Having dominated the Football kits and cleats market for decades, sportswear giants such as Adidas, Puma and Nike usually attract all the fanfare in this segment.
But with the emergence of Castore and the growing influence of New Balance, the tides are slowly changing, it’s not all about the ‘big 3’ anymore.
Another such name, which has usually been on the fringes of the market, is the American Sportswear brand Under Armour.
The company was heavily invested in developing a growing presence in Football, but after a series of losses, they lost out on basically all major sponsorship deals, including the expiration of their contract with English Heavyweights Tottenham Hotspur.
Their presence in the game has been diminishing ever since, but the brand has seemingly pivoted towards solely sponsoring Football players instead.
Under Armour has signed stars such as Liverpool fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Aston Villa duo of Matty Cash and Tyrone Mings, and more recently, Real Madrid fullback Toni Rudiger.
While a larger push into Football doesn’t appear to be on the cards, Under Armour has silently been releasing some solid Football boot offerings, including their newest special edition release for Black History Month.
The BHM collection spans a variety of gear and apparel, and it seeks to commemorate and celebrate the achievements of Black people across history.
As part of the limited-edition drop, Under Armour have also released a stunning new colourway for the Clone Magnetico Pro 2s, the boots worn by Toni Rudiger and Trent Alexander-Arnold to name a few.
The retail version of the boots comes in three standard colourways Orange, Silver and Black. But the specially created BHM edition is far from standard.
Instead, it’s loud, vibrant and entirely unique.
The colourway titled ‘Black/ Cruise Gold’ offers up a Black textured upper paired with white applications all over.
Splashes of colour can be seen everywhere else, including the tongue, collar lining, laces and sole plate.
In line with the theme, the tongue displays a slogan which reads, ‘Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Celebrated.’
The most eye-catching element of the boot is undoubtedly the sole plate.
Enveloped in gold with a metallic presentation, the plate produces an almost holographic effect with multi-colour applications all around.
It also displays various slogans that align with the core theme, all present in different typefaces.
The overall design is a looker, to say the least, and it is certainly one of the more unique ones we’ve come across all year.
As for the boot features, they remain the same as the base Clone Magnetico Pro 2.
Just like the inaugural version, these special-edition boots feature a layer of flexible materials that make for a snug, glove-like fit.
The sole plate includes three differently-shaped studs for swiftness in movement and enhanced agility.
The boot also features Under Armour’s trademark Charged Cushioning, which allows for impact absorption.
In case the vibrant boots have caught your fancy, they’re available for sale in the Under Armour store, with the price being $260.