If you’re looking to know the difference between the Maestri II and the original Maestri it’s the fit. The Maestri II is a much better, tighter fitting shoe. This is due to the lacing system that now goes down lower, allowing for a tighter fit throughout the entire shoe, something that was a problem on the original. When you pull the laces tight, your foot feels locked in. The fit is now fantastic and because the shoe is more of a normal width, almost anyone can wear these boots. They are also very comfortable, as Nike seemed to have perfected the Kanga-lite material as this version is slightly softer than the original Maestri, but still not as soft as real kangaroo leather, but close. Nike has also added several new comfort elements, such as a suede lined heel as well as a slightly thicker tongue. The sole plate is also very good as you get almost no stud pressure. The only complaint that I still have with this shoe, as well as the original, is lace bite that the instep lacing system causes. Other than that, this is one of the most comfortable, best fitting shoes on the market right now. I wore my regular size 9US in this shoe.
Weight
At 10.8oz, the original weighing 9.8oz, this shoe is not a light shoe. They are not noticeably heavy or anything, but they aren’t light either. To be honest, I don’t know where the extra weight comes from because the shoe feels less bulky compared to the original. Overall, a little disappointed at Nike, but I guess that’s why they make the Elite series.
Traction
This shoe sports the exact same sole plate and stud pattern as the original, one which I liked quite a bit. It is made up of many small blades that go around the outside edges of the boot with a couple studs in the middle in the form of a circle. It is one of the most stable sole plates and it provides some of the best grip you can get from a firm ground stud pattern. Take note that this is not a good stud pattern to be used on turf as it is way to clingy and becomes almost dangerous wearing these on turf.
Touch
This is what the shoe is marketed for, and this is what it does. If you are looking for a shoe that will provide a great touch, these are what you are looking for. These shoes are slightly thinner than the original Maestri, but still retain the same effect, which is a soft touch. The two memory foam pads do a great job of cushioning the ball upon impact, and although they are a different shape than the original Maestri, they feel the same. The touch is great, but there is one improvement that I did notice from the original, and that is the pass pad. The pad now sticks out off the shoe and features small nubs that come off of it, similar to that on the instep of the Laser III. It does do much, but u do feel it when it makes contact with ball. Overall, I truly do feel like this shoe does help with your touch, and is definitely something to try.
Shooting
Shooting with these shoes is pretty much the same as the originals. They are very padded which feels nice when striking the ball with the laces. They do not provide any extra grip for bending the ball, but do provide you with a good feel for the ball despite the large amount of padding. What I did notice was that upon striking the ball with the outside of the foot, directly on the memory foam pads, I was able to generate a large amount of spin making for some pretty incredible free kicks. I don’t know if this was just me, but that’s what I felt while wearing these shoes.
Durability
This is probably Nike’s most solidly built shoes, as there are no extra gimmicks that could affect the durability of the shoe. Because the kanga-lite material will not stretch, you should have no problems with the shoe over-stretching. I have heard nor seen any problems with these shoes and would say that these shoes are definitely durable enough to last you the entire season.
Protection
These shoes actually do provide a fair amount of protection. With the memory foam pads on top of your foot, there is some padding should you get stepped on. The heel is also hard plastic, so kicks in the back of the heel should not hurt too badly. Because the shoe is so padded, the protection is there.
The Verdict
You can’t go wrong in buying these shoes. It provides the best touch you can get from any shoe out there, even better than a kangaroo leather shoe. The fit now stacks up to the rest of the shoe, which is what the original shoe lacked. So is the Nike CTR360 Maestri II better than the original? The answer is yes.
| Comfort/Fit | 9 out of 10 |
| Weight | 6 out of 10 |
| Traction | 8 out of 10 |
| Touch | 10 out of 10 |
| Shooting | 8 out of 10 |
| Protection | 9 out of 10 |
| Durability | 8 out of 10 |
| FINAL SCORE | 58 out of 70 or 83% |
