Softness

Thanks to Akuna Cinquestelle for sending me the boots.

In the 90’s Italian football was dominant; all the best players in the world seemed to gravitate towards Serie A, and Italian football boots were considered the highest quality you could buy. Sadly, that time has passed, and boots made in Japan like the Mizuno Morelia II Japan are now considered the top tier when it comes to leather boots. However, it would be wrong to dismiss what Italian brands have been producing for years. Decades of experience and know-how cannot be dismissed overnight, and while Italian boots may no longer be the meta, boots like the Akuna Cinquestelle Evo show that the aura is still there. And for good reason.

The Evo may not have all the modern accoutrements of many boots on the market, but its high-quality, supple leather shows why Italian-made football boots still have a place in the modern market.

Fit and Feel

One of the joys of unboxing an Italian handcrafted boot is the smell. The smell of the leather conditioner is immediately noticeable, even before getting the boots in hand. However, the most impressive thing when getting the Evo in hand for the first time is how impressively soft the boots feel. They are arguably one of the softest out-of-the-box boots available right now.

What is even more impressive is that the boots are actually made of calfskin leather rather than kangaroo leather. The quality of the calf leather is so high that you could easily convince someone that they are kangaroo leather. In fact, I find that the leather on the Evo is better than some kangaroo leathers I have come across.

Because the leather is so soft, as well as the deep lacing system, the boots feel suitable for a majority of foot types. The upper has a nice amount of stretch, and yet the boots do not feel like they have overstretched either.

I also like the cross-stitched pattern used on the upper, as not only does it look classy, but it helps keep the boot from feeling sloppy and helps prevent overstretching.

At this point, the boots feel perfectly shaped to my feet. As far as we have come with synthetics, knits, and the like, for the most personal and best fit (outside of getting boots custom made for your feet), a boot like these Akuna Cinquestelle Evo are the way to go.

The boots wrap around my feet nicely, and there are no weird gaps. It really does feel like the Evo was made specifically for my feet, and it is a sensation that most people should experience after a short break-in period.

And that break-in period is indeed short. Within twenty minutes of starting my first playtest, the boots felt mostly broken in. By the second playtest, the Evo felt fully wrapped around my feet. And it has to be said that the boots are very comfortable because of the upper and how easily it breaks in.

Interestingly, while the heel does not have much cushioning, the shape of the heel is neutral enough to shape around the wearer’s heel. I did experience some initial hot spots, but those went away during the middle of the second playtest. That being said, I do recommend wearing grip socks with these.

I also do wish that they had added just a bit more cushioning to the heel, especially as it would complement the rest of the soft upper. At the same time, the natural leather lining on the inside of the heel is a nice choice, and it seems to be slightly more grippy after getting some wear to it.

It does also need to be pointed out that there is not much side-to-side stability in the boots. This is obviously because of the soft upper, but I personally don’t mind this as that’s not something these boots are designed to do.

Similar to this, the lockdown is good enough, but again, the Evo is not designed to give amazing lockdown. There is enough lockdown to stop the foot from feeling like it’s sliding around inside of the boot. One small change to improve the lockdown is to switch out the laces. The laces have this slight stretch to them, which I feel negatively impacts the lockdown. A lot of handcrafted Italian brands use a lace like this, so it comes with the territory.

I have also been tempted to add an extra lacehole in order to do a runner’s loop, but I am still going back and forth on this. The Evo doesn’t really need it, but it is nice to have just in case I want it.

The tongue is longer than it looks in the pictures, and I thought this would bother me, especially as the tongue is thicker than many others on the market. But actually, I don’t really notice the tongue length because the materials are so soft, and it does add just a little bit of extra comfort, as well as getting rid of any lacebite.

Surprisingly, the insoles do have a bit of cushioning to them. I say this because when I have worn other Italian handcrafted boots in the past, the insoles have been as bare minimum as was possible. So, it is nice that a little bit of thought went into the insole. I could do with just a little bit more cushioning, just to match the comfort of the upper.

While I have already praised the quality of the upper, in addition to this, the fact that Akuna Cinquestelle stitches the soleplate to the upper in the forefoot and adds a rivet in the heel means the boots feel well-built and durable. The brand says that the leather is treated on the toe to be anti-abrasion. So, there have been zero issues with the boots.

It does need to be noted that the boots are heavier than many modern boots on the market, but again, that’s not what these boots are about.

For the sizing, I went a full size down from my normal size and the fit is perfect. This means that I got the Akuna Cinquestelle in an EU 40.5. I recommend you go a full size down if you are thinking about getting a pair.

On the ball

Interestingly, while the leather is not as thin as many other leather boots on the market, it is thinner than expected. So, while there is a cushioned feel on the ball, it is not as bulky or overly plush as you might think, given the Evo’s looks.

The soft upper has this lovely feel on the ball that is natural in the best way possible, and it is just a joy to manipulate the ball in the boots. Obviously, the leather upper does mean that there is no pingy sensation when hitting the ball with power, but much like other parts of the boot, that’s not the purpose of these boots.

What I’ve found is that I really enjoy striking the ball on the volley. As mentioned above, the tongue has some nice cushioning to it yet is still soft enough to have some feedback when hitting the ball. So, not only is the sting taken out of the ball when hammering it, but there is still nice responsiveness.

Dribbling is exactly what you’d expect from a boot like this; it’s natural feeling with no gimmicks whatsoever. Exactly what I want from an all-leather boot.

Grip

The soleplate Akuna Cinquestelle uses for their boots is pretty basic, but it does the job. There is enough grip to get good traction, and I even feel confident to wear these on AG with no issues. It’s a solid soleplate and really doesn’t need to be anything more than that.

One of the big positives, however, is that an AG soleplate is readily available, so if you are worried, you can always order these boots with that plate instead.

During my first session, I experienced just a little bit of stud pressure on the ball of my foot, but that issue was gone before the first session was over.

There is enough stability where it is needed right under the middle of the foot, but I do wish there was just a little bit more stiffness in front of the midfoot section. It’s not bad, per se; it’s just something I prefer to have.

Buttery soft

Italy no longer dominates world football as they once did, and their boots may no longer be seen as the top of the pile, but the Akuna Cinquestelle Evo reminds us that it would be wrong to dismiss them. The absurdly soft and quality upper, the excellent fit, and the great touch on the ball combine to make a boot that feels exquisite and extremely Italian.

The Evo is a classy boot that’s as much no-nonsense as they are elegant. And really, anyone who adores leather boots owes it to themselves to try them. And make sure you have an espresso after wearing them.

If you are looking for a pair for yourself, click the link here: https://bit.ly/akuna_Andrew and use the code Bootwizard for 10% off!

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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.

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