Step Into The Dark Side | Top Black Boots This Summer
The countdown to kick off has begun, pre-season is well under way and no doubt you've been eyeing up some new wheels to lace up in for your first league game. We've hand picked the top 10 black boot releases from this summer to help your decision as you prepare to step into the dark side.
The top brands have given their boots the stealth treatment to give you to opportunity to select your new weapons with the emphasis being on the silo rather than the colourway. It's a level playing field, which is making players look further under the bonnet of the boot rather than at the flashy paint job. 
What's black and white and fast all over? The new Mercurial, that's what. With every tease campaign Nike released players had their fingers crossed for a black Vapor and the swoosh have finally delivered and it's as awesome as we thought it would be. What else can you say? Just look it it. It's a beaut.
Nike created a massive buzz around the HyperVenom when we flew out to Rio for the official unveiling in late May. Originally released in bright citrus Nike's new silo has undergone a sleek makeover, which has lead to some sceptical players looking at the boot in a completely new shed of light. It looks mean, sleek and perfectly captures the stealth feel.
The CTR series was originally released in 2009 and has gone on to be a revolutionary boot for Nike and in particular midfielders. Now in their third generation Nike have hooked up their control silo with a dark look to enter the 2013/14 season. Perfect for those modest playmakers that don't need a flash colourway to stand out and just let the football do the talking.
With the introduction of the Nike Premier fans and with more and more bright Tiempo releases, fans of Nike's heritage series we're starting to think they may have to switch into the Premier to maintain the classic Tiempo look but Nike have dropped a top black/orange combo as part of their new stealth pack. A boot that's worn all over the pitch from no nonsense centre halves to nippy skilful strikers such as Chicharito. 
It's fair to say the Nike Premier has gone down well since the release in May. Nike's new classic is their double-barrelled assault on the adidas Copa Mundial and is made from premium leather and costs just under £100 so it's no surprise that it was greeted with open arms. No boot will ever be as successful as the Copa Mundial but Nike's version has got off to a solid start.
The Nitrocharge was the first big release of the summer, unveiled just in time for the last few league games of the season. The launch colourway landed in an eye catching blue but since then adidas have dropped a predominantly black paint job on the Nitrocharge leaving a hell of lot more players flirting with the idea of making a switch into the new silo.
When it comes to speed boots you normally associate them with bright colours but there's a group of players who are eager to give speed boots a spin but without looking like they ve walked through a paint-balling disaster. Brands are starting to realise this and the new blackout f50 is for players who want to wear the lightest possible boot but retain the old school vibe. 
The 11Pro series has been ticking along consistently without crying out for attention and that says a lot about the players who opt to wear the boot. Stylish, gets the job done and doesn't hunt for compliments. A modest and heritage boot, impeccably designed and it goes without saying, but we'll say it anyway... looks outstanding in a complete blackout colourway.
The PUMA King is renown for being cool, if there's one boot that you, your dad and your Grandad will all agree is a top football boot, it'll be the PUMA king. It's not by chance that the King has been around for so long and the new Luxury Edition encapsulates exactly why the King has been and always will be a success. Soft K-leather, glove-like fit and natural ball feel. We'd go as far as saying it's football boot perfection. 
The Speciali has never strayed too far away from black so this splash of 'pink lava' may be a bit experimental for the brand but it works. The Speciali has been around for decades, it's seen world cup finals, Champions League finals, it's even seen Arsenal win a trophy (google it kids, it has happened) and it's not by coincidence that it's been around that long. An old school graduate with first class honours.
Each of the featured football boots are available to order at selected online retailers including Pro-Direct Soccer.Join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.
