Not only did the price play a part in this separation between popularity in boots but the weight and fit also played a major part in the eyes of the consumer. Rather then change the color we have seen adidas evolve the F50 to compete with the mercurial silo. But with alittle innovation and a certain amount of time adidas created the outsole that would change football boots forever. The sprint frame that adidas uses is not only extremely light but it is also very flexible unlike the mercurial series which has been stagnant for some time now. Many consumers including myself believe at first the outsole on the vapor or superfly believe it is stiff. In my opinion, when choosing a boot it should fit like a glove and not have any break in time required.
Another thing that separates these boots is the shape or last of the boot. With the adiZERO adidas uses a athletic fit or off center lacing that shapes your foots natural shape. Nike on the other hand uses the retro straight lacing system which is not bad if you have a narrow foot but due to the shape and narrow last many consumers with mild medium feet can not do these boots. Advantage adidas. With the off center lacing the boot conforms to the natural shape of your foot and increases the striking surface of the boot while allowing more room in the forefoot so players with sometimes a wider foot have a chance to wear these speed boot. In addition, the boots have similar uppers. For example, both boots however have a synthetic upper which appeals to consumers concerned about weight and who generally prefer the synthetic for it's longevity and ability to keep it's shape. However, adidas made a smart decision when they also came out with the leather version of the F50. With the leather version adidas is able to make a speed boot with a leather upper that registers at around 6 oz. The difference between the leather and the synthetic is simple. The leather is soft/supple, molds to your foot, and allows for a great touch on the ball. With the synthetic,however you get a completely different feel and many consumers complain that the boot does not fit correctly. With the mercurial they also use synthetic and I am sure myself and many other consumers wonder why they do not make a leather upper or even a kanga-lite upper so the boot is more forgiving and soft at first wear.
In the end, in the past year we have seen these boots/companies battle it out on the pitch and on The shelves. From the looks of it along with the help of Messi, consumers like the fit and price of the F50 series.
