Adidas have truly revolutionised the boot market with one of their latest releases, the Adipure SL. Being able to fuse together, arguably the two greatest components of the modern game; speed and touch is not as easy as it sounds. Boots have their own identities and finding a balance between two which is appealing to the consumer and still able to perform takes time and careful thought.
The AdiPure SL is an outstanding 200g suggesting it to be a speed boot like the Adizero before it, though it still maintains the look and feel of the classic AdiPure we all know and have come to love. When i first saw this boot i thought that my prayers had been answered - finally, a boot with a full K leather upper that is not hindered by weight.
The marketing of the boot is indeed reflected in its performance. When dribbling, striking or controlling the ball the soft leather provided me with a comforting and confident touch. In my opinion a leather boot is truly unbeatable when it comes to being able to feel the ball at your feet. Why else do we see so many top professionals shy away from the significantly lighter Adizero Prime for the leather option? Because leather offers control and a better feel of the ball.
Moreover, at 200g you can barely feel the boots on your feet. Weight in this instance is not an issue and the sole and studs of the boot are like that again of the Adizero, an already proven model. Showing that adidas are really doing the experiments needed to provide not only quality football boots, but a boot for every type of player. They are willing is seems to listen to the consumer.
The heel counter however, is perhaps a problem. When taking sharp turns the heel of the boot can dig into the heel of the player which makes for an uncomfortable feel. The leather bends with the foot but the heel counter does not and thus rubbing may occur. Ultimately though, i found this of little worry or notice when playing, only in drills and agility tests did such a problem become apparent.
The boot then is obviously a hybrid of the new tech from the Adizero and the classic feel of the Adipure. So then why buy this boot at a staggering £174 when the Adizero leather is cheaper, lighter and can provide the same leather feel where it matters - the toes? Because of two reasons. The first is merely the look of the boot is supremely classy and for those who really appreciate where adidas has come from with the copa's and the world cup's, this can be described as nothing less than a beautiful boot. Secondly though and more importantly, the leather is thicker that the Adizero and the shape of the toe different. As a result when kicking the ball the more rounded shape of the SL toe grants a greater surface area for the strike zone and in my experience allows greater accuracy when attempting a 70 yard 'di-ag' or a shot with the laces. The Adizero comes to more of a point at the toe to allow greater ability to cut the ball and dribble past players, though this can as said make it harder to strike a ball cleanly and true.
In terms of value then, is the SL worth the money? In one word, yes. If you are serious about your football and its more than just a hobby or a way to keep fit the SL provides you with the two greatest assets one can have in the modern game, remember them? Speed and touch. But also not to mention the look of a classic. Moreover, it does manage to distinguish itself from its parent boots enough to stand on its own and be recognised as a boot in itself as opposed to an experimental hybrid. But the deciding factor really for me is that it is, still, remarkably cheaper than anything Nike can offer for the same quality. I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty more of these worn by professionals worldwide in the upcoming season.
Footy Guru Rating:
Comfort/fit: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Total: 8.7 (Excellent)
Blogger Note: This review was done by Jacob a footy fan who also shares my passion for football reviews. Let me know what you think about this review and the adiPURE IV SL in terms of fit, performance and overall value.