Renowned for their top quality base layer clothing, US based Under Armour have recently entered the boot market for the first time. The Dominate Pro is their top of the range power boot, available in two simple colourways – Black/White and White/Black. The outsole is cemented and riveted to the k-leather upper in true classic fashion. Across the striking area is a “Modular Protection Zone” or MPZ, delivering ‘more protection on your foot and more power off your foot’.
The message is clear: wear these boots and you will dominate. With their main man Bobby Zamora playing the best football of his Premiership career this season, Under Armour might just be right. Time to put the Under Armour Dominate Pro through its paces.
Comfort : 9/10
Firstly and most importantly, no blisters! The k-leather upper is very soft and supple, providing great stretch and durability, while the ArmourForm ‘footbed’ is perhaps the most comfortable insole I’ve ever tried. It felt almost spongy on the soles of my feet. I felt no stud pressure whatsoever, though the ground was fairly soft. The external heal counter is very supportive and comfortable. The only issue I have comfort-wise is with the tongue. It doesn’t extend beyond the point where you tie the laces, as with traditional boots, so there is no flapping, which is a plus. Instead, it is tucked over to the side to incorporate the offset lacing system – fairly standard for a modern boot. But where the tongue is tucked to the side, it digs slightly. However, as I started to break the Under Armour Dominate Pro in this became much less of a problem.
Grip : 9/10
The Firm Ground sole configuration is an unusual mix of a bladed heel and a conical forefoot. This seems to work really well. The conical studs feel natural and the blades provide great traction when turning quickly. I wasn’t slipping around even when the ground was fairly soft however I would have been better suited to a SG soleplate, but thats my fault!
Protection : 9/10
The Under Armour Dominate Pro feels really strong and sturdy. The external heel counter offers excellent protection for the Achilles. The MPZ seems like a decent innovation to protect the metatarsal, as the material is much more firm and rigid than k-leather. During the couple of games a played in the boots I received one or two crunching tackles and came out of them without any problems. You can see why the Under Armour Dominate Pro has also been hevaily adopted as a rugby boot.
Touch : 6/10
The MPZ is definitely detrimental to the feel you get for the ball. The rubber simply doesn’t feel as close to the ball as k-leather, but that is probably what you would expect from a boot built for power. What you gain in power you loose in touch.
Power : 8/10
Here comes the real acid test; power is what the Under Armour Dominate Pro was designed for. Weighing in at 332g (11.7 oz.) the Dominate Pro has some considerable welly behind it. But how does the MPZ perform? Well I did notice I was generating slightly more shot power, but there are definitely more powerful boots out there. Also, it didn’t feel completely natural striking the ball on the MPZ. It has a rubbery feel which means the ball doesn’t ‘ping’ off your foot. However, I expect the feel of the MPZ is a matter of personal preference. One thing I loved was the great positioning of the MPZ and the asymmetrical lacing, making it very easy to hit the sweet spot.
Aesthetics (Style) : 7/10
For me, the Dominate Pro looks more gimmicky than it actually is. They are not the most stylish boots, but you can’t go wrong with an all black or white colourway.
Sizing: The Dominate Pro suits people with wide feet. I would recommend buying half a size smaller than usual because the boots run fairly large. The shape is similar to Nike’s Total 90 range.
Overall
I was pleasantly surprised by the Under Armour Dominate Pro. Under Armour have, for the most part, managed to pull off a blend of heritage design and innovative technology. The Under Armour Dominate Pro is a solid power boot and well worth a look if you fancy something different and can spare the cash!
The Under Armour Dominate Pro is currently for sale via Ransacker from £79.99. To check out the rest of the Under Armour range click here.
Ransacker Rated: Under Armour Dominate Pro
Pros:
- Really comfortable, especially the ArmourForm insole.
- Excellent traction even on soft surfaces.
- Strong protection for metatarsals and Achilles tendons.
- Slightly more power than on a standard k-leather boot.
- The striking zone is really easy to hit.
Cons:
- Pricey at £120. However I’ve noticed that JustSocca are doing them for £79.99!
- Heavy at 332g.
- The tongue digs in slightly before you break them in, but you get used to it. It’s not enough to stop you running, it’s just a bit annoying.
- You don’t get a great feel for the ball due to the MPZ.
- You might expect more power from the MPZ.
