Kelme Michelin Star360
Review
COMFORT/FIT
The Star360 is Kelme’s go at a full blown futsal shoe, and I
have to say that the final product is very good. The upper of the shoe uses four
materials, Nappa leather, synthetic, suede and mesh, that are all intertwined,
and while at first it may come across as a bit much, it all comes together to
form a really solid fitting shoe. The shoe seems to fit fairly wide
through the heel and midfoot, while being slightly tighter in the forefoot,
allowing for the leather to stretch and form to your foot. The heel is lined
with a very soft and slightly padded mesh, which is very comfortable and does a
good job of securing the heel in place. The sole also provides a solid amount of
cushion on very hard surfaces, while still maintaining that “low to the ground”
feel that is so important for a futsal shoe. This is a shoe that is going to fit
pretty much any foot type with no issues whatsoever.
WEIGHT
It
weighs in at an average 10.4oz, which is nearly on par with other indoor soccer
shoes on the market. While this may be about an ounce more than other high-end
indoor soccer shoes on the market, the Star360 uses that extra weight in
delivering a very high quality rubber sole from Michelin.
Given that Michelin was involved in the making of the sole
for the Star360, I fully anticipated to get one of the best gum-rubber soles on
the market, and I am happy to say that it fully met my expectations. The rubber
that is used on the sole is probably the best quality of any indoor/futsal shoe
on the market. It is soft, allowing for plenty on grip, but it still has a solid
feel to it, which means that it is grip that is going to last. You will also
notice the star pattern on the bottom of the sole that repeats itself through
out the entire sole. The reasoning for this is so that you have as many “grip
points” on the sole as possible. If the sole were completely flat and you
slipped a little bit, there is nothing to prevent a slip, where as if you have
200 little grip points on the sole and you begin to slip, you are more likely to
regain traction from another part of the sole. The sole on the Star360 is easily
the best sole on the market.
TOUCH
The indoor/ futsal game is all about touch. Like I explained
earlier, the Star360 upper is composed of several different materials, but
likely the upper was very well thought out, and it all comes together to make a
shoe with a very clean touch on the ball. The forefoot is divided into three
sections that use leather, and that is the instep, the top of the toes and the
instep. These three sections are divided by either a synthetic material or
suede, which also wraps around the toe. The leather itself is very thin and very
lightly padded, while also remaining quite soft, so touches on the ball feel
very precise and controlled. There is also suede sections running through the
instep and toe of the shoe, which adds a little bit of grip where you need it.
The back half of the shoe is mainly a mesh, with synthetic supports, but none of
that tampers with the overall feel of the boot. It is also worth noting that the
tongue is a full mesh and is a little on the padded side, something that I
generally do not like on a soccer shoe of any kind, but for whatever reason, the
tongue on the Star360 really didn’t bother me. To say the least, the Star360 is
going to provide an excellent feel for the ball, and while it may not offer a
super traditional feel, the feel that it does offer is still a premium one.
DURABILITY
The quality of the Kelme Star360 is great. Everything really
comes together to create a really solidly built shoe. The materials don’t seem
delicate at all and I am confident that these shoes will be able to take a
beating. The sole is also a real plus when it comes to durability simply because
of how high quality the rubber is. It is going to provide long lasting grip and
is not going to wear nearly as quickly as other soft, gum-rubber soles normally
would. Although this shoe was not designed to be used as a street soccer shoe, I
am confident that the sole can handle the harsh conditions out on the street
with minimal wear. If you are looking for an indoor shoe that is going to last,
the Star360 is a very strong option.
THE VERDICT
When I first saw the Kelme Star360, I was definitely
skeptical of how many different materials were used on the upper and how it
would all come together to make for a futsal shoe that still offered a solid
feel for the ball. Luckily, I was wrong in my assumptions, and I can now safely
say that the Star360 is amongst the best as far as indoor/futsal shoes go. It
offers a thin touch, a very high quality sole and very strong build quality,
making it a shoe that anybody would like should they give this boot a go. If you
are looking for a brand new pair of premium futsal soccer shoes, the Kelme
Michelin Star360 is a fantastic option.
