Is this the back heel area? I know Chicharito cut his and I think I saw Marco Fabian (Eintracht Frankfurt/Mexico) do the same too. Is it that bad?
well, as expected from Adidas, it does seem like the Predator revival was a pretty last minute decision and that the new Preds will just be an Ace 19. I'm not confident of the Predators 2018, but it feels like by the time 2019 hits, their primeknit tech should be sufficiently advanced enough to produce a power/curve element (think the raised edges of the Obra 2's, but in a more fin like pattern), to make the Preds 2019 more 'pred-like'. again all just my speculation, but the guys video does make sense, and he's had that prototype sometime back, even before the ace 17 pure controls were released.
Well I hope he is wrong! I would be surprised if they really did decide last minute to change the name - this is a big company and that sounds like a rookie move.. But also - this is one prototype, past boot launches adidas has shown the prototype models and there has been several different versions where there is lots of differences so hopefully there was a different model around that we have not yet seen! There is also a rerelease of the predator precision coming out around November and there would have been prototypes of that too we have not seen - they could have modified a version of this too. Pure speculation and dreams on my part ha!
Never ceases to amaze me how bone-headed these designers at multi-billion dollar companies can be, time and time again.
Just spotted the Copa 17.3 TF. This looks like everything I wanted the 17.1 to be, ie leather and no compression tongue nonsense.
Ok ignore me. I was being overly optimistic (or an idiot depending on your point of view ) I just saw them in store. They are half cheap synthetic, not full leather at all. Obviously the 3rd tier isn't going to be top quality.
The leather in the forefoot did seem nice yes, but the mid foot is synthetic isn't it? Or did I imagine that?
I've had a couple of other mid range turf shoes with a leather forefoot and a synthetic midfoot and it just doesn't really work for me. The contrast between how the touch on the ball feels between the 2 areas is just weird. Especially as the synthetic area is the zone where you control and pass the ball so you notice the touch on the ball the most. The break in period of the shoe is also totally weird, as the different materials respond in a completely different way. It just feels a bit wrong. This is made worse by the fact that mid range boots tend to have stiffer synthetics that feel less leather like, and turf shoes are rarely available as a top tier model. I just don't understand this design at all - well I do - its purely to save money, ie keep production costs down. I have to admit the synthetic in this shoe did feel fairly soft, but I've got no idea how it would actually feel when you kicked a ball with it. Anyway, rant over
I've had two Adidas turf boots: adiNova 2 and LZ 1 Absolion... adiNova 2 was a great thing for me, except the soleplate separation... on Absolion... It was Hybridtouch made, and I really didn't like it...
I'm just slightly surprised at this comment because if anything we're finally at a time when we're being offered turf shoes that are literally top tier models with an IC/TF sole slapped on. I can't go back to a lower or mid tier turf boot ever since i tried on the MercurialX as well as the TiempoX lines, and was contemplating trying out the Copa 17.1s. From my understanding, part of the reason why they're typically only forefoot leather, is because they're mostly based for futsal, where you technically don't need that much touch on the sidefoots, you typically need more structure to prevent overstretching and ventilation so it doesn't feel super warm in the foot. I'm not referring to Nike here, but established futsal shoe brands such as Athletha, and even the Mizuno and Asics Indoor shoes!
Yeah fair point...... but personally I've totally given up on Nikes boots for a few reasons: 1) They rarely fit me properly and if they are synthetic they are never going to properly mold to my foot. 2) I don't like the sock business. 3) FlyKnit is a disgrace - there is no way a football boot should be made of fabric Maybe I should have tried the TiempoX turf boot, but because I've had a bad experience with Nike in the past I didn't even consider it. And that brings us to the Copa 17.1. I discussed this on here in the past, but basically I was really excited when I first got these, but having played in them for quite a few hours I totally hate the compression tongue. Its a suitable inhibitor to good circulation in your foot. and I've had a load of awkward moments playing in them where I can't move freely for a moment or have felt like I am straining a ligament. Having a fabric/elastic tongue on a leather shoe is also a joke from a protection point of view. Its a massive shame because there are alot of things I love about the Copa 17.1 TF. The fit is great for me, and the low profile sole fixes the problem the Mundial Team has with its hugely raised heal.
ah, my apologies, must have missed your post regarding the Copas. I would have recommended trying out the TiempoXs, but if you have a problem with the raised heel, you might not be a fan of it. I've gone through quite a number of futsal leather shoes (cause I prefer leather turf has well), and it does seem like there are no turf shoes out there that fit your request though. Even the Asics Destaques that I would recommend, all have mesh/fabric/synthetic midfoots. I've tried the athletha ones that Brazillian Falcao is using and those feel a little chunky at the side. Your last bet might be to look at even lesser known brands that are selling in Japan, I've seen a few here and there, although they do tend to be moving away from leather on turf shoes due to durability concerns, and I'm tempted to give them the benefit of the doubt! I do have a pair of leather forefoot/really really good artificial leather midfoot turf shoe with a low profile sole, but its by an unknown brand that i got directly from China in taobao that seems to hold up pretty well, but seeing as you're in the UK I'm not sure price wise it'll be worth it to try and get that. a few other forefoot only k-leather but synthetic midfoot might not feel that different shoes, again I can't guarantee it won't be any different from the Copa' 17.3's, but if anything they're pretty close to a top end Made In Indonesia Mizuno boot so they should be decent http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/pit-sports/item/q1gb161003/?s-id=borderless_recommend_item_en MONARCIDA TF PRO http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/pit-sports/item/q1gb160001/?s-id=borderless_recommend_item_en MORELIA TF http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/proshop-bd/item/0000000158183/ DS Light 2 TF (probably not as good as the previous 2)
No need to apologise! I was worried everyone was bored of me moaning about the compression tongue so if you missed it then thats a good thing I've actually got a some DS Light 2 TF's on the way to me in the post (I think you might have mentioned them to me before). If they don't do the trick I'm up for trying anything so might give the Destaques a try or the Morelias.... the only reason I didn't give the Morelias a go before was because I wasn't sure that new TF soleplate would be suitable for old style astroturf (ie not AG), but Morelias are my first choice FG and SG boots so hopefully they'll be good for me. I've bought so many pairs of TF shoes in the last year its getting ridiculous, but I'm not going to stop now until I find some I actually like. I'm going to have to start selling them on ebay. On one side of the family my ancestors were cobblers/cordweiners. My Mum met my Dad buying shoes in a shoe shop he was managing. She then ran a shoe department in a store for 30+ years. Its not hard to see why I'm slightly obsessed with footwear. I may as well just enjoy it
IMO Flyknit and PrimeKnit are some of the best things to come to soccer last few years. Light, durable, and very comfortable. I was hesitant of it, but after wearing a few pairs they are great. I find the break in is a lot easier than leather, and the touch is slowly catching up to leather. Leather is still king, but IMO knitted stuff is catching up quick and it's awesome. Definitely better than synthetic, that's for sure.
Apologies in advance for the sarcasm - but what happens if someone tackles you? In the league I play in people wear SG boots and they want to get the ball off you when you've got it. To be fair the same problem exists with most of the synthetics out there.
I guess that could be a valid concern, but in reality if the tackle is bad enough it'll hurt just as much in leather boots. Unless you're wearing maybe Copa where the leather is much thicker than most modern boots, but even then I don't think it'll be that much of a difference.
This is a myth that people promoting synthetic boots are trying to perpetrate. It makes a MASSIVE difference. I played one whole season in the much maligned Predator LZs, which were fairly good boots, but the difference in protection compared to leather boots was totally unacceptable. I was noticing all sorts of knocks and touches in tackles that I had never ever noticed before in my whole life. Compared to that to my Indo Morelias offered me fantastic protection last season. There were a few times I was on the wrong end of a studs up challenge (from someone wearing SG boots) where I got away with very very minimal bruising. You are correct in saying that the thicker leather on Copas offers better protection than boots with slightly thinner leather, but leather boots are in a different world to synthetic and fabric boots in this respect. I would also say however that because of current trends trying to make boots lightweight etc, the leather on some new boots is unnecessarily thin, which is a shame. In the past boots were actually designed with protection in mind, now the boot companies don't seem to care. I actually think its fairly disgraceful.
Yea calling them a disgrace was a bit much for me too... kinda took me by surprise. i only wear knit boots now. if someone wants the ball i try to get out of the way. if people are coming in and raking your feet that sorta seems like a refereeing problem to me. but saying a boot idea is a disgrace because you personally need more protection is like saying motorcycles are a disgrace because you have 2 kids you need to shuttle around
No offense, but you might be playing with a bunch of henchmen if your injuries are that bad or just more susceptible to injuries. Anyway, hating them so hard without even trying them out seems kind of silly to me. Agreed. Back on topic, for as well as Adidas is doing right now in the lifestyle/sneaker space their soccer footwear, and gear really, has been sub-par for far too long. Using the Predator name, and the same meh design from last year, just to move some boots is simply hilarious.
Yea, adidas is catching nike in terms of lifestyle products. i actually like the current line that is out right now. but i feel like once everyone did the sock idea no one knew what to do next. nike came out with the sock in 2015? and we havent seen anything new since then