Umbro Geometra 2 Pro Review
There aren’t many shoes that match the leather quality of the Umbro Geometra 2 Pro. Not only does the soft kangaroo leather upper make for a great touch on the ball, but it also allows for an extremely comfortable fit. Kangaroo leather spans the entire forefoot area of the boot, as well as the entire lateral side panel, allowing for a very soft and flexible feel across the entire front half of the boot. The mid-foot is crafted from a slightly stiffer, more supportive synthetic, in the form of what Umbro calls the “A-Frame Support Cradle”. This section of the upper is designed to hug the instep and secure the mid-foot inside of the boot, and it does that very well. The Geometra 2 Pro is part of that rare breed of soccer cleat that is designed to provide a very solid and supportive fit.
Other comfort elements include a suede ankle and heel liner, keeping your heel locked in place while still maintaining a comfortable fit. The removable foam insole has a good thickness to it, providing great step-in comfort, while the Poron insert in the heel gives a slightly cushioned feel. The laces are pushed very slightly to the outside, but still allow for a very secure fit when you pull the laces tight. My one complaint regarding the construction of the boot would be the tongue, which is made from a very thin, cheap feeling piece of microfiber. It doesn’t impact the overall feel of the boot, but I personally would have preferred something a little more padded.
The fit of the Geometra 2 Pro is much improved in comparison to the original model. The soft kangaroo leather upper has plenty of stretch to it, giving you that custom fit after a couple hours of break-in time. The forefoot and toe box area of the boot has plenty of width to it, and will expand if need be due to the stretch of the leather. The A-Frame Cradle through the mid-foot is what provides the majority of the lock-down inside of the boot. It runs into the lacing and spans nearly the entire mid-foot, running right to the base of the soleplate. When you pull the laces tight, you’ll feel the instep of the boot hug your foot, but not to the point where it feels restrictive or uncomfortable. Since the outside of the mid-foot is made completely from kangaroo leather, width is not an issue at all. This is a shoe that is suitable for nearly any foot type, wide or narrow, providing a quality and comfortable fit.
Sizing is pretty simple with the Geometra 2 Pro, as they run very true to size. I wore my usual size 9US for review and the fit in the length was absolutely perfect. So, if you’re looking to order a pair for yourself, I would strongly recommend going with your normal size for the best possible fit. Just keep in mind that the leather will stretch quite a bit, so if they feel a little tight from right out of the box, just give them some time to break-in, and the fit will improve dramatically.
Weight
The Geometra 2 Pro weighs in at a very respectable 9.2oz. This is about average weight for most soccer shoes nowadays, and I’m totally OK with that. The shoe uses high-quality natural materials and feels very solid, which is something that you just don’t see all that often anymore. If you’re looking at a shoe like the Geometra 2 Pro, weight should not be your primary concern.
Traction
The stud pattern and soleplate combination featured on the Geometra 2 Pro is exactly the same as what was found on the original. This is a similar stud pattern to what was originally used on the Nike CTR360 Maestri 1 and 2, and it has stuck around for the latest version of the Geometra. The stud pattern features all bladed studs, designed to provide optimal multi-directional traction, and they do that very well. The standout feature of the stud pattern is the four studs at the base of the forefoot that form a circle, which allows for fantastic grip when planted. The bladed studs also make for a very stable feel, with four large bladed studs running along both the lateral and medial sides of the forefoot, along with four studs under the heel. On natural grass, you’ll find that you get fantastic grip when pushing off in nearly any direction, with the trade off being less freedom to twist and pivot when planted. Remember, stud patterns are all about preference, so if you’re not a fan of bladed stud patterns, than you might want to look elsewhere. If you’re looking for something that will provide great traction on firm, natural grass playing surfaces, than you’ll love the feel of the Geometra 2 Pro.
Touch
Ever since it was first introduced, the Geometra series has been directly compared to the CTR360 line from Nike, mainly because they’re both listed as “control” boots. While there definitely were some similarities between the original Geomtra and the CTR360 Maestri 2, the Maestri 3 and Geometra 2 Pro couldn’t be more different from each other. In a market of soccer cleats that some might argue lacks variety, the Geometra 2 Pro is a definite stand alone.
The key to a good feel for the ball is a quality upper, and the Geometra 2 Pro gets that just right. Simplicity is king in this situation, as Umbro has opted for a classic kangaroo leather to make up the majority of the upper. The leather is incredibly soft and has a nice thickness to it, offering a touch on the ball that is tough to beat. To enhance the feel of the leather, Umbro has included a slightly gritty, rubberized print across the majority of the upper. In the form of a zigzag pattern, the ultra-thin print provides a little bit of extra grip on the ball, without feeling sticky, which is what sets it apart from other grip elements on the market. I found the increased friction to also help in providing just a little bit of added grip on the ball in wet playing conditions, which is always nice.
The instep of the boot also features an interesting control element. Filling out the gaps in the A-Frame Cradle are two large memory foam pads, finished with the same rubberized print found on the leather section of the upper. The finish on the pads is a lot more sticky that the leather part of the boot, allowing for plenty of grip on the ball when passing. The memory foam definitely does its part to help absorb some of the impact when controlling a pass, but admittedly has somewhat of a bulky feel.
My one complaint regarding touch would definitely be bulk. The extra bulk is caused mainly by the seam at the base of the forefoot, where the leather and synthetic areas of the upper meet. There’s also some extra bulk going along the medial side of the laces, mainly due to the loop hole lacing system. The slight amount of extra bulk on the boot wasn’t something that bothered me all that much, but its definitely worth noting.
Overall, I’m really happy with the feel of the Geometra 2 Pro. You can’t go wrong with quality kangaroo leather, and the extra elements featured on the boot only enhance the experience.
Shooting
Striking the ball in the Geometra 2 Pro actually feels really good. You get the natural cushioned feel of the leather upper, along with some additional grip on the ball, provided by the rubberized print. The solid fit and construction of the boot also plays its part in the shoe maintaining its rigidity when striking through the ball, while the bladed stud pattern allows for very solid grip when planting your foot for a shot. Striking the ball felt better than expected, and will surely not disappoint.
Protection
The Geometra 2 Pro actually offers quite a bit in the way of protection. Between the natural padding of the kangaroo leather and the extra bulk across the top of the foot, this boot will definitely do its part in absorbing some of the blow should you get stepped on. The boot also features an internal plastic heel counter, which not only helps to keep your heel locked in place, but will also provide some decent protection against kicks from the back. As a whole, if protection is something that is important to you, than you should definitely take a look at the Geometra 2 Pro.
Durability
The solid construction and quality materials combine to make a boot that should go the distance. I had no issues with durability through out testing. The bond between the soleplate and the upper has remained firmly intact, and given that you stick to using the boots exclusively on natural grass, you shouldn’t have any issues with durability. Keep in mind that the natural leather upper does require some maintenance in order to keep the upper in optimal condition. Also keep in mind that the firm ground version of the Umbro Geometra 2 Pro, or any FG soccer shoe for that matter, is for use on natural grass playing surfaces, and not artificial grass or turf. Using any FG soccer shoe on an artificial playing surface will have a major impact on the longevity of the boot.
The Verdict
I really enjoyed wearing the Geomtra 2 Pro. It combines classic and modern elements to create a boot that truly stands out from the crowd when it comes to performance. The high quality kangaroo leather upper, comfortable fit and various grip/control elements, combine to form a boot that offers a little bit of everything. Its not for everybody, but if you’re a fan of leather boots, and want to try something a little different, than I would definitely take a look at the Geometra 2 Pro.
| Comfort/Fit | 10 out of 10 |
| Weight | 8 out of 10 |
| Traction | 8 out of 10 |
| Touch | 9 out of 10 |
| Shooting | 9 out of 10 |
| Protection | 9 out of 10 |
| Durability | 8 out of 10 |
| FINAL SCORE | 61 out of 70 or 87% |
