On the Nike T90 Laser III’s first screening in the Blackpool changing room, the young cool lads couldn’t contain their excitement, embracing the boots clashes of colour, and its shiny new feature. It’s a far cry from the original T90.

Meanwhile the older boys at Blackpool (who are petrified of change, feeling safe and comfortable in their 20-year-old Adidas Copa Mundials!) are still pining for the days when men were real men, and were aghast at the ‘youth’ of today and their multicoloured cleats. Even our masseuse entered the debate with her “red and green should never be seen” ode. Well this is football and not the catwalk. Or is it?!

I place myself somewhere in the middle of these categories. Whilst loving the bold look of this top-of-the-range Nike boot there is always the nagging feeling that if you make a mistake with these on your feet there certainly is no hiding place. So allayed with my trademark languid style I had to make sure I performed whilst donning these new wheels.

As a striker sometimes everything you hits goes in but then there are the all-too-frequent days when you feel as though you couldn’t even buy a goal. This could all change with the purchase of a pair of Nike T90 Laser III football boots for the princely sum of £129.99, supposedly.

Nike, through Torres and Rooney, guarantee goals galore from the Nike T90 Laser III’s if all the claims made about them are true, it’s almost as if no previous football experience is needed. Just put them on and reach for the stars!

Nike tell us, “an evolved shot shield allows let you to strike the ball in every way imaginable without sacrificing accuracy. Raised TPU fins on the medial side of the boot deliver greater friction for increased ball spin in any direction. Each fin is strategically angled and sized to enhance control over the ball’s trajectory, letting players put it exactly where they want it. And to keep you focused on drilling – or curling – it past the keeper.” Wow. How can I fail?

The Nike T90 Laser III’s may have passed the Fernando Torres test but I can assure you that the Ben Burgess test will prove a lot more difficult for the green wonders…

That said, the Nike T90 Laser III’s felt great from the first time I pulled them on. To some players they may give the impression of being a bit heavy due to the upper being noticeably thicker compared to that of the Mercurial Vapor and the Adidas F50s, but for me this aids comfort, and even when twisting and turning I didn’t experience any blisters or movement inside the boots.

Now for the pitch… after mixed reviews from the coaching staff (I was repeatedly called “the frog”… very imaginative) I got into my stride. Interestingly enough the first part of training was about accuracy, with us passing the ball through a small gap. Results were very impressive, that could be the twenty odd years I have been practising though.

A very important part of my game is holding the ball up and playing little one touch passes so I need my touch to be right. In the Nike T90 Laser III’s I felt good and you could really feel the ball as you passed it and laid it off. If you have seen the adverts for these boots then you will know they are designed for goals and when it came to shooting I could honestly feel a lot more power. This may be a result of the off centre lacing that Nike have opted to go with. This increases the sweet spot on the front of the boots enabling you to get a lot more power and feel.

I put the swerving ability to the test by attempting to bend the ball around some mannequins. Once again the results were favourable and there is no doubt that they increase the spin on the ball, although whether I can put the ball wherever I want every time is still debatable. To complete the deal the Nike T90 Laser III’s stood up to some meaty tackles from my more aggressive teammates. I also had a swollen ankle before wearing the boots and they felt very sturdy and supportive and I managed to avoid aggravating it.

Overall I honestly think the Nike T90 Laser III’s are the best boots I have worn for a long time. I knew they were the boots for me when I curled a shot into the top corner with my bad foot. The colour can be a shock at first though, so for all those out there not wanting to anger our masseuse by mixing red and green you have the option to purchase the boots in a more conservative white and gold.

My teammates have been so impressed that by the end of the week three of the boys had bought themselves a pair and two had ordered the white and gold version. I should be on commission!

Are the Nike T90 Laser III’s value for money at a cool £129.99? My answer is a resounding yes. If you want to make a statement out on the pitch then there are no better boots to go for and they look and feel great. Whatever level you play at I believe you will see an improvement in your shooting and passing. What more can you ask for?

Ransacker Rated: Nike T90 Laser III Football Boots

Style
Comfort
Speed
Power
Protection
Grip
Durability
Price
Prestige
Touch

Other Recommended Reading

1. Torres and Rooney open up account for T90 Laser III’s
2. Nike Total 90 Laser III – “Grass Roots” Review
3. Torres talks about the new T90 Laser III football boots
4. Nike T90 Laser III football boots debut, tonight!!
5. Nike Total90 (T90) Laser III – first impressions!

About the author

I’m a professional footballer by day for Notts County FC and a journalist by night so when Ransacker asked me to review some boots for them I jumped at the chance. Over the next few months I will be testing boots from the relatively unknown Concave to the legendary adidas Predator X. I hope you like my reviews and if you have any questions just let me know below.

Read more from Ben Burgess and subscribe with RSS .

Tags: Ben Burgess, blackpool fc, football boots test, Nike football boots, Nike T90 Laser III football boots