PAN is a brand that is attempting to spread its wings. With the release of the PAN Legenda K-2, the Thai company have attempted to develop a rival to the Adidas 11Pro and the Nike Tiempo Legend IV. Despite being hugely popular in the East, it is the West where the money is for companies, and that is where PAN are aiming to establish themselves. Have they created a boot that can rival the ‘big’ companies? Carry on reading to find out.
Design – 3/5 (An appealing design that draws your attention)
It’s difficult to call the PAN Legenda K-2 an elegant boot. It takes clear inspiration from other boots on the market (we’ll let you decide which), and it does a reasonable job of replicating a stereotypical heritage boot. I received the Red/Yellow/White colourway, and it’s bright. The stripes are textured, vivid yet subtle. The stitching pattern on the toe of the boot makes the upper look soft, and the ‘Legenda’ on the heel counter is a nice touch.
It’s certainly a colourway that attracts attention, and I suppose that’s what PAN need to grow bigger as a company. When wearing them, I received a lot of feedback, some positive and some negative, about the bright red colour. It looks better in your hands than it does on pictures, and it’s a colour I’ve slowly grown to appreciate.
Comfort – 4.5/5 (A superbly comfortable boot that is almost unrivalled in terms of comfort)
Amazingly, PAN have absolutely nailed this category. The Kangaroo leather is super supple, bending and conforming to your every touch. The tongue of the boot is honestly the best I have ever experienced in a football boot. It’s punctuated with holes for a more breathable ride, but is thick and luxurious. It wraps around your foot and locks it in place. Any budding football company out there – take note: This is how to make a tongue on a boot.
The inside of the boot has a grippy lining that like the tongue, hugs your foot. The padded upper is just really, really comfortable. If I had to have a slight grumble, it would be that the heel lining is a little too firm for me. If you compare it to say, the Nike T90 Laser IV, then it’s clear to see that the Legenda K-2 is a whole lot more uncomfortable. While it won’t ever lead to any blisters (there is no chance of that with these boots), it’s just a minor quibble that I would look to amend on future models of the boot.
Performance – 3.5/5 (A no-nonsense boot that will do everything you need it to)
This is truly a typical heritage boot. It offers a no thrills ride basically, providing the user with a nice, soft touch, but with little technology that aims to improve performance. It’s one of those boots that is truly back-to-basics. Does it compare to the bigger companies heritage releases? I’d say so.
Please note: The boots themselves weight in at just under 300 grams in a US9.5.
Touch: By far the best category for this boot. Every opportunity I had to bring the ball down from a height, I encountered absolutely no problems. The PAN Legenda K-2 will aid your touch, with the K-Leather upper providing an area to caress the ball. The padded upper almost absorbs some of the impact, helping you bring the ball under control immediately. As mentioned several times now, the upper is padded, but not too padded. It’s just the right thickness for me, and the PAN Legenda K-2 certainly helps your first touch and dribbling ability.
Kicking: Two words are appropriate for this: thoroughly unspectacular. As mentioned in my introduction to the performance section, this boot is so ‘back-to-basics’ it almost harms it in terms of kicking. The soleplate is unbelievably flexible, and when you kick you can kind of feel it bend under your feet. Of course, this isn’t dangerous but just something that you’ll have to adjust to.
There is nothing that will help your kicking, but I found these to be surprisingly good with corners and freekicks when bending the ball in. I’m not sure why this is, but it’s just something I noticed. Funnily enough, when striking the ball, there is more of a muffled thud. rather than a ping. After recently reviewing the Adidas F50 miCoach AdiZero, this is the complete opposite to what I’ve been used to. It’s quite pleasing to kick the ball, and there is not a chance you’ll get bruised feet from striking the ball alone!
Traction: Again, this is no-thrills. A hugely basic conical stud pattern offers you a comfortable ride, with no added promises of ‘faster acceleration’ or ‘greater turning ability’. It gets the job done, and I like that. The standard 10 studs in the front and 4 in the back is so standard, and so well practised and tuned that by now it should be perfect. There’s a reason it’s been used for so many years on the Adidas Copa Mundial, and that’s because it works.
Protection: That padded upper comes to the fore again! Combine the upper with the even more padded tongue and it creates a very protective boot for a lightweight heritage boot. The Legenda K-2 is a mixture between protection and touch, which in my eyes is really rather fantastic.
Value – 2.5/5 (Decent value for a boot of this quality)
They retail for around £100 (converted) and are of decent value. You just get the boots in a box, no bag or anything like you’d expect from a ‘bigger’ company. It’s simple – you buy the boots and that’s it.
In terms of durability, this is the one area I’m disappointed in. The soleplate has took one hell of a battering despite me being careful over them. The tip of the soleplate has cracked (see picture below) and there has been some sole separation already. The separation has happened on both boots, and it’s a shame as this really is a top performance boot!
It’s impossible to tell whether this damage is a freak accident, for example a heavy tackle, whether it is a one-off, and shouldn’t happen with any other boots or if it’s a regular occurrence. Personally, the first time I picked them up I noticed immediately that the soleplate was flimsy, and noted that something like this would no doubt happen. Don’t let it retract from the other positive aspects about the boots however.
To conclude;
Design – 3/5
Comfort – 4.5/5
Performance – 3.5/5
Value – 2.5/5
Total – 13.5/20 or 67.5%
Positives:
1. Comfort -They are almost unmatched in terms of comfort. From start to finish, these were a delight to wear on your feet. No hotspots at any one time, a comfortable insole and the super-soft K-Leather upper is a joy. The PAN Legenda K-2 most certainly won’t let you down in terms of comfort.
2. Touch - The touch is really great, I always felt in control of the ball when wearing these boots.. And for me, that is a really great thing! The upper is almost perfectly padded in my eyes. They remind me of the Mizuno Supersonic Wave a lot in terms of the upper.
Negatives
1. Durability - There is some sole separation and of course, the soleplate has cracked slightly already. It’s difficult to say to malign the boot as there is no concrete proof that this happens regularly.
2. Fit - I haven’t mentioned this in the review itself, but the fit is slightly unusual. It is roomy, and it strikes me as a very wide fitting shoe. I’m not sure whether this is because PAN normally cater to wider fitting people, or they’ve just got the sizing wrong!
3. Availability - As you will have probably gathered by now, I like these boots a lot. Most likely, I am one of the only people in Britain to own a pair. That in itself is frustrating. If this boot was open to both the American and British market, I have no doubt it’d be a popular choice.
My final say on these boots is as follows: PAN is an unknown brand to be frank, but they have pulled out a top release in my eyes. The comfort is superb, the touch is really nice and you get the boots for a reasonable price! It’s that instance of a boot not being Nike or Adidas so people stay away. Repeatedly, smaller brands such as Pele Sports and PAN produce quality boots that consumers just won’t buy because they think they’re ‘lower quality’ or they just don’t have the brand on them. If you have the opportunity to own these boots, then by all means consider buying them. I rate these above certain ‘other’ boots and this has surprised me as much as I’m sure it’ll surprise you! The Legenda K-2 are a big surprise for me, reviewing them has shed a new light on the ‘heritage’ range and I’m all the happier for it!
About Jon Nicholson