I just got these shoes...pretty good price since they are last year's model. I am normally a hardcore advocate of simple-classic-leather soccer shoes, but I tried a pair of these and decided I should at least give the new space-man soccer boots a whirl. They look pretty sweet, and the synthetic upper is super soft, snug, and seems to provide a lot of "gripping" surface for really tight ball control. We will see how they work out on the pitch--they seem to work pretty good in my living room thus far.