, I know, but I had multiple friends confirm that they felt the same. For some reason, the 1970 doesn't feel right when taking any type of shot. Therefore, I would not recommend these for forwards and wingers. These are a must for defenders though.

Negatives

                As stated before, the main problem I had with this boot was the Dual Friction Technology. I found that it wasn't really necessary. It screwed up my dribbling a few times, and made me trip. Other than that, I found that the discomfort during the break in period with the heel counter is worth noting. It wasn't that big of a deal because it was non-existent after the break in period, so I wouldn't let this discourage you from buying them. Also, some people might find the weight to be a drawback, but this is more of a personal preference. This boot carries a somewhat hefty price tag of $200, and for what you get, I think this is asking a little much.

Recap

                I really enjoyed the 1970 overall. It was a solid experience that was drawn back by a few flaws, but still delivered a good performance. I would recommend this boot to defenders and maybe a few midfielders, but not to any offensive players. If you are looking for a solid heritage boot that will deliver a lot of comfort and protection, these are the boots for you. 
              Lastly, please check out Pele Sports website and Facebook page! It's a great company that deserves more attention. Also check out my websites Facebook page!  https://www.facebook.com/pelesports?ref=ts
www.pele-sports.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Soccer-Reviews-USA/398482693519702?ref=tn_tnmn

Comfort: 9/10

Durability: 8.5/10

Performance: 7/10

Value: 7/10

Overall: 8/10