Being the second generation in a very modern series, the Nike CTR360 Maestri II Elite had enormous shoes to fill. After being released in 2009, the original CTR360 Maestri was warmly welcomed into the soccer market. It used a newly constructed upper by the name of Kanga-Lite, along with new technologies to help improve touch and ball control. These were definitely new concepts to the soccer world, and the Maestri grew very quick in popularity. The Maestri II is very similar to the first, with slight changes, and positive ones at that.

Comfort and Fit

There are definitely some additions to the boot to add to the comfort. The heel liner has a very nice suede portion to it that is very plush, and it is just extremely comfortable on your feet. Another plus to this suede is that it keeps your foot in place and absorbs moisture and sweat, so that your feet stay dry. But, due to the high absorbing suede, the heel liner will feel very heavy in the rain.

Another very good addition to this boot is the insole. Along with most of the high end releases from Nike, the insole is very high quality and comfortable. It features a nice grip texture that really allows for no slippage. Poron has also been inserted, and this adds a nice amount of cushioning for your feet. Overall, the comfort that this boot offers is top notch.

Fit wise, you won’t run into any sizing issues with these. They fit very true to size, and are built on the same last as Tiempos. If you wear a size 9 regularly, these will be no different.

Breaking In

Because this boot features a full carbon fiber outsole (Standard Maestri does not), the break in period for this boot will last longer than many. Right out of the box the shoe will feel quite stiff, so you will need to take some time to loosen it up. This is definitely not a boot that you can wear straight into a game, but give it some time and it will be more flexible. Also, the Kanga-Lite upper will take a few weeks to fully form to your feet.

Technology

Probably the most attractive aspect of this boot to many people is the technology. The CTR360 Maestri II Elite features:

  • Dampening Pods: These are raised portions on the outside of the forefoot that are supposed to allow for a closer touch, so that the ball does not get away from you while dribbling.
  • Instep Pass and Receive Pads: Rubber regions placed on the instep. The pass pad is supposed to help you distribute the ball and also control, as it has small rubber fins to catch the ball out of the air and reduce the force it hits the ground. The receive pad is the smaller rubber portion more towards the heel. This really does not do much, and is more an advertising scheme to make the Maestri look more like a “control” cleat.
  • Carbon Fiber Soleplate: This carbon fiber soleplate is very rigid and adds a great amount of support. It does take time to break in, but after it is a very good soleplate.
  • Kanga-Lite:The Kanga-Lite upper is a synthetic, that is supposed to mimic kangaroo leather. While it has properties of kangaroo leather as it is very soft and gives a leather like feel, but like a synthetic it does not absorb as much water as leather would.

Durability

Something the first Maestri did not do well, was durability. But, Nike has improved this with the Maestri II, and the upper does not separate from the soleplate as easily. One downfall to the Elite version is that the carbon fiber soleplate can crack. I did not have any issues with this, but this is something that can happen with Nike’s Elite soleplates. Overall, the durability on this release is very good, and no ripping or separation of the upper has occurred.

Performance

And now the big question with this boot is: Does it perform as great as its technology and marketing says it does? The answer I found is yes, but the dampening pods and rubber fins are not why. The reason to why this boot performs so well is because of the Kanga-Lite upper. Through wear, the Kanga-Lite was extremely comfortable, and it felt like a glove on my foot. I would say that kangaroo leather will mold to your feet a little better, but the material used on this shoe is very high quality. Because of how the boot forms to your foot, the touch on the ball is very good because you can really feel the ball well.

As far as shooting goes, there are really no elements to improve shot power or curve, but the tight fit of the boot gives a nice clean surface to shoot off of. Also, the carbon fiber gives a lot of support, and is very stiff so that no power is lost in your shot.

All in All:

Really, not many changes have been made to the original Maestri. The upper is still the same Kanga-Lite, and the concepts of the technology are mostly the same. The things that have been changed are positive, such as the suede heel liner, and there are no downfalls that occurred with the new release.

While the Elite version is very pricy, they are currently on sale due to the fact that Nike has stopped the Elite Series. If you want to get a pair, now is the time!

Performance: 8/10

Comfort: 9/10

Durability: 8/10

Technology: 7/10

Value: 7/10

Breaking In Period: Medium-Long

Feet Width it Can Fit: Narrow, Medium, Slightly Wide