The Adidas Nitrocharge gets a revamped and is the Nitrocharge 2nd Generation. There are significant changes to the Hybridtouch upper and the Energy Sling that alter the performance of the Nitrocharge, and make it a very different beast from its predecessor. Do we like them, or do we not? How will they perform on the pitch? Tune in to find out!
Overwhelming requests for the Adidas F50 Adizero 2014…and we see why! Could this be the best boots we have ever worn? Watch the review to find out!
Our Full Performance Review of the brand new Puma evoSpeed 1.3 FG is now out!
The brand new Puma evoSpeed 1.3 FG brings changes to the Puma evoSpeed 1.2 Tricks we saw previously – gone is the slightly stickier and glossier finish, now replaced by a smooth matte finish that emphasizes a true touch on the ball. What else ticks our boxes in Puma’s latest release? Watch the video to find out!
The Adidas adiPure 11Pro 2 is Adidas’ Heritage Boot, facing the likes of the Nike Tiempo Legend V. It has received notable updates, such as the vamp stitching in the forefoot and redesigned elements on the upper. David Silva recently switched into these, following the likes of Philip Lahm and Frank Lampard. So how do they fare? Watch the video to find out!
Check out our brand new Play Test Review on the brand new Adidas Nitrocharge 1.0 Tribal Pack, to be worn by players such as Juan Cuadrado, Daniele De Rossi, Dani Alves and Javi Martinez.
Adidas Predator Instinct 2014: Tribal Pack Review
Fans of the Predator before the LZ and LZ2, rejoice. The brand new Adidas Predator Instinct for 2014 brings the iconic boot back to its roots, oozing style and raw power, but now with the added dimension of control. Back when the LZ and LZ2 were launched, diehard Predator fans were in uproar – what had happened to the Predator as they knew it? Adidas had all the right intentions when they created a “control” boot, and the boots themselves were undoubtedly high performance products, but because the boots bore the “Predator” name, something always seemed to be missing. In 2014 however, Adidas has listened – and they have now created a Predator with all the history ingrained, and future represented with control and power now all in the same boot. So how do these boots fare in our rigorous testing, and do they live up to the tag of the best Predator we’ve seen so far? Read on to find out.
Technical specifications
Performance aspects
Touch
The Predator Instinct has been designed around the concept of control (aside from power) and it shows. The Hybridtouch upper is a touch thicker on Adidas’ latest offering and it just seems to mimic the natural thickness of leather that much better than the previous Predator LZ and LZ 2. This can be both a boon and a bane because depending on your preference; compared to the LZ and LZ 2, it feels more leather-like in its quality. It may not be exactly the same, but it is quite a close approximation and you will enjoy these pair of boots if you enjoy thick leather boots. Do note that the Hybridtouch is soft and flexible right out of the box and it will further soften the more you play with the boots. Give it 3-4 hours of wear and you’ll see what we mean. What is not very often mentioned (and is something that many players will appreciate) is that the thicker upper offers much more protection compared to before and going in for harder tackles were less intimidating than before.
The discussion of touch will not be complete without going into the lethal zones on the Predator Instinct. For the 2014 Predator Instinct, Adidas have changed up the lethal zones. Firstly, no longer does each area have a specific name – they are collectively known as the lethal zones. Secondly, the shape and arrangement of the lethal zones themselves have been changed – they now have a zigzag pattern and look way more aggressive than their predecessors. The second change has actually brought about much concern to many players who are worried that the lethal zones will be too aggressive and hinder touch of the ball by causing the ball to stick to the boots while dribbling. Our assessment? Be assured that it will not be the case. While the redesigned lethal zones, being more aggressive than before, actually add more grip to the ball compared to the LZ and LZ2, the overall grip on the ball is still in the perfect range. Touches on the ball feel enhanced rather than artificial and sticky, and if you found the LZ2 to be perfect, the Instinct will be right up your alley.
Dribbling
The thicker upper combined with the lethal zones make the boots feel like a leather boot with enhancements to aid control. This makes the experience of dribbling very similar to using a pair of leather boots, but with some additions to increase grip on the ball but not to the extent where it hinders touch. The Hybridtouch is not extremely stretchable, so lateral stability is maintained when you are making quick cuts with the ball and getting out of tight situations.
Besides the upper, there are other aspects of the whole package that adds to a great dribbling experience. The fit of the Predator Instinct is one of them. They fit very similarly to the Predator LZ2 and if you recall our review on the LZ2, that was a very premium fit. It wraps your foot closely without being too restrictive. This means maximum ease and no hindrances/distractions while dribbling, and the ball goes where you want it to. If you liked the fit of the LZ2, you will like this as well.
The traction is the last factor to significantly improve the dribbling experience in the Predator Instinct. The triangular studs have always been a favourite with us and that is because they allow for great push-off when running due to the blade-like edges but plenty of rotation and maneuverability with your foot planted in the ground because of the general pseudoconical structure of the studs. It is a very holistic experience that the triangular studs provide, and one that provides a very responsive, enjoyable dribbling experience.
* An important aspect of the outsole that is often overlooked is the addition of raised ridges to further increase friction on the ball. This allows the player to roll the ball underfoot more easily and just adds to the entire experience of being control. This is a boot in which every detail is painstakingly considered and it shows in the truly impressive experience it provides.
Passing
Passing in the Predator Instinct is augmented by a gel or rather rubber padding that used to be the Pass Pad in the previous Predator LZ. This pad adds additional grip when making passes and it does make the generation of spin that much easier because of the way it grips the ball. The extra bulk it provides also provides a sensation of added power, although how hard you can kick the ball is still dependent on your own personal skills. The gel pad does not add too much friction, which is a concern that many players had and their worries that the ball would get stuck while passing were unfounded – on the contrary, because the gel pad provides quite a flat and uniform surface, it was actually very easy to place passes where you wanted them and this adds to the feeling of confidence when wearing the Predator Instincts.
Shooting
This is where the Predator has been truly brought back to its roots. The increased bulk, thicker upper, and more aggressive lethal zones all play on the very principle on which the Predator was created – to create the ultimate shooting experience. And right now, all we can say is that this Predator lives up to its name. When striking the ball, the increased bulk and thicker Hybridtouch upper provide the perfect platform to strike the ball hard. This is referring to not just the quality of the upper, which allows you to feel the ball yet not feel the pain, but also the structure and shape of the upper. The upper is noticeably flat which gives a uniform surface on which to strike the ball, and it really affords the player the sensation of being able to place the ball wherever you want it. The shooting experience is so important to Adidas this time round that even the outsole is configured to aid the shooting experience; there is just the enough rigidity to allow the efficient power transfer from the stiffness of the outsole, yet there is also a noticeable flexibility that does not hinder your foot movements so you can choose however you want to strike the ball without feeling encumbered. The lethal zones again provide that platform to generate a lot of spin on the ball, and is currently the aggressive boot on the market that allows that. Essentially, the designers behind the Predator Instinct has spared no expense and thought in creating a boot that provides the most holistic shooting experience, and so deservedly, this is where the Predator truly shines.
Protection
Protection was an area that the Predator LZ and LZ2 sacrificed. With the decrease in weight and thickness of the upper, and the institution of a much lighter sprintframe, the solid protection normally associated with the Predator series took a hit and many players switched from Predators to other silos as a result. With the latest Predator Instinct, Adidas has completely revamped their approach – much more sturdier materials are used, with greater bulk, and this converts to increased protection at all areas of the boot. The Velcro padding on the tongue, which serves the primary purpose of ensuring the tongue does not slide during a game, even offers from protective qualities due to the increased thickness. All in all, the Predator Instinct is a boot that you will feel very secure in jumping into hard tackles and challenges, and is certainly in line with the history of the famed Predators.
Sizing
For sizing, the Adidas Predator Instinct fits true-to-size and will be snug. Contrary to popular belief, the Hybridtouch material will stretch in spite of the Lethal Zones but there will not be enough length going down half a size. So we recommend to stick to your normal sizing especially if you are ordering online. As a gauge, if you have worn the LZ2 and found them to fit perfectly, follow that size.
Anatomy, Biomechanics, Injury Concerns
The fit of the Predator Instinct is similar to the Predator LZ and LZ2; the only difference is that the midfoot has been made a touch wider, which will accommodate players with a wider foot. To summarise, it is essentially decently wide throughout the forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot, and players with wide feet or flat feet should be able to fit into these boots. I have average to slightly wide feet, and they fit me perfectly true to size. They are not too long and so the overall fit is suitable for the typical Asian foot.
As far as biomechanics are concerned, we want to make a special note about an added function of the lethal zones that is not often mentioned. It actually provides loads of lateral stability and provides great satisfaction when making hard cuts, especially when combined with the sturdiness of the material. This offsets the mild loss in responsiveness due to its increased bulk and overall, still provides a very responsive experience as a result.
As mentioned earlier, the solid nature of the boot means we do not anticipate any injury problems, and the stud configuration has proven itself to perform very well on both firm ground and artificial ground, although we would always suggest using the appropriate stud configuration for the particular surface you are playing on.
Conclusion
The Adidas Predator Instinct is a refreshing change from the lightweight race that has captured our attention for the past year. It takes the Predator back to its original roots yet incorporates modern technology with the main aim of creating a holistic experience for the player, and does that impressively. For those looking for the ultimate Predator experience, we would recommend the Predator Instinct strongly.
– Comfort 5/5
– Weight 3/5
– Dribbling 4/5
– Passing 5/5
– Shooting 5/5
– Protection 5/5
– Durability 5/5
– Biomechanics 5/5
– Injury concerns 5/5
– Suitability for Singapore 5/5
Score (Singapore context): 47/50
Score (Local conditions not taken into account): 42/45
The Adidas Predator Instinct: Tribal Pack can be purchased at Adidas Concept Stores or Weston Corporation for SGD329.
We present the brand new Adidas Predator Instinct 2014: Tribal Pack. Adidas has listened, and the Predator returns to its original roots as a power boot. Watch its unboxing, and look out for the Performance Review coming up soon.
Adidas Predator Instinct 2014 Tribal Pack.
Unboxing and First Impressions coming soon.
The Puma Tricks series is easily one of the most recognizable boots on the field today. The unique bright 2 colour appearance, with inspiration from the rich Brazilian culture, was designed just for the World Cup, with full intention of standing out – and it does that with aplomb. Where wearing 2 colour boots are concerned, players have been doing that for a long time. Think of players like Benoit Assou-Ekotto formerly from Tottenham Hotspurs. Strangely though, the boot companies were slow to pick up that trend, but for the World Cup Puma have jumped straight in with radical colours – and the result is simply sensational. There are 2 boots in Puma’s Tricks series, the evoSpeed and the evoPower; for today, we bring to you the Puma evoSpeed Tricks.
Technical specifications
– Upper: Puma’s proprietary monolayer, monofiber synthetic with a star shaped, glossy, sticky finish covering the entire upper. Reinforced with Puma’s EverFit cage for solid lateral stability.
– Tongue: A mesh padded tongue
– Lacing: Thin, flat laces
– Insole: Foam insert that is plush, soft and relatively thick. Provides arch support.
– Heel counter: Plastic, minimalist heel counter.
– Outsole: Plastic elastomer with the rigid SpeedTrack technology through the midfoot and hindfoot and DuoFlex system in the forefoot
– Studs: Conical studs. Slightly longer than most boots. 12 stud layout.
– Weight: 7.0 oz
Performance aspects
Touch
The touch of the Puma evoSpeed is undoubtedly premium. Puma’s proprietary monolayer, monofiber synthetic combines the virtues of the thinness of a synthetic with the padding of a pair of leather boots. By this, I mean that the boots offer a thin, premium barefoot feel on the ball but when taking shots, there is just enough sufficient padding to take away the sting on the impact. This leads to no fear and no hesitation when taking shots and is truly amazing given the inherent thinness of the upper (which by the way, makes dribbling a true joy). You can really feel the technology that Puma has incorporated into the making of this synthetic and more importantly, can truly appreciate during the course of a match where you feel as if nothing is holding you back. The only issue that might turn some people off is the addition of a glossy, sticky finish all over the upper that is shaped like parallel stars – this is in stark contrast to the previous previous colourways of the evoSpeed 1.2 where the GripTex was present in much lesser amounts. Quite interestingly though, I did not feel throughout testing that the grip provided by either of the two boots differed very much. So if you are worried that this model may provide something of a different feel from the previous colourway, your worries are quite unfounded. As with the previous colourways of the evoSpeed, the upper combined with sticky and glossy finishing allows for a grip on the ball that I would describe to be perfectly balanced. Puma’s combination allows you to make touches on the ball without having the feeling that the ball is perpetually slipping away from you, but at the same time does not make touches feel overly sticky which I dislike very much because it interferes with my game. The grippy texture has the added advantage of providing grip in wet conditions that is definitely noticeable.
Dribbling
As mentioned earlier, dribbling in the Puma evoSpeed Tricks is wonderful because you get a truly close feeling of the ball, a premium barefoot feel, because the upper is a thin one. The addition of the grippy texture only adds to an already immensely satisfying dribbling experience. While dribbling, you feel as if you are in complete control with each touch being very true, and the grip adds on an extra dimension of confidence because of the perfect amount of grip that is present. Dribbling is also influenced by the fit and the traction, so I will discuss these here as well.
The fit of the Puma evoSpeed is very anatomical. By this, I mean that the boots are designed to fit the curves and structure of the human foot very closely. At the toe area, looking from the top of the boots, there is a slight protrusion for the big toe, and then the angle quite acutely cuts off and follows the tips of the other toes very closely. This allows for the feeling that the boot was custom-made for you because they follow the natural foot anatomy so closely. Because these boots fit so well, the areas of flexion and extension are perfectly in sync with your feet movements so when dribbling, you always feel you’re in control and that if you desire a certain touch, that touch is what you will get.
The traction of the Puma evoSpeed is a masterstroke as well. With this release, Puma has opted to use the more traditional conical studs. Nothing fancy there. What makes this truly work is that Puma has elected to increase the length of these studs just slightly but in doing so, making a world of difference. The slightly longer studs allow for greater and easier ground penetration and so offer explosive release and great grip on the ground; usually this comes at a sacrifice because rotation and maneuverability is limited once your foot is planted in the ground. However, because the studs are conical, there is no sacrifice here and rotation and maneuverability with your foot planted is as good as it gets. It is a true dribblers dream, with pace and agility all in one package. In addition, the conical studs make it easier to roll the ball under your feet, a la futsal style – again making these boots very attractive to players who love to dribble.
At this point, it is important to note that what contributes significantly to the excellent traction is Puma’s EverFit cage system and the rigid Speedtrack system. The lateral stability offered is up there with the best and gives you a very responsive feel and a great platform to make sharp cuts and turns. Without the EverFit cage, the traction would still be decent, but it is the Everfit that makes the locked in effect excellent. The Speedtrack system, because of its rigidity, gives an extremely responsive ride without sacrificing flexibility owing to the DuoFlex system in place at the forefoot.
Passing
We had some reservations about passing the ball in the evoSpeeds initially. This was due to the fact that the angle where the upper met the soleplate seemed unusually acute – how then would a player be expected to pass the ball on a convex surface? On testing, however, it was a completely different story. Upon slipping your feet into the boots, the boots conform to the shape of your foot (again playing on the whole anatomical fit angle of the boot) and passing becomes very natural. No problems that we initially anticipated occurred and we enjoyed using the boots thoroughly. Again, the sticky texture of the boot could be felt but just enough to generate friction without feeling overly sticky and frustrating. Kudos to Puma for creating this perfect balance.
Shooting
Shooting in the Puma evoSpeeds, quite surprisingly, has a certain Predator feel about it. Despite the thin feeling of the upper when you are dribbling, these boots give you the sensation of bulk when striking the ball. There is minimal sting on impact with the ball which gives the player a lot of confidence when striking the ball. Many players’ primary complaint about boots with overly thin uppers is that while it affords a great dribbling experience, shooting in them especially over the course of a game can be quite painful. The Puma evoSpeed manages to overcome that and it is great that Puma has taken players’ feedback into account. As mentioned earlier, the sticky finishing on the upper is just enough to allow you to generate friction to curve the ball, without sacrificing the overall feel in the sense of making it too sticky and unnatural. Well-played, Puma.
Protection
Protection is another area of the lighter boots that usually gets sacrificed, but with the Puma evoSpeeds, very surprisingly again, that is not the case. During the course of our matches we got stepped on with the full weight of the defender on our feet but they came through relatively unscathed, which was a very pleasant surprise. We expected to be hobbling out of the game but instead we gained more confidence with each challenge that failed to take us out of the game. For players looking for lighter boots but are unwilling or reluctant to sacrifice protection, the Puma evoSpeed is definitely a boot worth checking out.
Anatomy, Biomechanics, Injury Concerns
Here, we want to emphasize the great fit of the Puma evoSpeed. Everything about it is meant to conform to the anatomy of the foot, even if it was not very widely advertised. The ability of the upper to conform to our foot shape, the way the toebox is cut, it truly brings out the optimum function of the human foot. For Singapore players, and Asians in general, we find this pair of boots to be very suitable because it is slightly shorter than say the Mercurial Vapors and with the flex of the boot in sync with your foot, the amount of control you get is one of the best out there. Injury concerns are much minimized in this pair of boots as well, and this is something I was not expecting to say before I began testing the boots.
Personally, I have an average width foot to with a slightly wide midfoot, and I found these boots to fit perfectly, and true to size. I would even say that these boots have the necessary width to fit wider footed players, so for those players out there with a wider foot throughout the forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot, or those who have flat feet, this is a pair that you can consider if you are looking for a synthetic boot that is very light.
So that’s it for the written review from me. The Puma evoSpeed Tricks is a pair of boots that has defied my expectations, and is a pair that I would encourage many to try as well. If you are a player who has always wanted to try lighter synthetic boots but were put off by width or length, the Puma evoSpeed will give you a pleasant surprise, just as it has with us. We say, well done Puma.
Rating
– Comfort 4.5/5
– Weight 4/5
– Dribbling 5/5
– Passing 4/5
– Shooting 5/5
– Protection 3.5/5
– Durability 4/5
– Biomechanics 5/5
– Injury concerns 4/5
– Suitability for Singapore 5/5
Score (Singapore context): 44/50
Score (Local conditions not taken into account): 39/45
The Puma evoSpeed Tricks can be bought at Puma Concept Stores or Weston Corporation for SGD219.
The Straight Shooters 