Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Konichiwa!
That means hello in Japanese, -
- and today I will be taking a look to the far east, -
- when I review this bad boy.
It is the Asics Lethal Tigreor 5 -
- and it is the result of the Japanese brands extensive knowledge when it comes to biomechanics and how the foot moves.
With this boot, which is stuffed with Asics' latest technology -
- the Japanese promise that you get a super comfortable boot, -
- a more athletic stature, -
- as well as, a super nice touch.
Asics are well known for making great running shoes, -
- but the question is; can they use this knowledge and convert it to their football boots?
You can find out today, as I entertain you in Japanese and review the Lethal Tigreor 5.
Welcome!
Let's start off with the boots tongue, -
if you can spot it... It's not very big... (Sarcasm alert)
Asics are running experts and I think the tongue very much reveals that, -
- because where have we seen something like that?
That's right! - on just about every Asics running shoe ever.
But this is a football boot and then this tongue may be nice and comfortable, -
- but I also found it big, in the way and quite ugly, -
- and it really hasn't impressed me much.
So there is only one thing to do! -
- Play with this.
"Snip", "snip", "snip"...
Yes, there it went, -
- but remember this is completely up to personal preference -
- and if you're sitting out there thinking the tongue is top nice, -
- then you obviously shouldn't cut it off, -
- because it will remove your right to return, -
- but I wasn't happy with the tongue, so I chopped it off.
As mentioned before, Asics have put a lot of effort into comfort on the Tigreor 5, -
- and if you look at the boots last, this becomes very apparent -
- it has been made very slim around the front foot -
- and then it gets gradually wider, as you move up the foot -
- until you get to the heel, which is exceptionally wide -
- and this is because it has to be very protective, -
- supportive -
- and as stable as at all possible around the mid foot and heel.
At the same time Asics have also implemented this little strap, -
- which is actually part of the lacing -
- what it does is; when you lace your boots, it goes in and straps in your foot -
- to give you the optimal support -
- and make your boot as responsive as at all possible, -
- but I'll get back to that later.
First time I tried this boot, the fit wasn't completely perfect, -
- but once I broke in the boot, -
- it got progressively better and better -
- and now the fit is really, really good, -
- so give it a week or two, so the fit will be completely perfect.
Then the front foot fit will be tight, and the mid foot and heel will have great support, -
- it will feel like it is wrapped around your foot, it is a great feeling -
- at the same time this strap, which i mentioned, works really well -
- and this responsiveness the boot gets is really good.
It is almost like the boot is more at one with the foot, -
- so it reacts to your foots movement quicker -
- smart thinking from Asics.
The upper material on the nose is made from a piece of kangaroo leather, which has been tanned in Japan -
- and as we always associate with the k-leather, it is nice and soft, but it is actually also cushioning -
- which is something I looked forward to playing with -
- but I have to admit after the first couple of training sessions with these I was a little disappointed, -
- because it felt a little stiff and didn't shape itself quite as well as I had expected -
- but this changed the more I used it and it ended up really wrapping itself around my foot -
- so my mood went from this:
phaaaaaw :(
To this:
In other words, a really good experience and the tight nose really sits tightly to your foot -
- a bit like a good leather glove.
Another thing that works well for the comfort in the Tigreor 5, is this 10mm heel wedge -
It goes in and lifts your foot, which changes your gait and gives you a more athletic stature -
- so you are always on your toes and ready to run -
and this is really nice, because not only does it help your run, it also helps muscle recuperation -
- I was very impressed by it.
This heel wedge is something you traditionally see in running shoes -
- and it is a strange sensation, standing with your heel up when playing football.
It takes some getting used to and it may scare some people off to begin with -
- but believe me, you will love it in the end, I did in any case.
When talking size correlation with this boot, I can tell you that it is a little short -
- and because it is so wide, you can go a size up -
- that's what I did and I've been happy with it -
- It will definitely fit your foot well.
The stud-configuration on the Tigreor goes a bit against the current trend -
- because it is absolutely filled with studs.
On the front foot alone there is a whopping 14 studs -
- that is twice as many, as on the Adizero -
- to put things into perspective.
The idea behind all these studs is to give more penetration areas -
- and the penetration area is where the stud enters the ground -
- this means that no matter how you're positioned, you're always in contact with the ground -
- this, Asics say, gives better stability and grip.
We have these five studs on the front foot, which help you with the last kick-off from the ground -
There are four studs underneath the front cushion, which help you turn -
- and then we have these four massive studs on the outside -
- which help you when you need to do these sharp turns and cuts -
- and they help the boots maneuverability, say Asics.
On the heel there are 5 studs instead of the four usual -
- and again the code word is stability, -
- which, if you haven't noticed, is quite important on the Tigreor 5.
"but Jakob, does it work?"
Yes it does, quite well in fact, -
- because there's plenty of grip in this stud-configuration, -
- even if it is completely different to a Vapor, or Adizero, -
- because there really isn't a lot of studs on those boots.
The many studs on this boot, does not make the grip bad -
- and this good maneuverability is also something I felt, -
- both when sprinting at top speed and needing to change direction, -
- as well as when you need to do a full pirouette and quickly turn, -
- so no matter how you place your foot, there is always a stud in contact with the ground -
- and it is a nice feeling, that you are always in control and the boot responds to your movement.
At the same time the stud-configuration is also very comfortable to play with -
- this is simply because there are so many studs -
- because all the shocks and pressure you get when running for 90 minutes -
- is dispersed over more studs, so it doesn't feel quite so violent.
The comfort is also helped by the SoLight in the sole, -
- which works wonders for the shock absorbency -
- and you do not feel like you have been running around for 90 minutes.
This makes the Tigreor 5 a really smooth ride -
- and you can definitely feel that Asics know what they are doing, when it comes to comfort.
It is very much a job well done.
Comfort is obviously very important in a football boot, but how it acts with a ball is also pivotal -
- and I have to admit that beforehand my expectations where quite low, as some might go as far as to call it clumsy-looking -
- all do preference.
If we start off by looking at the boots ball feel -
- then it has this padded kangaroo leather on the nose -
- and this gives you a soft elegant and almost cushioned feel -
- it made me want to do these small soft controlled dribbles -
- and because this kangaroo leather is also pretty tight fit, then it isn't as dull a touch, as you might think -
- it is definitely acceptable work and is a joy to dribble with.
The mid foot is made from microfibre synthetic -
and is a little more stout, so you get a more solid feel to it -
- and there's also a bit of weight behind it, because of all these layers -
- there is plenty of weight behind it, especially when passing the ball -
- unfortunately this does harm the precision -
- but it is a comfort boot and not a control boot.
The strike capabilities in the Tigreor 5 are unique and interesting.
The boot weighs 255 grams, -
- which makes it not the lightest, nor the heaviest boot on sale, -
- instead it is a fairly solid boot, which also has a fairly high profile -
- and this is something that reflects on the strike, for both good and bad.
If we start with the positive, which is that it is fairly solid -
- and has a quite stiff sole, which doesn't bend and lose power when kicking the ball -
- this means you get a lot of power in the Tigreor 5.
It's a good balance and it felt like I didn't have to hit the ball too hard, to still get the necessary power.
It is really nice -
- and accompanies the boots solid nature well -
Unfortunately, the word clumsy keeps occurring -
- the nose is a little high and the leather is a little padded -
- and then the mid foot is so full of layers -
- which means you need to get used to kicking in this boot.
It took me a couple of weeks, and it is something you need to keep in mind -
- and there is a lot going on around the nose, so the strike isn't that clean -
- so the arrow points more to power, than precision -
- and that is something to keep in mind when choosing.
Strike capabilities are acceptable.
"Thank god I do the editing myself"
When it is time to swing the samurai sword of judgment -
- then the first thing I note is, that Asics are running experts -
- because the comfort is top notch and it is one of the absolutely best football boots on that front -
- and especially this heel wedge and SoLight make this a very interesting boot -
- and a super cool alternative to other boots -
- even if it is a bit clumsy and clunky, Asics have accomplished what they set out to with this boot.
I used to say that if I had to walk to Rome in a pair of football boots, then it would be in a Puma Powercat, -
- but maybe it is about time we changed that to the Asics Lethal Tigreor 5.
This is good comfortable and great work.
If you're looking for pure comfort, then look no further -
- it is simply one of the most comfortable boots I've ever played with.
With those words it is time for me to go, but I would love to hear what you think -
- feel free to tell me in the box down below.
Otherwise all there's left to say is, that I look forward to seeing you again, -
- Right here on Unisport WebTV.
Sayonara!
The strike capabilities in the Lethal Tigreor 5 are actually quite good -
- wait what the heck? That wasn't how I was supposed to start...