Nike CTR360 Maestri III Released

Finally Nike CTR360 Maestri fans rejoice – you now have a new version of the boot to make your own. It has been a while since the December 2010 release of the CTR360 II and fans have been eagerly anticipating this new Maestri III release ahead of the upcoming 2012/13 season. In between both releases, the market has shifted in a new direction and as expected, Nike has followed suit with plenty of updates. To really understand what to expect from the new boots, we have compiled a bite-size summary that details what makes them an ideal option “for players looking to dictate the tempo of the game.”

For those of you that are looking to pick up a pair, they will check in with a retail price of $210 ($200 for Goal Club), which is pretty much on par compared to other recent Nike releases. They will officially be available to pre-order from soccer.com tomorrow morning July 25th with availability on August 2nd. More details and up-close images of the boots below.

The Upper – Design and Kanga Lite
One thing that has stayed consistent is the two-tone upper design. On this version, Nike has selected a Black/Yellow that mimics the similar T90 Laser K colorway released last year and the GS released last month. The upper made using Nike’s tried and trusted Kanga-Lite, while they also feature a new All Conditions Control (ACC) technology. Obviously, I’m already to see what this ACC has to offer, with Nike stating it provides the same level of control in either dry or wet conditions. Again, you get off-centered lacing, ensuring you get a large zone for taking the ball down and striking shots with enhances touch sensitivity through the region.

La Maestri e’ stata ideata per il massimo controllo del pallone e del gioco, con un design affilato e aggressivo. Elia Boggia – Milan

Control – What is Lining the Instep?
The instep features one of the more intriguing parts of this boot, with fins lined along the control region, designed to hug the arch and maximize contact with the ball. This is an area that Nike has really focused on perfecting and the revamped 3D control pad seems to be an important aspect of this boot. Since they are designed for the playmaker, ensuring control is completely optimized obviously plays a role in the success of the range.

Soleplate and Stud Configuration
Again Nike has changed things up with their sole of the boot, from initial images it looks like they have made some positive changes. The inclusion of round studs on the medial and blades on the lateral side of the soleplate seem to make perfect sense for midfielders who need to make sharp turns throughout the game.

Weight – Shaking Things Down
Lightweight seems to be the big thing and as you would expect, Nike has dropped the range down from 10.8oz. We have unconfirmed reports that the new range will weigh in at 9.2oz but nothing official to date – once we get full details from Nike we will update.

What is Maestri?
As reference and to solve some confusion, Maestri in Italian is simply the plural of Maestro, which means teacher and is also used to describe the director of the orchestra. Thus its use in the boots title to describe the player who controls or “orchestrates” the game.

Who will be Wearing them?
If you want to see them in action, keep an eye on the feet of Andres Iniesta, Jack Wilshere and several Brazilian players (including Ganzo) at this summers Olympic games who will be sporting the new range. Of course, we also have a pair en-route and will make sure to compile the most comprehensive review as soon as possible.

Make sure to give us your thoughts on the release below and let us know if you think Nike has improved the range with this release!