The double diamond has been struggling in the past few years especially with giants Nike buying them and selling them leaving them in disarray. Even in the midst of hardships Umbro continues to produce terrific boots with new technology and innovative features to suit the needs of all types of athletes. In this article let’s look at the top 5 boots Umbro has brought to the market. The choices may vary person to person and there won’t be a perfect boot fit for anyone and everyone. Choose one that best suits your play style.
Umbro Geometra
The Umbro Geometra is a boot fit for the control/Play maker category. The boot features a fully functional K-Leather upper with lots of technologies added into the mix to create one of the finer boots on the market and one of the finest from the double diamond. The sizing is a slight problem with a little area free in the toe area. You may need to go half a size down if you’re having narrow feet. At around 290gm for size 9, the boot is not lightweight but doesn’t feel heavy at all. The control region along the instep is a solid addition as it really helps cushion balls that you take out of the air. You get great control and first touch thanks to the ECZ and the grip zone, while offering terrific traction. If you would give the boot a try, you’d surely not look past this brand the next time you’re in the market for a new boot.
Umbro Stealth Pro II
The Umbro Stealth Pro II is another solid boot from the double diamond brand. This time around, Umbro have decided to make the upper leather instead of synthetic used in the original. There’s also a slight padding stitched to the back resulting in a comfortable fit also giving a great ball feel. The boot performs as a power boot but don’t expect too much. The sole-plate of the Umbro Stealth II is rather good for a power boot, performing well and helps improve turning. The boot doesn’t feature many technologies like its competition but for its low price tag, it performs well. It offers good durability giving you a good quality boot that lasts long, feels good and doesn’t break the bank.
Umbro UX-1
The UX-1 Umbro raised a few eyebrows when in it was launches because of the many great features it boasted. It uses Armor-Tex, a composite material 40% stronger than Kevlar which makes the UX-1 the strongest boot in the market. The boot brings many features to the field seen on many high end boots. A few examples include a fabric upper similar to the Nike Magista, Rubber compound covered upper like the recent Predator lineup from Adidas and the Under Armour ClutchFit, all of them making it difficult to tag the boot as one category. It’s a mix-and-match of many such features but it stays a power boot above all. At 284gm, the boot is a tad on the heavier side compared to other boots on the market but offers some tremendous protection and great durability. The UX-1 is suitable for defenders, tackling midfielders, goal keepers and for players looking for a bit more protection. A flaw to be noted is the high price but they’re a solid option when it comes to power options.
Umbro Speciali 4
The Umbro Speciali 4 is a huge improvement over its predecessors, in almost every level. With the young hearts wooed by the new Mercurials and the likes, the Speciali 4 may not urge you to rush to the market. Even so the boot with its raw, clean and simplistic looks and good features make it a great speed silo. The boot comes true to size. The upper consists of a K-leather forefoot with synthetic midfoot and quarter which makes maintaining easier compared to fully leather boots. For a size 9.5, the boot weighs around 305gm clearly indicating it’s not here to break any records. But for the price you may you get a magnificent boot in looks, feel and performance.
Umbro GeoFLARE Pro
The Umbro GeoFLARE pro uses a lightweight microfiber upper with an enhanced re-ground rubber print along the toe to help in wet weather conditions. The embossed medial pass pad is created only to enhance ball dampening and control. The GeoFlare is best suited to be used by attacking players. The lightweight material, the large striking surface and good control makes this boot sought out by wingers, forwards and midfielders. The lightweight material adds great feel to the ball. They’re terrific value for money as they perform good for any attacking player on the field.