Nike CTR360 Maestri II Football Boots - Challenge Red/White/Black
The Nike CTR360 Maestri football boots are one of the success stories of 2010, it's hard to believe that the range has only been around for just over 12 months, as they have become such a popular and consistent performer. Now Nike have released the follow up boots - the Nike CTR360 Maestri II football boots - and the SoccerBible has the full and exclusive reveal...
Since their initial release late in 2009, the Nike CTR360 Maestri football boots have seen a huge player uptake. They've had a great first year, which culminated in CTR wearers Fabregas and Iniesta combining to score the winning goal in the World Cup final! But such an unprecedented debut season, means the Nike CTR360 Maestri II football boots have got a lot to live up to.
Looks-wise the boots haven't changed dramatically, they retain the two tone colour scheme with asymmetrical lacing and dampening pod technology. The upper of the Maestri II football boots is still constructed using Nike's unique Kanga-Lite material, a synthetic leather which provides optimal comfort, fit and performance in all weather conditions.
The design brief for the Nike CTR360 Maestri II football boots it to create the ultimate ball control boot. To achieve this Nike have retained the dampening pods which were such a stand-out feature of the first generation of boots, just with some minor modification.
On the instep of the boots, the new instep pads have incorporated a combination of technology from the T90 Laser III and the CTR Maestri I. Split into two to cover a larger surface area, the new pads enhance ball control and boost distribution through an innovative fin structure.
The Nike CTR360 Maestri football boots have gained quite a reputation for being one of the most comfortable boots on the market, and you'll be pleased to hear that the great comfort and fit returns for the second generation. The comfortable Poron insole remains, and Nike have further padded the heel and added a non-slip material to improve fit.
The dual-density stud structure is quite a unique feature of the CTR's and are intended to enhance ball trap control. To what extent they're utilised is questionable, but there's no question the sole-plate configuration is a popular feature, as you very rarely see a player in the CTR360's with a customised sole-plate.
Arguably the Nike CTR360 Maestri's stand-out player has been Cesc Fabregas, and we're thinking Nike had Cesc in mind when designing the launch colourway for the second editions. So when Fabregas does debut his new football boots, the Challenge Red/White colourway should look great with the Arsenal strip, and we would hedge our bets and say Fabregas will debut his boots against Manchester United.
You can expect to see the Maestri II football boots hit the shelves from the 1st January although they are available to pre-order now, unfortunately though the boots have risen from £120 GBP to £130 GBP, but that seems to be a standard for new release football boots.
The Nike CTR360 Maestri II football boots have got quite a reputation to live up to, but Nike have certainly put in all the right design ingredients for this to be a popular boot, ultimately though it'll be the fans who decide whether the Nike CTR360 Maestri II football boots are as popular as the first. 
