In recent years we have seen speed boots take over
the market. Anyone and everyone simply had one question to ask each time a new
boot dropped: How much does it weigh? Furthermore, a boot that dominated 2011
and was the Footy Guru Boot of the Year was the adizero F50 from adidas.
Unlike its competitor, the Nike Vapor which is
slender and is really made for those speedsters with narrow cut feet. The
adizero comes with a unique build that has suited many boot nerds and quickly
become one of the most liked and worn boots on the planet. Not to mention, it
does not hurt that you have super star Messi rocking your boots every weekend.
In my opinion, the popularity is due to the last/shape
of the boot and the fact that with the off center lacing many people with wide
to medium width feet can sport the speed boots with no problem. I have also
stated many times that I prefer the adizero fit over the Vapor because at the
moment I feel like the off center lacing and the TPU overlays give you a better
lock down affect/support, which is what every footy fan is seeking. On the other hand, the Vapor has been known to
expand and loose its form/shape because it has no interior structure to support
the foots movement at high speeds and quick cuts. A boot should feel like a sock
when you put it on and because the Vapor outsole is narrow and it includes the
OG/outdated straight lacing many fans either blow the boot out or experience
serious discomfort.
However, with the adizero not only do you get an
athletic fit/off center lacing but you get an outsole that is all one piece and
offers one of the most comfortable rides in the boot game. Why do you think
adidas have stuck with the sprint frame for so long? It’s because the sprint
frame although is simple offers a low profile ride and vastly decreases the
overall weight of the boot.
Furthermore, over the last year adidas soccer has
spent hours trying to make small tweaks to help evolve the 2011 boot of the
year. With this release, the boot will weigh an estimated 5.8 oz and will
feature a more pliable upper. The old sprint skin upper in my opinion was super
out dated and was not comfortable or form fitting enough for my liking.
However, adidas reengineered the upper/sprint skin and hammered it down to an
astonishing 1.5 mm thick which enables the boot to fit better and for the upper
to act as a second skin rather than a foreign object on your foot. Only time
will tell but at 1.5 mm thick you have to think the new upper will feel like a
second skin on your foot. In addition to
the upper, adidas has put a textured upper on the boot to aid in control and
ball contact.
Another change that footy fans will notice about the
new F50 is that adidas have moved the Sprint Web technology to the inside of
the boot. I am personally interested to see how the support is in this boot. Many
times on speed boots companies concentrate on the weight rather than the
fit/support it offers. As a speed boot, you need to have a boot that provides a
solid fit because at high speeds you need your boots to be sock like on your
feet. Furthermore, the old F50 combined the TPU over lays/support on the
outside of the boot and to be honest the old F50 had one of the best lockdown
affects in the boot game. It will be interesting to see how this boot measures
in terms of the fit compared to the old F50.
Overall, with this release it seems adidas has tried
to improve the upper on the boot and make it a sleeker more well rounded boot.
In addition, adidas has kept the components that so many footy fans love about
the F50. These components I refer to are the fit, weight, and style that every
F50 release has offered. I am also glad to announce that adidas will release a leather version of the boot that will for sure be on Messi's feet.
My thoughts on the latest F50 release….
The design is simple compared to the last release which I thought looked cutting edge and futuristic. The boot also looks sleeker compared to the last version. In terms of appearance, for the launch color I am not a big fan of the yellow. I believe adidas could have chosen a bolder and more unique color to help launch this boot into the market. Brazil 2014 is close but not that close… As a footy fan, I am disappointed because the original F50 release included a yellow paint job and I was expecting adidas to do something new/unique. I am also not a fan of the white out sole on this boot. I think the out sole on the F50 should be a point of difference and with the white out sole the boots looks cheap. In the end, looks play a part but it has to do with how the boot performs on the pitch. I am interested in testing/reviewing the new F50 to see how it compares to the previous generation.