FourFourTwo Verdict
Light, stylish and offering best-in-class traction, this is easily the finest New Balance cleat ever, and a represents a huge leap forward for the brand
Pros
- +
No 'wear-in' period – comfortable from the off
- +
Extremely light
- +
Range of colourways
- +
Unparalleled traction
Cons
- -
Not so suitable for firm ground or 4G
New Balance's Furon V6+ Pro soccer cleat is, in FourFourTwo's trusted opinion, the first from the sportswear brand to genuinely rival anything Nike, Adidas and Puma have to offer. Light, supple and offering almost unrivalled traction on soft ground, it's a football boot we would recommend highly.
Among those seen wearing the range in the Premier League this season are Liverpool's Harvey Elliot (whose signature model we tested here) and Manchester City and England star Raheem Sterling.
How we tested the New Balance's Furon V6+ Pro soccer cleats
For this review, FFT wore the New Balance Furon V6+ Pro soccer cleat during a couple of 5-aside sessions on a 4G pitch. The cleats were okay for the surface, though they are ideally designed for natural grass due to slightly longer studs than previous incarnations of the Furon range.
However, the pristine 4G surface did mean there were no excuses when it came to controlling passes, shooting and dribbling. Which is, erm, just the way FFT likes it...
We tested a pair of the New Balance Furon V6+ Pro soccer cleats in a UK size 8.5 (US 9.5/EUR 42/BR 40/CM 26 - Women's: UK 8.5/US 10.5/EUR 42/BR 40/CM 26).
Comfort and fit
The New Balance Furon V6+ Pro soccer cleat's upper is very soft and flexible, meaning they barely required any break-in time at all. The 'Fitweave' upper allows for some movement and stretching in the toe-box, too, meaning the cleats fit like a glove even more so after a couple of hours of wear-time.
The foot feels completely locked in at all times, with the one-piece upper design helping to achieve this. The heel helps, too, because it has plenty of padding - which makes feel robust and very comfortable to wear.
While the material feels extremely thin, the cleat does have specialised areas of padding across the upper. This means they feel sock-like, but the padding adds structure and support as well as a close sensation to the ball.
The inner sole feels like stepping into a slipper and is removeable so you can give it a wriggle to get it just right for your feet.
All in all, this is a light and comfortable cleat which doesn't leave you feeling unprotected.
On the pitch
• RRP: £180
• Gender specification: No difference in gender specs
• Sizes available: 3.5 -12
• Colors: White and pink, impulse and orange, black and silver
• Recommended for: Forwards and pacey wingers
Firstly, FFT would only recommend the New Balance Furon V6+ Pro soccer cleats for those who play on softer ground because the studs are quite long and aggressive. They can feel sticky on a harder pitch, so there is more potential for injury if you typically play your matches on very firm ground. They would not be a good option for a casual 4G five-a-sider, for instance.
Saying that, they would offer brilliant traction and grip on a softer surface, and the chevron-shaped studs (almost identical to those found on Nike's Mercurial range) were hyper-responsive when pushing off for sprints or changing direction. These are the best cleats we've tested when it comes to traction.
The cleats are incredibly light, weighing in at just 176g (30g lighter than Nike's Tiempo Legend 9, for example) and the soft, knitted-weave upper gave FFT a genuine "barefoot" sensation.
The knitted upper wasn't too slick or slippery against the ball. It still felt as if we had close control and a sticky enough contact to really connect with a soccer ball. They also gripped the feet nicely, and secure with the laces simply tied normally.
Design
The leather used in previous New Balance cleats felt a little cheap, especially when compared to the brand's high-quality running shoes. The New Balance Furon V6+ Pro was a massive step in the right direction, however. The leather is real quality and it makes such a difference. This is a quality soccer cleat designed using quality leather.
Among the little bits of tech on the cleat are their Hypoknit, Hypoweave and Fitweave technology - this manifests itself, essentially, as a knitted upper with a pattern that adds structure; thicker in some parts than others, with a sock-like fit.
The skin is flexible; similar to the knitted upper to Puma Future 5.1. The design is soft and comfy and, as mentioned, they need no break-in time.
This is a speed-cleat designed to compete with Nike's Mercurial range or or Adidas' X range and it does a decent job, while costing less than both of their rivals.
The only major downside – on the Harvey Elliot signature pair we tested, anyway – is that the diamond soleplate does fade quite quickly, so they won’t be as shiny as when you first get them out of the box for long.
Summary
This is a giant leap forward for New Balance, who have scrapped the cheap leather and built a light, stylish and snug cleat that any soccer player would be proud to own.
The traction is as good as you'll find on the market and, if you're a nippy forward player, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more suitable cleat.
The fact the studs felt a little long and sticky has cost the cleat some points – especially given we tested the FG version on firm ground and weren't completely satisfied. But, in the right conditions, this is a genuinely terrific soccer cleat and it gets a thumbs up from FFT.
