A few months ago we did a full performance review with the Pelé Sports 1962 boots, which we absolutely loved the quality of. The 1962’s are built from bovine leather and is their second “tier” boot, at a lower price-point than their main model, the Pelé Sports 1970 boots.

As performance lovers and having tested boots from Adidas and Nike recently, both in the light-weight and synthetic categories, having a look at the Pelé Sports 1970 was exciting, especially given what we’ve read on other reviews regarding comfort and quality. Just how to these boots fair against other much better-known boots and brands was interesting to analyze.

Talking to the brand, this is what they had to say about their top boot model, the 1970’s:

They‘re boots that take care of what matters – your feet. The foot and the injury-prone ankle are the link between the player, the ball, and the ground, but also the opponent’s boots. In the intense competition of a game, those boots are coming straight at you with speed and force. It’s a simple equation: protected feet and ankles = more natural movement = safeguarding against pressure, impact, and collision. And that means better fitness and better performance. We’ve got a world class team of developers at Pelé Sports, whose expertise in biomechanics and podiatrics drive our designs and finished products. And we don’t subscribe to a ‘one size fits all’ attitude. Each player’s needs are different so we produce different boots.

The boots are named after Pelé’s last World Cup won with Brazil, in 1970 and carry many stories of Pelé hidden within the design of the boot. From upper to bottom, the boots are beautifully decorated with messages reminding of Pelé’s career and the World Cups he won with Brazil, but also of Pelé’s life.

Pelé Sports 1970 Technology

What’s more exciting about the boots is the technology used to create them into a high-quality product, but also focused heavily on keeping footballers’ feet safe. Here’s a great graphic of all the technical aspects of the 1970’s:

The 150 step processing of the one-piece of kangaroo leather used to form the upper is immediately noticeable. The leather is sticky, shiny, and stitched to perfection. There is a noticeable difference between the bovine leather in the 1962 that we tested and the kangaroo leather used in the 1970. The first time I turned on the ball with the 1970 boots, I nearly fell simply because I got too much grip on the ball. It’s probably not a good thing to experience proper grip for the first time after testing Tiempo’s, Adipures, and Predators, amongst others, but the 1970’s have something extra to give.

“Depending upon which model you choose, top quality natural leather or cutting-edge microfibers, both are combined with Dual Friction Technology. The upper material ensures a perfect fit to the foot and the Dual Friction Technology gives you the best grip on the ball. The best grip on your first shot, and on every shot you make – season after season after season.” – Pelé Sports

“Years of experience in research on the foot and ankle in com- bination with individual analysis have created the prerequisites for the perfect Performance football boot. The snugness of the upper material and firm hold in the ankle area provide maximum comfort. The outsole is in a class of its own with its intelligent cleat configuration and pressure distribution channels, which translates into less pressure on the foot. Overall, a boot was created that helps to avoid injuries and improve your performance.” – Pelé Sports

Pelé Sports 1970 Leather

Not many boot reviews deserve a section on the materials used to build the uppers, but the Pelé Sports 1970 boots are a true leather boot, inspired by Pelé and with some amazing technology in the leather used. Therefore, it seems normal to add the leather category to the review, since it’s such an important part of what makes this boot unique.

Here are some shots of the Pelé Sports 1970 leather:

Pelé Sports 1970 Design

The look of the boot is also a big plus, while from some angles looking slightly bulky, this is due to the fact that the fit is different from other boots. The upper is very flexible and moulds to even wide feet, which is why it was picked as the best boot for wide feet by Soccer Cleats 101 recently. Being named after Pelé, it’s not surprising that the design team at Pelé Sports chose to go for a classic look, in white and black, with subtle colouring in gold and red.

There is a lot of great design detailing on the heel of the boot, which goes to the bottom and the inside of the boot. This, as mentioned earlier, are based around the life of Pelé and his career, as well as the world cups the boots represent. Here are some close-ups of the detailing on the boots:

A lot of people still confuse Pelé Sports and Nomis, but from a design point of view, the Pelé Sports boots are decorated and carry a story, which sets them apart from their earlier brothers and sisters made by the previous company. It seems that the design team at Pelé Sports were as inspired by Pelé when making the boot, as the boots are inspired by “O Rei”. Beautiful detailing, which you really have to see up-close to understand fully.

Pelé Sports 1970 Performance

Taking the boots for a spin was a great opportunity to compare to other boots, but also to compare to the Pelé Sports 1962’s, which we loved testing and loved the feel of. With the 1962’s there were some complaints of blisters on the heel, mainly because the heel is bigger and stronger (to give protection from injury). However, the guys over at Soccer Cleats 101 figured out the right way to go about the heel problem, by bending it repeatedly for about 5 minutes on each boot to give it a bit more of a flex and to break it in fully. We tried the method and it worked perfectly – no blisters!

The comfort on the 1962’s was supreme, and the Pelé Sports 1970s didn’t disappoint either. I remember testing a pair of Concave PT Classics and having my foot slip and slide on the inside which really is not so safe and not too comfortable. I invoke the Concave example because they stood for foot safety, like Pelé Sports, but provided a top model that didn’t quite meet the standards. With the 1970’s you feel protected and comfortable, but it is recommended that you buy half a size down, just so the fit is perfect like a glove.

They weigh around 315 grams, which is twice the weight of an Adidas Adizero, but feel much lighter than that. This is mainly due to the technology in design and in flex, which is really noticeable. The weight (11.2 ounces) is the same as the Adidas Predator X, for comparison sake.

Conclusion

The Pelé Sports 1970’s are a fantastic boot for all weather conditions and perfect for those looking for a quality leather boot that is likely to last long. At the retail price of £119.99, they are an excellent buy, considering the huge technology that goes into them and the wonderful design.

More about Pelé Sports:

Pelé Sports Website l Pelé Sports Facebook l Pelé Sports Twitter l Pelé Sports Youtube

You can buy a pair today at 33% discount from our good friends over at Kitbag for only £80. To find out more and get more information on ordering, click here, or click the image below: