Straight out of the box I can already tell the upper on the latest Under Armour ClutchFit Force 3.0 is softer and a little more flexible than the 2.0. The all-black design is something I really enjoy. It is an absolute quality looking boot from out of the box and in hand, but as any player knows, it is all about how these will perform on feet.
The Look
As I briefly touched on in my first impressions, the look of this boot is one of my favorite on the market right now. Whether it is the all-black version I tested or the White/Black colorway, this boot is clean. Even though it is early on in the colorway releases for the boot, if the first two colorways have any indication of future releases, UA have some stellar releases in store for us.
The Touch
The ClutchFit Force 3.0 has truly been made with all of the elements any creative player wants in a boot. A lightweight boot with a nice upper, solid soleplate, and comfort and lockdown that rivals any boot on the market, is just what was asked for. The ClutchFit Force 3.0 followed a relatively disappointing 2.0 release that went away from all of the elements that made the ClutchFit line what it was starting out to be.
The Clutchfit 3.0’s upper is thin, with some padding on the inside, to give the boot a Nike Magista Opus I feel. The cutouts on the upper are designed to give more grip on the ball even in wet weather. The cutouts are smaller than found on the 2.0. The new Performance Trivela upper is thinner and softer than what was found on the 2.0 and I couldn’t be happier. Now don’t think that the upper is going to be the softest synthetic on the market, but for a cleat that gives that much protection and comfort, it is a nice improvement from the last generation.
On field, the upper gives a nice bit of padding when striking the ball to take a way a bit of that sting you feel when hitting the ball with power. The control elements or cutouts on the upper help with the one-piece upper design that gives an all-around consistent touch no matter how you need to touch the ball.
One the inside we find some Charged Cushioning that helps reduce the impact on your foot while running. I found this insole extremely comfortable and actually was grippy enough to notice it helped my foot from sliding around in the boot. There was some grip elements added in the heel area that also helped with that. I had no trouble with being locked into the boot during my entire testing period.
The new soleplate provided me with better traction and easier movements. With four conical studs in the heel, and four on either side of the toe box, twisting and turning can be done with zero issues. It was nice to have a soleplate that is flexible in the forefoot and more stiff as it moves back to the heel. It’s not the widest boot out there, but as I have slightly wider than average feet, I had no issues with my regular size in the ClutchFit Force 3.0. Overall, I was surprised by the performance of the ClutchFit and how comfortable I was while playing. If this boot is any indication to where the ClutchFit line is heading, I am excited for future releases.
The Feel
It seems one of the main factors in designing the ClutchFit Force was to create a comfortable control boot that could compete with some of the other top control boots on the market. The insole is actually one of the more padded and grippy insoles on any boot today. The lockdown fit helps aids in that feel and comfort to create a snug fit. The ClutchFit has a one of the best lockdowns and fit and feel on the market and has my stamp of approval in this category. If you are like me, comfort is one of the biggest things I look for in a football boot/soccer cleat. If you are like me in that regard, then you will love the ClutchFit Force 3.0.
Bang For Your Buck
The ClutchFit Force 3.0 retails for $219.99, which is right in between the Nike Magista Opus II, which retails for $230 and the adidas Ace Primeknit 17.1, which sits at $200. The ClutchFit Force is a boot that is reminiscent of the of the original Magista Opus so if you are a looking for a newer release on the market to replace your Opus, then I can highly recommend the ClutchFit Force.
Who’s Wearing It?
Granit Xhaka and Jermaine Jones are the headlining wearers of the ClutchFit Force. Jones is now a member of the LA Galaxy and Xhaka of course plays for Arsenal. So whether you are watching MLS or EPL action, you will probably be able to spot the ClutchFit Force in action.
The Verdict
In a boot world that has seemingly lost it’s way of releasing high quality synthetic control boots, Under Armour has crafted one that will appease anyone looking to step away from the knitted uppers that dominate the market. With its quality build, stunning colorways, and comfort that rivals any cleat on the market, the ClutchFit Force flies under the radar of other control boots, and that’s a shame. So if you are a control boot lover, creative midfielder, or just want a new comfortable boot, I can recommend the ClutchFit Force 3.0 for you.
Sizing: True to size
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