Another contender

Thanks to Sokito for providing me with the boots

Sokito has come a long way since the original Devista launched in 2022. Thanks to the success of the Scudetta, the brand has been able to continue to push its way into the broader consciousness of the boot world. However, the brand still needs to continue to put out great releases in order to keep that momentum. Unlike bigger brands, Sokito does not have the same kind of resources to spend on ads, player sponsorships (actually, Sokito’s model is the inverse, where players invest in the brand), and the like. It’s a big task, even for far larger companies. Fortunately, the new Sokito Devista Elite alleviates any worries because the team at Sokito has absolutely nailed this one.

Fit and feel

While the Devista Elite uses the same Biotouch material that their Scudetta models use, the brand has reworked the material for the new boots, and it is still impressive how soft the material is out of the box. Remarkably, the same material can be applied to different use cases and yet still be so pliable. And being the Biotouch material means that the upper and the boot as a whole are made from more Bio-based materials (corn, bamboo, beans, sugar, as well as recycled bottles) to try and cut down on the use of virgin plastics.

There is a slight plushness to the upper as well. The upper is thicker than what you would find on the Scudetta Biotouch, but it is wrong to assume that the upper is overly thick. I find that the upper is like what you would find on a modern leather boot, like a Morelia Neo 5, but it is not as thin as something like the Tekela V5. However, I think that this is a benefit to the boot, especially on the ball (more on that below).

What is really striking is how quickly the upper breaks in. Within twenty minutes of my first session (which was a friendly match), the boots felt fully broken in. I cannot praise the boot high enough for how easily the upper softens up.

And this soft upper really helps with overall comfort, which is excellent. For me, it is one of the most comfortable non-leather boots on the market. It is that good, and I cannot speak highly enough of the overall comfort.

Though the upper is absurdly soft, I do find that there is still better stability than I expected, and I don’t feel any rollover when making any deep or hard cuts. At the same time, it’s not as strong as some other boots out there.

One of the other parts of the boot I really appreciate is the Lockmesh tongue that the Devista Elite has. In essence, it is similar to the Halobelt tunnel found on the F50 Hyperfast, and like the F50, helps the boot have great lockdown.

I do normally prefer to have a deeper lacing system, but during testing I found that I like the way it is set up on the Devista. This is probably because the Lockmesh tunnel helps with the lockdown so well. Also, I really appreciate that we have the extra lacehole for the runner’s loop. It’s such a simple addition, but it can help so much with the lockdown.

Something I have also brought up before with off-center laced boots is that the upper on them tends to not sit completely flat on the foot around the area at the edge of the lacing system. Yet, the Sokito Devista Elite does not have this issue, and the upper has been engineered in a way that stops this from occurring. It may seem like a minor change, especially as this is not something that many people bring up, but the fact that Sokito has done this means the boots fit that much better overall.

Right, so now let’s talk about the heel. In general, the heel comfort is good, with some nice, recycled suede-like lining on the inside for added comfort. The heel has nice cushioning, but still not bulky, and there is even a nice fit in terms of the width.

However, the back of the heel is vertically flat, which causes it to feel like the heel is slightly shallow and not as secure as I would want. It is not so big of an issue to be a deal breaker, but having that slight curve to the shape of the heel would have made it feel more locked in. Again, this is one of the reasons why the extra laceholes for the runner’s loop can be so handy.

The insole has some nice comfort, but it is not anything special; still, it works well. One thing I do like about the insole is the subtle topography design on the bottom of the insole, which is something that appears on the Scudetta as well. A cool detail.

In general, the fit has more volume than either of their Scudetta models, as well as mostly eliminating the pinch on the toe. What I really appreciate is that Sokito could have easily overcorrected on the toe height (looking at you, Alpha 2); I think they nailed it. On top of this, the plush upper is so soft that it prevents issues.

The general fit is also adjustable enough for it to fit a variety of foot shapes with few issues; see BootWizard’s review for what they look like on a wide foot. But even for my medium to narrow feet, the fit is excellent. It molds to the foot extremely well.

Of course, the big thing is the sizing. The Devista Elite fits longer than the Scudetta, and I would recommend that you go the same size as the Scudetta, unless you have more space on the end; then go with your normal size in other boots. I personally wear a half size down, and there is enough stretch to mold to my feet, but for pretty much everyone I still recommend going with your normal size in Sokito, which is half up for most people. My normal size in the Devista Elite would be a US 8.5/UK 7.5/EU 41.

On the ball

The debossed Biotouch upper feels excellent on the ball. There are even these little raised dots across the upper that add some friction to the touch, though these are more noticeable when it’s wet. That being said, they are not grippy in a rubberized way; rather, they add some additional 3D texturing to the upper to help enhance the feel of the ball.

And the sensation on the ball is superb. I mentioned this in my playtest reels, but there is this confidence I get on the ball when wearing these that I rarely experience to this level outside of the leather boots. I always feel like I want to be on the ball, and the touch is so satisfying thanks to that slightly spongy Biotouch upper.

It reminds me of another boot that has a similar, but slightly thinner upper. And no, it’s not that one. It is reminiscent of the Furon V8, which also gave this kind of confidence when playing the ball. It is surprising how similarly I enjoyed the Devista Elite to the same degree as those Furons.

Focusing back on the Devista Elite specifically, I also really enjoy striking the ball with power in these. Of course, because of the slightly cushioned upper, there is no pingy sensation, but that’s not what this boot is about. Interestingly, the boots feel more powerful than you might think, and there is some great feedback when hammering the ball.

Also, like some other boots, I do appreciate how well the soleplate can anchor you to the ground when slamming the ball.

Lastly, there is texturing on the bottom of the studs, which I really appreciate for the extra grip when rolling the ball around with the bottom of my feet.

Grip

According to Sokito, the Desvista Elite soleplate is designed for FG and AG surfaces. The first time I wore the boots was on a 4G pitch, and they were great in terms of grip and stability. I also have not felt any stud pressure on any of the surfaces I have used the boots on. I do think that on anything older than a 4G pitch, the studs are probably too long, however. It is handy that these can be used on newer AG surfaces, but the outsole is more of an FG soleplate.

There is a nice amount of dig into the ground without feeling like you’ll get stuck, and the studs have a lot of pivoting power due to their shape. And there is this slightly two-tier height to the taller studs that seems to help with the overall stud pressure. And I also like the two short front studs for the extra little bit of grip when pushing off.

And while it’s a small thing, the two midfoot studs are also appreciated, as they help distribute the pressure of the bottom of the foot, versus the one stud so many brands seem fond of these days.

Surprisingly, there is more snapback in these than in every other power/control boot on the market. It’s even stronger than some speed boots, interestingly. It gets a bit more flexible over time, but there is still more stability than is normal for boots in this category.

Another BOTY contender

An absurd number of excellent boots released this year, and with the Sokito Devista Elite, we have yet another boot that could be up for Boot of the Year. The comfort, short break-in time, and wonderful touch on the ball come together to give us a boot that does far more than its subtle looks hint at. The boot feels so multi-functional that it feels like many different types of players could benefit from what the Devista Elite has to offer. Sokito has delivered another brilliant boot, and I could see people potentially enjoying these even more than the Scudetta. For me, they are now my favorite control boots on the market, and I look forward to using them time and time again.

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

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