Review: PUMA King Finale SL i Soccer Boot

PUMA has released a lightweight version (at 7.7 oz.) of its iconic PUMA King soccer boot in the form of the PUMA King Finale SL i (now available at World Soccer Shop). It has been the first choice boot of Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry as he has been in fine form with the New York Red Bulls. The King Finale i SL has also been the chosen playing shoe of Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta, West Ham captain Kevin Nolan and Newcastle United’s Shola Ameobi.

Over the past few weeks one of our boot testers has been wearing the PUMA King Finale SL i boot for practice and league matches. Here is what he thought of the latest incarnation of the storied King.

The PUMA King Finale SL i is a lightweight version of one of my first choice boots of the last year and a half and one of the best around right now – the King Finale i. Thus I was excited and curious to see how the SL compared to its big brother.

Breaking In
I started my test of the PUMA King SL with some light running to get the feel of them. I followed this up with some dribbling, juggling and passing and shooting practice on a rebounder. Given my long run with the King Finale i, within thirty minutes I felt like I was game ready in the SLs. Indeed other than getting used to the lighter weight and minimal padding of the King SL compared to the Finale i, the transition between boots was seamless.

Fit
I’ve run into situations lately where the fit of lightweight boots tend to be on the smaller size — in some cases by half a foot size. While the PUMA King Finale SL i definitely has a smaller profile than the King Finale i, its fit is true to size. I encountered no unwelcome gaps or tight spots with the King Finale i SL in what was a fit that did not differ at all from that of the King Finale i.

Since the unique tongue on the King Finale i that could be pulled upwards to create space to slip your foot in the boot is absent from the SL version, I did have to loosen up the upper lace areas of the boot to slip into them (as is the case with many boots on the market).

Ride
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I put on the PUMA King Finale SL i shoes for the first time. Was as in for a 1970s old school feel because of the loss of features in favor of weight? Quite the opposite! The feel of the SLs when running (what I call the Ride) was as good as that of the fabulous Finale i except for the loss of 1.5 oz. of weight. This made for an amazing experience. These are the kind of soccer boots that (a) you forget that you’re even wearing because they’re so light and (b) you feel like you can run around in all day. Indeed, they kept me going on with my break-in session at least thirty minutes longer than I would usually spend trying out new boots for the first time.

Now it’s the end of the Spring season in our area. As a result, our league and practice fields are severely battered from excess use and are lacking in grass in many spots. Nevertheless, the PUMA King Finale SL i boots were comfortable when I wore them.

While they were definitely more comfortable on fully grassed surfaces, they felt like any the other professional grade boots that I have been wearing lately (including the King Finale i) on the not so good areas.

Traction
The conical stud configuration and soleplate design of the PUMA King Finale i SL are identical to those of the King Finale i. Thus its traction is as good as its heavier predecessor. You get a great grip on dry to slightly wet grass surfaces but as with any other Firm Ground boots, you will most likely slip on very wet fields for which Soft Ground boots are intended.

In-Game Performance
What dictates the in-game performance of the PUMA King Finale i SL is its light weight and what has been changed from the King Finale i to create the SL version.

As is evident in our pictures, the King Finale SL i has significantly less padding than the King Finale i. While there is still some padding towards the front of the boot, there is none from where the laces start and back. The heel counter on the SL is also smaller than in the King Finale i and completely hidden.

This all results in a soccer boot for purist and skilled players. Its low weight, soft kangaroo leather upper and fully exposed tongue are the highlights of a boot that contains none of the latest technology (sometimes gimmicky) that promises to improve your game. Instead it dares you to use your speed and skill on the field.

As a regular with the King Finale i, I found that I had to make very few adjustments to become attuned to the King Finale SL i. The most prominent of these was with trapping the ball. Since there is no padding at the inside or outside of the boot, some foot adjustment is needed to kill the momentum of the ball. However, since the thin K-leather of the SL is extremely responsive, you get an excellent, intimate feel of the ball and can quickly figure out what you need to do to avoid any dreaded bounce when trapping.

This same feel afforded by the thin K-leather combined with the light weight of the King Finale i SL also makes for some very effective and accurate passes and shot — on the ground and in the air!

Needless to say, light weight + a highly responsive upper makes the King Finale i SL a dribbler’s delight. I was even able to pull off some skills moves (Cruyff Turn anyone?) much easier than I usually can in match situations. Less weight to manage gives you less to think about when attempting to beat a tenacious defender with nifty footwork.

Protection
This is the one and only area where the PUMA King Finale SL i and all other lightweight boots fall short. Given that they are stripped of padded for the sake of weight, they offer very little foot protection. However, I will say I do find the K-leather used for this boot, does offer a bit more protection that the synthetic materials use for other. I suppose nothing beats natural skins! I do not recommend them for swashbuckling defensive players though. If your game is physical and you delve out and / or receive abuse on a regular basis, stick to the King Finale i or another boot offering ample foot protection.

Final Thoughts
The PUMA King Finale SL i is a rarity in that it is a hybrid of an all-time classic and a speed boot. It is a crossbreed shoe that PUMA has got absolutely right. If you are looking for the numerous and timeless benefits of the PUMA King but want a boot that is amongst the lighter on the market right now, the PUMA King Finale SL i is definitely worth a look.

Thanks to Heather and Sammy for making this review possible!

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