Best value leather football boot of 2017/18 season is Mizuno Rebula V1

With a price approximating 100€ at some select retailers, I find the Mizuno Rebula V1 (top tier not in Japan made model) to be best value leather football boot of the current season. That said one can expects even lower prices for the top made in Japan variation since this June we saw the release of second installation of Rebulas, Rebula II with passion red pack released just in time for the World Cup in Russia. Notable players wearing the Rebula model, include Japanese nationals like Keisuke Honda, Shinji Takazaki and Maya Yoshida.

Screenshot from Mizuno US site - Rebula II v1 World Cup Colorway

Rebula can be defined as a leather control boot that has incorporated some of the current trends and previous innovations from the brand into a top quality leather boot. Previous Mizuno lines, such as the Supersonic Wave, Wave Ignitus and Basara, have given some inspiration to the Rebulas design.  However, one should keep in mind that this model is solely for firm grass and will probably suffer both in durability and performance if the surface is different.

Rebula V1 with Stability Outsole

My own experience was indeed a surprise because out of the box, the boots felt light and the outsole maybe even too thin. That fear soon subsided as I noticed that in firm grass conditions the fits and the feel felt perfect. I can definitely imagine that on harder surfaces the stud pressure can be an issue. There are two main reasons for this. First, the outsole is very light and on the thin side; second, the insole is very slimsy too, not unlike what Puma has incorporated with great success.

Those two things are probably the only to downsides to the boot and the latter can be fixed with custom insoles that support both your feet and relieve that stud pressure. Compared to other leather models in the market currently, notably Nike Tiempo line and Adidas Copas, I feel that Mizuno is quality and comfort superior to both. If I had to rank them, I would say that Mizuno Rebula V1 would be number one, then the Copa 18.1 and after that would arrive the Nike Tiempo Legend 7. If I would've added the Made in Japan model to this comparison, the distance between number one and two brands would've grown easily. And with the addition of Rebula 2's to the race this summer, I'm confident that Mizuno's leather superiority is in no way under threat by the major brands.

Mizuno Supersonic Wave 3 (Black/Yellow) & Mizuno Basara 001 KL (Red)

There are several ways point out that Rebula, Copa and Tiempo offer a modernized leather boot experience. First of all, obviously the material is leather, be it kangaroo or calf. Other uniting design is the inner support frame of each model that is there to reduced stitching seen in the conventional leather boot models. One thing that sets them apart, but what is narrowed down considerably with the release of Rebula 2's, is the tongue or the lack of it. Both Copa and Tiempo have given up the tradtional tongue, but the Rebula still has a limited tongue which is redesigned for the next line of the brand. The tongue in boots these days seem to be replaced more and more with a seamless sock like collar or elasticated low cut collar.

Adidas Copa 18.1 & Puma Evopower Vigor Leather

It is a shame that Mizuno boots are hard to come by since very few retailers have them in stock where you could walk in a store and try a pair out for the right size. Just for reference, I can give a size comparison between different brands that should help one choose the correct size. Most of Mizunos I have are either size 42 or 42,5 (9 or 9,5 in Mizuno scale). To be precise, my Rebula size is 42,5 (9,5 US). As for my Tiempo Legend 7 AG, my size is 44 (US 10). My Copa 18.1 size is 43 1/3 (9.5 US). Each of those boots are lengthwise perfect fit. Getting the right size is still problematic because brands from time to time decide to alter either the size or the fit of the boot and boots that look lengthwise equal on the outside might have different space inside. One can wear a boot half size too big, but not the other way round. As for width, I can vouch the Rebula to be quite accommodating. However it is good to note, that Mizuno is perhaps one of the few brands that make wider models for some of their boots.

Nike Tiempo Legend 7 AG version review

I've been wearing the Nike tiempo line a long time, but at long last I was able to go back to the 7th Tiempo Legend version. This time though I was lucky enough to a find a pair of the artificial grass version on sale.

Puma Evopower Vigor Leather & Nike Tiempo Legend 7 AG

There are three features that make this leather boot stand out from the market. However Nike seems to be following the trend of tongueless boots with inner frames for stabilty that have become the norm in the market. For instance in the same category, we have leather boots such as Mizuno Rebula (not tongueless), Adidas Copa 18.1 and even the latest Puma One 18.1. I want to remind also that the leather version on Puma Evopower Vigor has similar tongueless sock-like seamless design.

When it comes to performance, the legend 7 is a quality choice even though the durability in in question since after only a couple of abrasive sessions one boot started to show some tearing of the leather upper so much so that I had to reconsider using the boot for high-speed training sessions. That said, I found the performance otherwise to be outstanding. The internal frame supports your foot but the lock-in sensation is lacking although the suede heel liner is cushioned and velvety. So far the touted grip insole feels no different from regular insoles. In reality, with abrasive surfaces and hard turns, your feet is likely rub against the insides of the shoe and cause blisters no matter what innovation is added to the the concept.

The stud pattern is befitting for the modern AG surfaces and the stud length provides necessary grip for firm ground natural grass. However the outsole and the stud pattern combined feel a bit inadequate when playing on harder surfaces and you can expect enough stud pressure to make you want to reconsider at least a thicker insole. Overall feel of the shoe is light and compact, unlike some of the leather models in the market which do feel more stiff and clunky compared to sleek and lightweight. Shooting and touching the ball feels seamless in spite of the fact that the cow leather is not of premium quality compared to some of the kangaroo leather models of rival brands.

Overall Nike Tiempo Legend 7 is a solid leather boot with some modern innovative features. However compared to the leather boot market available at the moment, Nike's leather game is lamentably under performing in regard to the synthetic boots choice the company is promoting. The little brother of the Nike leather football boots, Nike Premier II, is equally marred with quality problems though the softness of the leather, lower price and classic design has equal appeal to Adidas Copa Mundial models.

Overall score 8/10