It's been a little while since a new King Finale hit the market, so Puma have released this new White/Navy/Orange combination, which unsurprisingly is a classy addition to the iconic range. Check out our full and exclusive images of the latest in a long and successful line of Puma King football boots...
When it comes to the 'King' it's nice to see that Puma are quite restrained and treat it with the respect it deserves, not flooding the market with constant colour updates or releasing bright eye-catching colourways. This latest incarnation takes it's design cues from the 1986 Mexico Finale boot, and is revamped with modern technology and materials.
There's no denying the Puma King is one of the long standing performers within the game, and for Puma there is no escaping the heritage of a boot worn by such players as Pele, Maradona, Eusebio and Cruyff. That said, to their credit Puma are constantly looking to re-invent the King range and the Finale is the latest incarnation, coming over 40 years after the very first 'King'.
The King Finale once again adheres to Puma's benchmark for quality craftsmanship and materials. Puma have paid close attention to detail, as the King Finale features reinforced tight-row vamp stitching to prolong the longevity of the boots performance and for better overall shape retention of the leather upper.
The Puma King Finale soccer cleats boast a soft and comfortable K leather upper for enhanced ball feel, and quite crucially the Finale upper has once again improved, and is softer than the previous versions. There are many other features that make the King Finale stand-out, notably the redesigned traditional tongue which provides a cleaner kicking area and improved pressure distribution upon ball impact. The tongue fits securely in place courtesy of an integrated hook and loop fastening.
The King Finale boot utilises the Puma AptoLast which conforms to the natural shape of the foot, providing a snug comfortable fit, improving over time as the boot fully shapes itself to the foot.
For further comfort, a memory foam insert in the anatomically shaped sock-liner sits under the heel offering cushioning and improved shock absorption. The Puma King Finale soccer shoes also feature a high density heel counter integrated into it's construction, which offers protection and crucially stability, while the leather heel tap increases comfort and reduces pressure on the Achilles tendon.
The outsole of the Puma King Finale football boots is made from a lightweight high performance thermoplastic elastomeric material, so for effort and ingenuity Puma score full marks. The Finale utilises a traditional conical stud sole-plate, which has served wearers of the King for over 40 years, but with an updated stud configuration.
As far as being embraced in the modern game is concerned, the Puma King has shown it is still a top-end performer and can boast the likes of Thierry Henry, Nigel de Jong and Kevin Doyle as wearers. But with the emergence of the PowerCat on the market, being worn by Puma players Cesc Fabregas, Phil Jones and Mikel Arteta, you have to wonder when we'll be looking at the last incarnation of the Puma King.
The new White/Navy/Orange Puma King Finale football boots are expected to be available from late January, and you'll be able to pick up a pair of these white versions for around £110 GBP / $125 USD / €135 EURO.
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