Nike5 Elastico Review
The Nike5 Elastico is Fantastico! Synthetic leather upper is lightweight and tough. Overlays on the toe and instep increase durability. Cushioned die-cut EVA insole for maximum comfort. Low profile court design for quality traction and optimal ball control.
Comfort/ Fit
Nike have done a pretty good job with the Elastico line of indoor specific soccer shoes, but that’s not to say that they don’t come with some problems. The Elastico is the lowest of the 3 in the Elastico line, and it is reflected in the quality of materials. The upper is a synthetic leather that actually feels pretty good, considering how cheap it actually is. I’m not saying that the upper is no good, it just isn’t as high quality as a natural leather or a more premium synthetic. The upper still remains soft, despite it’s lower quality, and is still fairly soft. The actual fit of the shoe is also better than I expected. The shoe has an overall wider fit and will fit pretty much any foot type well. The tongue is a thin mesh, and is just thick enough to remain comfortable. The entire liner of the shoe is predominantly a mesh-like material and is very comfortable from right out the box. The shoe requires no real break-in time and does not stretch much at all, which is definitely a positive. One major thing that really bothers me about all of the Elastico line, especially this one, is how thin the sole of the shoe actually is. I found the sole on the Elastico to be very thin, thin to the point that you can feel every little bump under your foot. While this was intended for better ball feel, which I understand completely, it is not at all the best for running, an aspect of soccer that is just as important as controlling the ball. I simply found the sole too thin, and didn’t like running in these shoes on hard indoor surfaces, like a gym floor. I wore my usual size 9US for review and they fit great. If you are looking to order a pair, go with your normal size, as these fit very true to size.
Weight
These shoes weigh in at a very light 8.8oz, but this really isn’t much of a surprise since the shoe is built of predominantly mesh with a minimal sole. That being said, these are still very light indoor soccer shoes, just keep in mind that they will not be the most comfortable when running.
Traction
This is another area where I really think Nike didn’t make the best decision. The rubber used on the sole is not gum rubber, but is instead a very hard rubber, similar to what you would find on most casual shoes. They just don’t grip as well as a softer rubber sole would on a gym floor, which is somewhat disappointing. If the surface that you are running on is even a little bit dirty, these shoes will not grip very well at all.
Touch
The synthetic leather upper is on the cheap side, but because of how soft it is, it provides a fairly good feel for the ball. I would say that the Elastico provides a thinner feel all around, which is great for juggling. The thin mesh tongue, although not the best, is not a bad tongue either, and because it is so thin it really didn’t bother me like most mesh tongues do. For a cheaper indoor soccer shoe, the touch is better than I expected, and is honestly not that bad.
Shooting
Shooting in these shoes is nothing special to be honest. They do not offer any extra shooting elements or any extra padding that would benefit in the shooting department. Shooting in these shoes is most likely exactly what you would expect.
Durability
Even though these are cheaper indoor shoes that do use cheaper materials, they are still very well built and will certainly last a very long time. They do not stretch much at all, which is a plus and the hard rubber sole will not wear away quickly either. There isn’t much that could go wrong with these boots, which is why they are so durable.
The Verdict
These are definitely some of the cheaper indoor shoes that I have reviewed and they did feel cheaper than others that I have worn in the past. The thing with indoor soccer shoes is that they do not cost much in the first place and the difference between a low end and a high-end indoor soccer shoe is generally only $20 to $30. For that much more, I feel that there are better options than the Elastico, but these are not bad either if you aren’t looking to spend more than $50 on a pair of indoor soccer shoes. These are good for the price, but there are better boots for just a little more.
| Comfort/Fit | 7 out of 10 |
| Weight | 9 out of 10 |
| Traction | 6 out of 10 |
| Touch | 7 out of 10 |
| Shooting | 7 out of 10 |
| Durability | 8 out of 10 |
| FINAL SCORE | 44 out of 60 or 73% |
