The Puma King SL football boots were a much hyped release back in January, due to their combination of classic heritage and modern lightweight performance, and since their launch have received rave reviews and a growing number of fans. Now Puma could be about to significantly add to their numbers after unveiling the next colourway, these stylish Black/Rosso/Silver versions...
In just two colourways Puma are catering for a large share of the boots community, as fans of classic black leather football boots will be able to give the King SL's a try. The boots are incredibly good looking thanks to the addition of the Rosso colour, and the performance could go down as the best on the market for a leather football boot.
Twenty years after the first King SL, the remastered modern classic takes the boot to new levels. After months of work, Puma have shaped the new King Finale SL football boots for today's game. Lightweight leather football boots remain the most sought after in the market. The Puma King SL now has its sights set on dethroning some of the games most popular boots. When it comes to lightweight boots, it's all in the details!
The Puma King SL soccer cleats weren't football's best kept secret, as the likes of Thierry Henry and Mikel Arteta took to the field wearing them pre-launch. But when you've got Thierry Henry describing them as the best boots he's ever worn, we can understand why players were keen to wear them on-pitch after play testing them.
So just how super-light is the new Puma King SL? The boots weigh an impressive 225g (7.9oz), making them considerably lighter than the pricey Nike Tiempo IV Elite. When in hand, the boots feel considerably lighter than the scales may reflect. So don't sweat that they fail to break the sub 200g mark – a league currently occupied by the Mizuno Morelia Neo, leather adizero miCoach and adiPure 11Pro SL (only part leather!)
As the super-light adaptation of Puma's popular King Finale, the supercharged SL's have some fundamental differences that are sure to go down well! The upper material is a thin premium K-Leather which is very lightweight and shapes perfectly to the foot for the same glove-like fit and ball feel you'd expect from any PUMA King.
Another significant change is the alteration to the heel counter, with all excessive materials being stripped back in another move to reduce weight. The TPU injected outsole does however remain. With this being one of the most popular features of the standard King Finale, Puma's decision not to opt for a redesigned outsole isn't that surprising.
Other noticeable differences are the redesigned tongue and form-stripe. The iconic fold over tongue has been left on the cutting room floor. In it's place is a sleek new perforated design featuring the PUMA King branding. The new form-stripe is now an integrated feature of the light K-Leather upper instead of being another overlay of stitched material.
In terms of player support, Thierry Henry has already given the Puma King SL football boots their place in FA Cup and Arsenal history. The on-loan Arsenal striker will continue to wear the super-light King's for the foreseeable future, while fellow Gunner Mikel Arteta will also front the range. For other Puma players and non-contracted players, the boots will certainly be an attractive option!
The Black/Red/Silver PUMA King Finale SL football boots are available to order from today at selected retailers. When it comes to higher level premium boots, the price can always be a deal breaker, but with a reasonable price tag set at £160.00 GBP / $200.00 USD / €190.00 EURO they will certainly tempt a few people!
They were a long time coming, but now they're here we think the PUMA King Finale SL football boots are a popular addition to the boots market. After having an exclusive look at the Black/Rosso/Silver versions, let us know what your initial thoughts are? Share your thoughts and join the conversation online on Twitter and on Facebook.