Umbro GT Football Boots - White/Gunmetal/Orange
After succesfully resurrecting the Speciali came the indifferent Stealth - so do Umbro get back on form with their latest release, the Umbro GT Football Boots? We certainly reckon so!
Umbro's next venture into unchartered territory sees the Double Diamond looking to crack the speed football boots market. Check out the SoccerBible exclusive gallery to find out...
The Umbro GT football boots are like nothing we've seen from Umbro before - lightweight, strong and sleek. Two colours are released at launch including this White/Gunmetal/Orange combo, alongside a zany Black/White/Volt version, in both soft and hard (firm) ground sole plates.
But - there is a big familiarity with this new boot. Maybe it's to do with Umbro's parent company. Maybe it's because the Mercurial series has changed so much. Either way, the Umbro GT feels and performs like a Nike Vapor of old. When considering the rarity and price of a pair of those classic boots, when we say this it is certainly a very good thing!
The upper of the new GT is crafted from a soft Japanese Teijin micro-fibre, which Umbro claim gives greater comfort and fit. We don't disagree - slip these boots on and you certainly do get a snug, glove-like fit all over especially across the toes and striking area. The upper itself is one piece, meaning no seams and reduced weight.
To touch the upper also gives good grip like the best non-slip surfaces, with a almost pearlescent colour to the upper too.
Umbro are proud of the TPU upper "A-Frame Cradle" which gives the GT it's distinctive look. This functional component supports the midfoot area and aids heel lock and the overall fit - something carried over from the successful Speciali series. There are plenty of "strategically placed" perforations across the ankle collar, tongue and sockliner to aid cooling and further reduce weight.
Ah, weight. This is Umbro's lightest ever boot - weighing in at 236g (UK size 8 HG). OK, so this is way off adizero or Puma v1 territory but this still marks a significant acheivement for Umbro. Combined with the other performance enhancements (and not to mention the sub-£100 price) the Umbro GT should be a serious contender if you are in the market for a new speed football boot.
All over the boot subtle performance enhancements have been made - from using a re-engineered Italian last, to a TPU medial striking zone, which increases ball touch, accuracy and control especially in wet conditions. The Umbro GT benefits from a pre-formed and coutoured internal heel counter to add additional protection.
We've had the pleasure of sampling the GT's for a while now at the SoccerBible and we really rate the new Umbro GT football boots, and looking forward to catching some Umbro stars in the new boots. We're expecting the likes of Darren Bent to be amongst the first to wear the new GT's, as they seem perfect for his style of play.
The Umbro GT football boots are available to pre-order now ahead of a mid-August general release. The good news is that all this performance won't be breaking the bank - the top end GT will set you back around £85 GBP / $140 USD, which is a welcoming change in this era of £250 plus speed football boots!
