The Nike CTR360 Trequartista III SG-Pro series from Nike has always been a solid takedown option to the higher end Maestri. The Trequartista III is easily the best version of the Trequartista, and to be completely honest, there isn’t too much of a difference between the Trequartista and the Maestri this time around. The Trequartista is one of the best values on the market.
Comfort/Fit
The Trequartista III has a fit that is nearly identical to that of the Maestri, which is great. You also get a premium Kanga-Lite synthetic leather upper, which is Nike’s imitation kangaroo leather, offering a leather-like feel with the benefits of a synthetic, meaning less weight, less stretching and less water intake. While this version of Kanga-Lite is not the new version that is used on the Maestri III, it is still a premium synthetic upper, giving the shoe a premium feel. The upper is soft and flexible from right out of the box. I had no issues with discomfort whatsoever, and I would say that the Trequartista IIIs are ready to go from the first time that you put them on your feet. The instep lacing system, which is somewhat of a trademark in the CTR360 line, allows for a very secure fit, allowing you to pull the laces nice and tight, with no discomfort. Other comfort elements include a synthetic leather heel liner, a foam insert in the tongue and a nicely cushioned, removable insole. As far as the fit is concerned, I would say that the Trequartista III, like the Maestri III, will fit about a moderately wide foot. Given that you don’t have an overly wide foot, you should have no issues with the width of the Trequartista III. Just keep in mind that the Kanga-Lite upper has very little stretch to it, so the way that the shoes fit from right out of the box won’t be too far off from how they will fit once you break them in. Sizing is also the same as the Maestri III, fitting about half a size small. This is the only shoe in the Nike line that does not fit true to size, so where I would normally wear a size 9US in pretty much any other line from Nike, I needed a size 9.5US for the same fit. So if you are looking to order a pair, I would recommend going up half a size in order to ensure the proper fit.
Weight
The Trequartista III weighs in at 9.4oz, which is about 1oz more than the Maestri III. If you wanted to compare the two in terms of weight, the Maestri III does feel a little lighter when you have them in your hands, but when they are on your feet, you will have a hard time differentiating the two boots. 9.4oz hovers slightly below average in terms of weight, and is a good weight overall for the shoe, in my opinion. The Trequartista III is a shoe that certainly isn’t going to weigh you down.
Traction
The new SG-Pro stud pattern got people excited, mainly because it is a stud pattern that was exclusive to the professionals, but now Nike have released it to the public. This is also the same SG-Pro stud pattern that can be found on the CTR360 Maestri III, the Tiempo Legend IV and the T90 Laser IV. What makes the SG-Pro stud pattern so attractive is that it isn’t a particularly aggressive soft ground stud pattern. With that being said, there are two sets of studs included with the purchase of a pair of SG-Pro shoes. Included are a set of 11mm and 13mm, as well as a set of 13mm and 15mm studs, for really soft ground. If you look at the shorter set of metal studs, they do not extend much past the plastic, or firm ground studs, making this a stud pattern that you can get away with should the ground that you are playing be consistently soft-ish. If you are playing regularly on firm ground or hard ground, the standard firm ground stud pattern is what you want. Another misconception with the SG-Pro stud pattern is that you can use it on turf or artificial surfaces. I strongly suggest not doing so. As the name suggests, the stud pattern is for “soft ground”, which is more or less the exact opposite of a shallow artificial surface. As far as the performance of the stud pattern is concerned, the plastic studs scattered around the metal ones do make for a different feel than you would normally get from your standard six stud, soft ground stud pattern. There are some additional grip points on the shoe, but what I am a big fan of is the extra stud right at the toe. This stud just gives that little bit of extra grip when pushing off, which could be the difference between slipping and staying on your feet in soft field conditions. Other than that, I would say that the plastic studs give the stud pattern a feel more like a firm ground stud pattern on the ball. If you have ever used a pair of six studs before, you know that feel of somewhat of an awkwardness if you ever use the bottom of your foot to control the ball, and that just doesn’t happen with the SG-Pro stud pattern. It is easy to see why the pros are choosing to use the mixed sole stud patterns, but just keep in mind that they are still intended and should be used on soft ground.
Touch
The Trequartista III offers a fantastic touch on the ball, and this is all due to the Kanga-Lite upper. While this isn’t the new Kanga-Lite 2.0 that can be found on the Maestri III, the version of Kanga-Lite that Nike used is still of very high quality. The upper is soft and flexible, and is the only synthetic leather upper on the market that can provide that natural cushioning, that could previously be found only from a natural leather shoe. Having the laces pushed over to the instep leaves the majority of the top of the forefoot and the entire front of the shoe to be free of any kind of obstructions, leaving you with a completely smooth surface, which feels great on the ball. One major difference from the Maestri III is the lack of ACC coating (All Conditions Control), which is essentially an invisible coating on the shoe that is supposed to allow for better grip in wet conditions. This gives the Maestri III a unique feel, but if you aren’t looking for all of that fancy stuff, and just want a soft touch on the ball, than the Trequartista III will deliver. The pass pad, located on the instep of the shoe, is also slightly different from the one that can be found on the Maestri III. The pass pad is made up of small rubber strips, but of a much less abrasive, and overall much less noticeable texturing. Overall, the touch on the ball that you get from the Trequartista III is fantastic, and I wouldn’t call it any better or worse than the Maestri III, which is a very good thing.
Shooting
Striking the ball in the Trequartista III is nothing that you wouldn’t expect. The upper is pretty well free of any kind of striking elements, so hitting the ball feels very natural. The natural padding of the Kanga-Lite upper feels great when striking the ball, offering a no nonsense, striking surface which is something that personally enjoy. The rubber element on the instep of the shoe is too minimalistic to have any kind of noticeable effect when striking the ball, adding no amount of grip that is going to make for any kind of noticeable difference. Overall, the simple design of the shoe and solid fit, makes for a great shooting experience.
Protection
The Trequartista III offers enough protection for pretty much anybody. If you are worried about your safety out on the field or just want to feel like you are covered, just in case, the Trequartista III will definitely provide that piece of mind. It offers a nice blend of softness, while still feeling solid enough to wear it will provide some decent protection should you get stepped on.
Durability
The beauty of Kanga-Lite is that it has that premium leather feel, without the required maintenance of a natural material. Kanga-Lite requires no type of treatment to keep it soft, keeps its shape very well, absorbs little water and dries quickly. All of the flaws of leather that can have impact on the durability of the shoes, are not a concern when it comes to synthetics. Keep in mind that the shoe is not designed for use on any type of artificial surfaces, and use of the shoes on these types of surfaces will have a major impact on the durability of the shoes. Should you wear these only on natural grass surfaces, you should have no issues with getting at least a season’s worth of play out of the Trequartista III.
The Verdict
I am generally not one to recommend a takedown model, mainly because you can generally find a better quality shoe from a smaller company for the same price as the takedown model. The Trequartista III changes that, offering a top end fit and a premium Kanga-Lite upper, with a sub $100 price tag. The Trequartista III, for me, is nearly as good as the Maestri III, and if the couple of extra features of the Maestri III just don’t interest you, than I would strongly recommend taking a look at a pair of Trequartista IIIs. The Trequartista III is one of the best values currently on the market, and is a fantastic option for anybody looking for a top quality shoe, at a lower price.
| Comfort/Fit | 9 out of 10 |
| Weight | 8 out of 10 |
| Traction | 10 out of 10 |
| Touch | 10 out of 10 |
| Shooting | 8 out of 10 |
| Protection | 8 out of 10 |
| Durability | 8 out of 10 |
| FINAL SCORE | 61 out of 70 or 87% |
