PUMA Evospeed SL: The Best Game Day Football Cleats this 2017?

It’s hard to beat the durability and comfort of leather. It gives you better ball control and touch, so you can play at your best. It’s no surprise, then, that the Evospeed SL from PUMA uses premium leather for its upper. But material isn’t the only thing you’ll be talking about after wearing these football cleats on the field.

We had the pleasure of giving the Evospeed SL a test drive, and we were quite impressed with how they felt and performed. But before we get to our review, let’s talk about one important thing: the players.

The Players

Who wears the PUMA Evospeed SL?

Marco Reus

A midfielder for Borussia Dortmund, the German Bundesliga club, Marco Reus is known for his technique, versatility and tremendous speed.

Sergio Aguero

A striker for Manchester City, Aguero just notched his 100th goal on April 20, 2016, making him the 25th player in the history of the Premier League to reach this milestone. The Argentina-born player started his professional career in 2003 at the age of 15 as the youngest player in the Argentine Premier League.

Features at a Glance

• Leather upper
• Synthetic sole
• Speedframe structure for quick turns
• Nylon outsole
• Speedtrack spine
• Improved stud configuration for traction and acceleration

Our Experience with the PUMA Evospeed SL

The first thing you’ll notice about the Evospeed SL is how lightweight they are, and that lightness comes as a huge advantage on the field. They’re comfortable from the get-go, but you may need to break them in a little to reach maximum comfort level.

These cleats are designed for firm ground, so they’re not ideal for training or heavy use.

There’s a lot to love about these football boots.

Leather Upper, Synthetic Sole

The premium leather upper is soft, comfortable and durable. It’s a bit on the thin side, which is a good thing. This not only makes it easier to break the shoe in, but it also improves ball touch, so you’re always playing at your best.

On the lateral side of the shoe, you’ll find PUMA’s Formstrip.

The synthetic sole adds more durability and stability when you’re out on the field.

We were surprised by how comfortable these were right off the bat. But just like any other leather cleat, you’ll still need to break these in. Thankfully, that only takes one or two games.

SPEEDFRAME and SPEEDTRACK

The Evospeed SL features a SPEEDTRACK spine that’s raised for optimal stability and reactivity. Of course, you also have the SPEEDFRAME, which is minimalistic in design, but also adds to stability and offers enhanced structure support. In other words, you can maximize your forward acceleration and make those quick game-winning turns without losing balance.

Outsole and Studs

The nylon outsole has an integrated heel counter and injected studs for traction. The studs are a mix of bladed and conical, which boosts both speed and traction.

Not for Training

One thing we do want to make clear: these cleats are not what you want to be wearing on training days. These are the ideal soccer cleats you want when you have to bring your best game – the matches that matter most.

We’ve seen people complain that these shoes only last ten matches before they need to be replaced, but that wasn’t our experience. And if those people are wearing the shoes for anything other than what they’re intended for – important matches – then it’s no surprise that they needed to be replaced so quickly.

Remember, the Evospeed SL is worn by some of the best players in the game.

We recommend going one size up with these cleats. They run a little on the small size. And as we mentioned previously, the Evospeed SL is not ideal for training, which wasn’t a deal-breaker for us, but is still worth noting.

If you want cleats for training, get a different pair. But for those games that matter most, these shoes are one of the best you can get.

The Bottom Line

We highly recommend PUMA”s Evospeed SL cleats to serious players who are looking for professional level, match-day cleats.