When it comes to showcasing their latest release, no one does it better than Nike, and so was the case at “The Perfect Strike” event in New York this past week. The all-new and extremely advanced Nike T90 Laser IV was the feature presentation, a boot designed with the everyday striker in mind. Whether it is long shots, chips, making quick turns or taking defenders on 1-vs-1, the T90 Laser IV has been designed to fit the requirements of a goalscorer.

At the event, the new boot was broken down and fully detailed piece-by-piece, allowing even the most amateur player in the room an opportunity to understand the technology included in the range. We were treated to a presentation from the boot’s Designer Doug Wilken, as well as a walk-through of Nike’s latest soccer ball, the Seitiro.

The highlight of the Nike T90 Laser IV is the new Adaptive Shield that has replaced the 5-pod and fin design seen on the T90 Laser III. It has been positioned and defined to provide an ideal strike of the ball. The region is designed to flex as you make contact with the ball, amplifying the natural movements of the foot. Nike’s approach to the soleplate is also very different. Instead of using carbon fiber, they have gone with a flexible Traction PU soleplate, while also remodeling the stud design to maximize speed of penetration and release without increasing stud pressure.

Having soaked in the technical aspect, we were then given the opportunity to fully test the new power boot in an 11 vs. 11 game. Each player sported a brand new pair, right out of the box. Having spent some time discussing afterward, it seems that no players encountered any break-in issues – a huge plus for the boot right off the bat! It seems that the T90 Laser IV is created with comfort in mind. I personally found that the upper provides one of the most natural feels you will find in a soccer cleat, with its fit mimicking the movements of your feet to full effect. We tested the Synthetic version – Nike has also released a Kanga-lite upper – and it made for an ideal choice on the slick turf surface.

On release, the Nike T90 Laser IV will retail for $219.99

For more details on the release event, check out SoccerCleats101.