A great alternative from the mainstream

Olmeca Sport is one of the major sports brands out of Mexico. While relatively unknown outside of Mexico, the brand has been making quality products for years at more affordable prices. With the rise of other brands from Mexico like Chalry beginning to push into the US market, it is only fair to look at other brands that could make the jump into bigger markets. And of all of the boots produced by Olmeca, the Master PK is seen as one of the best boots. And given that they retail for under $90 US, they prove to be a great bargain.

Fit and Feel

Satisfyingly, the first thing that is noticeable when you pull the boots out of the box is the quality of the leather. It can be argued that the quality of the kangaroo leather on the Olmeca Master PK is up there with the likes of the Nike Premier and it is very soft and pliable. There is medium amount of thickness that makes the leather not too thin but not overly thick either.

Of course, the weight is heavier than other leather boots on the market and more in line with other classic boots. What is nice about this though is that the boots feel solid, and it is reassuring to see the soleplate riveted and stitched to the upper. The boots feel durable and like you can go into some meaty tackles without worrying about protection on your feet.

The midfoot is made up of a fairly basic synthetic material and there is not a lot of tech in the boot. At the same time, this also means that the boots have no gimmicks and there is nothing to get in the way of you and the ball. The midfoot also provides a good amount of support and helps with the lockdown, which is above average but obviously will not compete with the likes other, more modern boots but it is definitely acceptable.

Unfortunately, an issue that the boot suffers from is lockdown beyond the midfoot. It feels like there should be one more set of laceholes towards the top of the boot and this would help make the ankle feel more locked into the boot. Interestingly, the soft mesh heel liner does a great job of keeping the heel locked into the back of the boot. Speaking of the laces, they are not great and one of the things that need to be changed if you are to pick up a pair of Master PKs.

Speaking of the heel, it is comfortable, and a lot of brands should take notes from Olmeca about how to properly shape a heel cup. The heel cup is neutral enough to allow for different heel shapes while still being cushioned enough to provide comfort. In fact, it can be argued that more expensive boots have trouble replicating this kind of lockdown and comfort in the heel.

As far as breaking the boot goes, it only took about one session of an hour for the leather to feel mostly broken and not much longer than that for the leather to have completely formed around the shape of the foot. The midfoot also broke in with relative ease and the boot overall is very comfortable.

For sizing, I went half a size down from normal and while it was slightly snug, it did stretch out. Since I went with an 8 US, this translated to a 6 in Mexican sizes. Although I have seen that sometimes the CM sizing is used, so you can go with your size in that.

Touch

Because the Olmeca Master PK has a kangaroo leather forefoot, the touch on the ball is great. As mentioned previously, it is not too thin but not so thick the touch feels overly deadened on the ball. The synthetic leather in the midfoot is also of a decent thinness and provides a good feel for the ball. The upper is also fairly uncomplicated, which means that the touch is also consistent and unassuming. It is like other classic boots in which the boot is there to let your feet do that talking. Something that is also appreciated is that there is a bit of texturing on the bottom of the studs. This allows the player to easily manipulate and control the ball with the bottom of the feet.

Since the leather is supple to the touch, this means that dribbling with the ball at speed has a slightly cushioned touch. The softer leather sensation might not be to everyone’s taste, but it is nice to be able to dribble the ball with zero distractions.

Passing and Shooting

This also means that there is nothing too surprising when it comes to passing the ball in the Olmeca Master PK. It is solid, if unspectacular, but sometimes that is exactly what you want in a football boot. Hitting longer passes is satisfying as the leather can take the sting out of the ball.

Shooting is a similar situation, what you put in is what you get out. The studs do an adept job of anchoring the foot into the ground when hitting the ball with power and again, there is something nice about the way a classic boot does its job when shooting the ball.

Grip

Being a classic boot, the Olmeca Master PK has a standard stud layout that is recognizable to anyone who has ever worn a classic boot. The studs feel solid and durable and there is ample grip without being overly grippy. One thing that has to be said is that the studs are longer than those found on other classic boots. This does not cause any issues on artificial grass or firm ground, and I imagine they are taller to help with the durability of the studs. There has been no stud pressure either but if you play on a surface that is shorter than normal AG, there might be some issues. Again, I have not had any issues, but it is something to be aware of.

Conclusion

The Olmeca Master PK feels like one of those boots that should be more expensive than it is. In a market where there is increasingly less and less value for money, these boots stand out. If Olmeca was to expand into other markets, it feels like it could give some classic boot brands a run for their money. As it is though, the Master PK is one of the Mexican market’s best kept secrets.

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