Improvements

Thanks to Sokito for providing me with the boots.

There is always extra pressure on smaller brands when they go to update their most popular products. Unlike Nike, adidas, or even Puma, brands like Sokito cannot afford to have many misses. At the same time, given the popularity of the original Scudetta, Sokito could afford to take some chances. But that would carry the risk of losing what is already a good product. Sokito has taken a different approach with the new Sokito Scudetta Kaizen.

As the name suggests, Sokito have adopted the Japanese Kaizen approach, which is to make gradual and continuous improvements to make a more precise product. Hence, the Scudetta is now called the Kaizen. Sokito has made small improvements to the boot in order for it to perform that bit better overall.

Fit and Feel

One of the first changes is immediately noticeable when first getting the Scudetta Kaizen in hands. The Biotouch upper is now even softer out of the box. It feels more malleable than the first model and feels easier to break in, in general. At the same time, it does not feel like the upper has lost any durability. The boot feels well-constructed, in spite of its lithe design.

The midfoot section is slightly stiffer, but I do not mind this as it means the boot feels more stable when playing. This helps stop the foot from rolling over the side of the soleplate when making hard cuts. I personally did not think this was an issue in the first model, but it is appreciated that Sokito still looked to fix any potential weak spots.

A big positive of the softer upper translates to the boot being even quicker to break in. It only took around 30 mins or so for the Scudetta Kaizen to feel matchready. This is probably the best time to talk about the toe pinch.

For me, I do feel that it is not as overly tight as the original Scudetta, but it is still present. The reworked, softer Biotouch does help relieve the tightness of the toebox, as does the thinner insole.

I did not have too much of an issue with the tighter toe on the original, as I prefer a snug fit. However, I do feel the Kaizen has improved the feeling around the toe. It is still snug, but not as snug as previously. But it is still lower volume than something like the adidas F50 Hyperfast. It is something that they may look to improve in future, but it will be interesting to hear feedback once more people get their hands on them.

The insole is nice, but maybe just a little bit more cushioning would be preferable. I do not feel stud pressure, but I just think it would help the Scudetta Kaizen just be that bit more comfortable.

Back to something that is universally positive, the lockdown continues to be impressive, and I feel like the lockdown is among the best on the market overall. It is not as crazy as something like the Mizuno Alpha 2 Japan, but the lockdown is still great. This is partially due to the deep, central lacing system, as well as the floating tongue. What this does, in effect, is allow you to have plenty of adjustability for your foot shape, while still maintaining great lockdown.

As with the previous Scudetta, the Kaizen also has an extra lacehole that allows for a runner’s knot should extra lockdown be needed.

A quick word about the laces too. They are much thinner than the previous model, and I like how thin they are, but I know some people, like BootWizard, prefer laces that have a little bit more to them, especially preferring a more solid aglet.

One of the other major changes in the Scudetta Kaizen is that the entire heel has been reworked. Now again, I did not think that the heel was something that needed to change, but the updated heel is very good. It has some lovely cushioning yet does not feel bulky. It locks the back of the foot nicely as well. Sokito has also lowered and thinned out the knit so that the tip of the heel does not flop back and forth during play. As someone with OCD, it is appreciated.

Durability has also been good so far. I have worn mine on multiple surfaces, and there have been no issues with the upper or anything else on the boot. I do not foresee any issues, and as mentioned earlier, the boot feels solid. To be fair, I never had issues with the original Scudetta either, and a few of my pairs took a beating.

When it comes to the sizing, I stayed with the same size as I did with the previous Scudetta and the Scudetta Biotouch. This means I went with a US 8.5/UK 7.5/EU 41.5. While the fit is perfect for me in this size, it is worth remembering that I like a snug fit. For some people, the boot might feel slightly too snug, so a half size up might feel better. If you have worn the previous Scudetta, stay with the same size.

On the Ball

The softer, revamped Biotouch upper is excellent on the ball. The Scudetta Kaizen has almost the perfect balance to have just enough to soften the touch on the ball without feeling any disconnect when manoeuvring the ball.

This slightly softer Biotouch does mean that there is not really a pingy sensation when hitting the ball with power, but I am not bothered about whether that is something you really need for a speed boot. Sometimes it is good, but I do seem to gravitate towards speed boots that do not have that kind of sensation.

Aside from this, the upper makes me feel very connected to the ball when dribbling with speed. While there are some raised lines to give some texturing to the forefoot, it is not really noticeable when manipulating the ball.

Despite this lack of texturing to the upper, because the Biotouch has a leather-like grain finish to it, the upper is not slick either. Rather, it feels more natural than one would expect from a synthetic material. Sokito continues to do great work with their uppers, and it is noticeable when on the ball.

Also, I of course have to mention the texturing on the bottom of the studs. If you have read my blog before, you will know that this is a thing I prefer, as I like to roll the ball around with the bottom of my feet. So yeah, I appreciate this design decision.

Grip

The soleplate remains largely the same as previously, and I do not mind that at all. It is a very aggressive soleplate, with plenty of traction on multiple surfaces. While I have worn various models of the Scudetta on AG with the FG soleplate, I do not recommend this. If you play on AG, get the AG soleplate. It is literally the best one on the market for AG.

Something I have noticed that not everyone has realised is that Sokito already took steps during the previous generation to add a stiffer midfoot shank. They have also stiffened up the forefoot, so the snapback is much stronger than previously. Some people, again, paging BootWizard here, might prefer more flex where the toes flex, but I do like how stiff the soleplate is. More of a personal preference.

One issue

As JayMike, James (Bootwizard), as well as SR4U Josh have all pointed out, the Scudetta has become about 12.5% more expensive than previously. I can somewhat understand, based on the updates made to the boot, why the price has gone up, but as James and I discussed on the recent episode of The Football Boot Hour, going up by 25 USD/25 Euro is a bit too much. Yes, relative to the market, the Sokito Scudetta Kaizen is still excellent value for money, but it just makes it slightly less of a deal.

Again, the Scudetta Kaizen is still cheaper than other elite-level speed boots, but it is something to keep in mind. But the optics aren’t great, and I think it’d be a good idea for Sokito to be more wary of this in the future.

Continuing Forward

Nothing should take away from the fact that Sokito has released another excellent speed boot. As I mentioned before, there is much pressure for brands to go wild with their speed boots, but we do not always need that to be the case. Sokito taking on the Kaizen approach with the Scudetta means that we get an improved speed boot without all of the pain of having to adjust to a whole new model.

The Sokito Scudetta Kaizen is a great update to an excellent boot. It has immediately gone into my match day rotation. While we are in the midst of Speed Boot Summer, and there are a lot of great new options, like the Nike Mercurial Superfly 11, the Scudetta still holds its own against the competition. While the price has been raised, it is still worth remembering that it is cheaper than its rivals in the market. It is one of the dark horses for best speed boots, and something that hopefully more people will consider.

What do you think of the Sokito Scudetta Kaizen? Please share this with your friends and make sure to follow me on Instagram!

Also, check out the Football Boot Hour Podcast I co-host with Boot Wizard!

If you like this review, please consider supporting by buying me a Ko-Fi or making a donation through the Support The Blog sidebar!

I split my time between wearing HAVO Grip Socks and PureGrip Socks for training and matches.

Use code LOCKHART15 to get 15% off your HAVO Grip Sock order or click the link here: https://havosports.com/LOCKHART.

Use code lockhart for 10% off your entire PureGrip Socks order here: https://puregripsocks.com. Along with the socks, I also recommend the Pure laces and Pure Carbon 2.0 shin guards.

じゃあね！