There's been a lot of excitement building around the release of the new Nike CTR 360 Maestri II football boots. Eagle-eyed boot spotters may have caught a glimpse of the new boots hitting training grounds across Europe recently but other than that, the new CTR boots have been kept top-secret by Nike!
Now the suspense is over because the SoccerBible can finally unveil the newest addition to the boot market. The new CTR 360 Maestri II Elite boots are the follow up to the phenomenally successful CTR 360 boots that debuted as a completely new Nike silo back in 2009.
It's always risky to change a boot that has seen such immediate popularity but Nike are confident they have created a successor that maintains and improves the key features that made the original CTR boots so successful. The main player that Nike designed the CTR360 concept around is Arsenal's midfielder Cesc Fabregas and looking at the new red and white colourway, it looks like the perfect fit for the Arsenal home strip!
The CTR 360 Maestri II Elite boots are the pinnacle in 'control' football boots. They have been specifically designed for the highest performance. The CTR 360 boots are built and designed around the three key concepts of a players game. They have an innovative design to take ball control to the next level - by assisting a player to win the ball, keep control and distribute the ball.
The new CTR360 Maestri II Elite soccer cleats maintain the same synthetic Kanga-Lite material which was developed by Nike to give the same ball touch and feel as natural K-leather but with the added benefit of being more durable. The Kanga-Lite upper also absorbs 20% less water than natural leather which means the boot will remain lightweight in wet conditions.
The carbon fibre sole plate offers a better grip and guarantees lasting support and maximum lightness. Research shows that the average energy expenditure of an elite player is over 1,000 Kilo Calories per game for a 75kg player. Reducing the weight carried by players helps reduce the energy needed over the course of 90 minutes. By delivering a super-strong and lightweight carbon fibre plate, the new CTR360 Maestri II Elites are 19% lighter, giving the players an edge in the final stages of a game.
One of the main features of the CTR 360 Maestri II football boots is the memory foam insert that is designed to give you exceptional control and optimal sensitivity on the ball. This unique feature offers the player a perfect balance between precision and speed. This zone is further enhanced by the asymmetrical lacing system expanding the ball control area.
One of the noticeable differences of the new CTR 360 II football boots is the modified injected pass pad on the in-step of the boot. The aim of the rubberised pass pad is to provide more accuracy when passing the ball. The new pass-pad no longer combines with the 'shape-correcting memory foam' seen on the original boots. In its place sits an additional pad designed to further enhance ball control. From looking at the main pass-pad, we're reminded of the swerve fin technology seen on the T90 Laser III football boots.
The original Nike CTR 360 football boots saw a huge uptake by players across Europe. Players such as Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, and Javier Masherano were the perfect symbols for a boot that was designed and marketed towards the 'midfield maestro' of the team. As the CTR boots settled into the market, more and more players were seen gracing the pitches in the boots.
As this is an Elite series boots, there's no surprise the price is in the higher regions. If you're loving the new CTR 360 Maestri II Elite football boots as much as we are then start saving! They will retail for around £225 GBP when they hit selected retails and Nike stores.
