The alternative choice

ASICS has been gaining prominence within the wider boot community this decade. While the brand has long had a small but loyal community of advocates among the international boot community, its stature continues to grow year over year. One of the things that ASICS continues to do well is to cleverly implement its own proprietary technology.

The introduction of Silkywrap a few years ago, with the release of the DS Light X Fly Pro 3, brought to the market an excellent leather alternative that still delivered some of the advantages of a natural material. The ASICS Jetray Elite is a continuation of this trend, with the new Silkywrap Lite and other tech in the boot giving us an excellent alternative speed boot.

Fit and Feel

Interestingly, the out-of-the-box feel of the Jetray Elite is slightly plasticky in hand, and the Silkywrap Lite material does not feel as soft out of the box as a standard Silkywrap boot, like X Fly 6, for example. Part of this is that the standard Silkywrap is a plusher material. However, it would be a stretch to say the material feels stiff. It is fairly malleable out of the box.

In fact, it still felt soft enough that I wore the boots straight into a match without having played in them beforehand. This means that, like the F50 Hyperfast, the fit and feel of the boots were good enough that I felt confident to wear them immediately into a match situation.

Any issues with the stiffness of Silkywrap Lite disappear quickly once the boots are on foot and in action. Within 20 minutes of my coming on, the ASICS Jetray Elite felt almost fully broken in. I really appreciate that even in a slimmed-down version of the material, Silkywrap still continues to impress because of how quickly the material breaks in. It is up there with the Techleather from Nike in being an excellent, natural-feeling non-leather alternative.

The overall fit of the boots is excellent as well. The deep and wide lacing system allows for a lot of adjustability in the fit. Like a lot of other ASICS boots, this means that a lot of different foot types should fit into the boots fairly easily. The addition of the Jetcage is also smart in that it helps accentuate the overall fit and helps the boot wrap the foot nicely. More on the benefits of the Jetcage are below.

I also find the toebox to be more rounded, rather than pointy, which is what I personally prefer, but something to keep in mind depending on your personal preferences.

The fit is actually the first place with the 5mm heel raise model, and the 0mm heel raise model has some slight differences. I find that the 5mm model (which is the one that will be available on the international market) fits just slightly a bit more snug than the 0mm (Japan only) model.

Personally, I don’t think the lasts are different between the two, but rather the 5mm heel raise pushes the foot up into the boot that bit more. This should not be a deal breaker if you have a wider foot, as again, I think the difference is very small. It does mean that for me, the 5mm model fits my foot a little bit better, and I wouldn’t mind if the boot had a little bit less volume in the forefoot. I will go into the differences of the heel raises further in the review.

ASICS boots always have very comfortable heels. The Jetray Elite is no different. It is the best heel of any speed boot on the market. Some brands are getting closer to ASICS heel comfort level (Sokito’s Scudetta Biotouch being one), but ASICS still has just that bit more about it.

The heel cushioning wraps the back of the foot pleasantly yet never feels overly bulky. The faux suede lining is this very nice, brushed material that not only is soft to the touch but grips the back of the sock nicely in order to deliver great lockdown.

Speaking of lockdown, it is really good. Again, the deep lacing system really helps get the right amount of lockdown and fit along the foot. As always with an ASICS boot, there is an extra lacehole which allows you to do a runner’s knot for that extra bit of lockdown.

The new Jetcage system also somewhat helps with lockdown as it aids the upper to keep its shape around the foot and ensures that the upper does not feel loose or sloppy as it breaks in. It is very reminiscent of what Mizuno used to with their Rebula series (specifically in the first, second, and third models), yet ASICS made some tweaks based on player feedback so that the cage would not get in the way of the touch on the ball.

Jetcage is more present on the outer quarter panel of the boot. What this additional foam does is to help provide extra stability when making hard cuts and turns. The Jetcage works well, as it delivers good stability without feeling like it is stiff. It is not the best stability on the market (the Scudetta Kaizen is probably the best), but it performs nicely.

Another thing I have always liked about ASICS boots is that they consistently have a great insole, and this trend continues with the Jetray Elite. The insole is nicely cushioned without feeling overly spongy. There is also a grippiness to the surface, while not as strong as something like the ZeroGlide insole from Mizuno, it is still above what many other brands offer.

Also, the insole has a slight circular rise that sits under the second, third, and fourth metatarsals. While it is there to ostensibly provide a bit of extra support, I do not particularly notice it. However, like many other pieces of tech that ASICS puts in their boots, I am sure they have data to show that it has an added benefit.

Lastly, on the fit, I do appreciate the shaping of the Jetray. It feels like it follows the natural shaping of the foot more than other boots on the market. Some other boots can feel like they fit straight, rather than considering the natural shape of a foot.

A quick word about durability. While I have not had the boots too long, I have played on several different surfaces in them, such as AG and FG. There have been no issues, and outside of feeling broken in (as well as the silly inclusion of a wearable finish on the outsole of the 5mm model), the boots still look relatively new. Long-term durability does not seem like it will be an issue. As with any other ASICS boot, the build quality is excellent, and I appreciate that ASICS still adds a rivet to the front of the toebox for extra endurance.

Moving on to the sizing, like many other ASICS boots, I went half a size down from my normal size. This means that I got the Jetray Elite in a US 8/UK 7/EU 41.5/JP 26 and the fit is perfect. If you are thinking of getting a pair, I recommend you go with a half size down from your normal size.

On the Ball

In short, the touch is excellent. The Silkywrap is a thin upper that still feels similar to natural materials on the ball. Once broken in, the touch on the ball is fabulous. There is very little between the foot and the ball, and while the upper is not as razor-thin as some other speed boots, such as the Superfly 11, it is still super thin. It is impressive that there is a very direct connection between the ball and the foot, yet no sacrifice has been made to the pliability of the upper to do so.

Part of what makes the Silkywrap Lite upper feel so natural is that the upper retains the leather-like grain that is present on other ASICS boots that have the Silkywrap upper, like the DS Light Pro AG, for example. And yet this is the thinnest version of Silkywrap yet, making it feel like a very thin natural material, while still offering the benefits of a more durable synthetic upper.

A pleasant surprise that I have come across during testing is that there is some friction to the upper. This has become more noticeable when I have played in the rain. It is not super grippy like some other boots on the market, but there is enough there to just help with a bit of extra confidence with the touch on the ball.

Something else that has surprised me is that there is even a very slight pinginess when hitting the ball with power. It is not overly noticeable, but it is present. And as one would expect with a thinner upper material, hitting the ball with oomph is all about what you put in.

What may be unexpected to hear is that the Jetcage does not have too much of a dampening effect when it comes to controlling the ball. This somewhat separates it from Mizuno’s CT Frame, since that had a bit of a dampening effect on it. I do not mind that Jetcage is different, as the stability and lockdown are better than what Mizuno’s CT Frame offered.

Another small thing that ASICS has added that has some slight benefits to the touch is the ASICS logos on the inside quarter and outside forefoot and quarter. Again, it is nothing over the top but adds just that ever so slight extra on the ball when controlling it or dribbling at speed.

If you have read many of my reviews, you’ll know that I’m happy that ASICS has added texturing on the bottom of the forefoot studs since I like to manipulate the ball with the bottom of my feet.

Grip

The ASICS Jetray Elite has the most grippy outsole I have come across in an ASICS boot. While it would be a stretch to say it is as grippy as a boot like Scudetta Kaizen, the Jetray does feel like a speed boot. At the same time, something that the Jetray excels at that other speed boots often do not is that there is plenty of pivoting power.

Many brands focus on straight-line speed or how the boot reacts when pushing off into a sprint, and a lot of speed boots can feel overly grippy when you are trying to turn out of tight spaces. The Jetframe soleplate strikes a nice balance between the two aspects.

The Jetframe is designed in a way that makes it easier to pivot or make a quick turn at speed without feeling stuck to the ground. So, while some straight-line grip is sacrificed to achieve this, I personally prefer the execution of the Jetframe outsole over some other speed boot outsoles on the market.

An additional positive of the soleplate is that there is some nice snapback on the soleplate. Again, while it is definitely not as aggressive as the Scudetta or Superfly 11, there is enough there to be noticeable when getting up on your toes in a sprint.

The design of the outsole helps with that nice snapback as the forefoot material is softer towards the outer part of the foot, while being stiffer down the middle. This helps the forefoot of the soleplate move more naturally with the foot while still giving that nice snap when sprinting.

Going back to the insole for a moment, it works well with the outsole to help distribute pressure. Even on AG, I have not felt any stud pressure in the boots, and they are a comfortable ride.

5mm vs 0mm outsole

When I first started comparing both boots, just from my own bias, I was sure I would end up preferring the 0mm model, as I like to sit as close to the ground as possible.

To my surprise, throughout testing, I kept going back to the 5mm model, and it should be noted that the 5mm model is what I ended up wearing in my match.

I personally do not have the time or money to check on whether ASICS’ internal data science can be backed up with some of my own when it comes to the reduction of muscle fatigue and support for the tendons. The flip side of this is that ASICS is a mostly data-driven company, so I tend to err on the side of taking their published data more seriously than other brands.

What I can say is that the wedge does have the added benefit of giving extra comfort to the heel in terms of shock absorption. As you will know if you have read my work for long enough, I am very focused on how boots deliver when it comes to heel comfort and design. And ASICS is one of the few brands that consistently delivers.

ASICS’ football boots often already have a slight curve to the outsole as the design inspiration comes from running shoes. In a running shoe, the foot often sits at a forward angle in order to put the foot in a ready position to propel the body forward. This is why ASICS shoes often have a slight curve to them and tend to already be put in a position to make it easier to rock forward into a run/sprint.

Many other boots on the market have a somewhat similar design in terms of how the foot is positioned, but this is often achieved by making the rear studs much taller than the forefoot studs. ASICS does a combination of both, and the additional 5mm wedge in the Jetray is supposed to help accentuate this positioning.

And again, while I do not have the data to back this up, the 5mm model feels better to run and sprint in than the 0mm variation.

It is still a tough choice to be fair, but I think the 5mm model offers enough of a benefit to be the preferred option. It also helps that the 5mm option will be the international model, and therefore easier to get a hold of, whereas the 0mm option is specifically for the Japanese domestic market.

ASICS Jetray Elite versus ASICS DS Light X Fly Pro 3 comparison

One of ASICS’ designers did specifically say that the Jetray Elite would replace the X Fly Pro 3, they did just release a new Pro 3 colourway, which somewhat muddies the waters. ASICS does say that they still regard the DS Light X Fly Pro 3 as a speed boot.

The short answer is to get both. The long answer is that while some of it, like the touch on the ball, comes down to preference, the Jetray does have higher performance. But there is some nuance here, as the DS Light X Fly Pro 3 still performs well; the Jetray is just that bit better.

Between the two boots, the Jetray Elite is more of a speed boot in terms of aggressiveness, as well as the lockdown, snapback and overall feel.

The Jetframe is more aggressive soleplate and offers more overall grip. While the Pro 3 has a grippier soleplate than one might expect, the Jetframe soleplate on the Jetray is a speedier evolution of this.

Having the Jetcage system also helps make the lockdown stronger in the Jetray. Which again, the lockdown is still good in the Pro 3; it is just stronger in the Jetray. The same also goes for the stability, as again the Jetray offers just that bit more structure when making a hard cut.

When it comes to the snapback, the Jetray wins out again. Like other areas, the Pro 3 is good, but just not as strong a sensation as what the Jetray offers.

However, something that could swing a decision one way or another is the touch on the ball. The Jetray has a thinner, closer feel to the ball because of the Silkywrap Lite upper. Whereas the X Fly Pro 3 has the regular Silkywrap, which is thicker and plusher.

Obviously, if you want a super close touch on the ball, the Jetray is the better option. Conversely, the Pro 3 will be closer to a natural upper boot feel for the touch, as the upper is plusher to the touch and has some slight cushioning.

Perhaps not unsurprisingly, the thinner upper of the Jetray has more overall volume than the X Fly Pro 3. It does make the Jetray more suitable if you have a wider or higher volume foot, yet at the same time, the deep lacing system means that there is not an issue with fit if your feet are medium to narrower, like mine. Again, I do wish there was just a little bit less forefoot volume in the Jetray, but that is a personal thing.

The Pro 3 does fit a bit more snugly since the plusher upper fills out some of the forefoot. At the same time, the Pro 3 can still fit people with wider feet, it’s just that there is not as much volume as the Jetray Elite. The Pro 3 does fit me a bit better overall because my foot is more of a medium to narrow width.

Overall, the Jetray Elite feels much closer to what one would expect a speed boot to feel like and on feet, as well, it feels closer to the kind of feeling other speed boots might have.

An excellent alternative speed boot

Maybe it is no surprise that I have lots of praise for the ASICS Jetray Elite. But when a boot is this good, it is difficult to not do so. It is great to have a boot feel like it has a super thin natural upper, and yet also has a very responsive and reactive soleplate. The touch on the ball is close; however, the boot still retains that natural feel, with the slight friction to the upper helping exude confidence on the ball.

There is some nice volume to the boot for those with wider or higher volume feet, yet the great lacing system ensures that various foot widths can get the fit they need in the boot. And I also appreciate that no one will have to sacrifice lockdown or stability to get the fit they want because of the Jetcage and how deep the lacing setup is.

Combine all of this with the fact that the Jetray Elite does not slack on comfort, especially with its best-in-class heel, and you have a boot that is ready to take on some of the bigger names on the market. It is one of the best alternative speed boots on the market, and a great option for those looking for something different.

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

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