Adidas Thread [12] - Post info, pics & questions here!

I was unconvinced by the LZ II on my foot, I didn't care for the fit too much, but I am willing to try them on again and see what I think.

As I have become more active my LZ I are feeling less stellar to me in terms performance. They just seem too stiff (and they were worn a good bit while I was hurt by a player I coach), and the shape isn't as accommodating as I had hoped. I really have trouble striking the ball in them because they feel so awkward.

 

Holden is correct...and I had trouble getting the image upload to an outside host via my iPad for some reason.

 

I'll check it out...I honestly don't put a lot of pics online, so I never bothered to look into that option.

 

To be clear, they didn't mold to his feet, just loosened up a bit; he didn't wear them long enough for that level of shaping to take place, which take way longer on synthetic than say, the Copa. They are still tight to my foot - presumably my foot is wider than his. My point is I don't like the general shape of the boot or the feel of synthetic. It feel like I am wearing tubes of PVC on my foot. The general shape of the last is not great compared to the F-50 in leather and the adiPower. I thought adidas was getting away from overly narrow toe boxes and forefoot shapes with their more recent designs but, the LZ I is a step backwards in that regard. I like the idea of the zones and their placement, but the upper just feel like crap after a while and that memory foam really is pointless.

 

I played a bit in the adiZero leather yesterday at practice for the college....I like them a lot, but they are not without my nitpicks.

Pros:

The leather is easily the best version of the calfskin used on the adiZero, very soft, but seems like it will hold shape after molding. It is a step above the adiPower leather, which I like very much.

The fit is great - for me - I have a need for a wider forefoot - especially when I size down in boots - and a roundish toe box due to my Morton's Toe (long 2nd toe) and this boot provides that in spades. The shaping is just right . The boot could be a tad more rounded, but the toe box contours nicely around my toes. The boot is snug without feeling constricting.

Striking the ball feels nice and natural, there is not a lot of overcorrection in the strike from the boot causing the foot to function unnaturally. I tend to strike the ball in this boot as I would if I were playing barefoot - which means lots of instep contact vs. too much top/center of the foot which I see occur a lot on boots that feel pretty clunky or mess with proprioception and aid in the commonly seen strike that has too much outswing or slice.

The touch/feel to the inside and outside of the foot feels fantastic on reception and turning as well as contacting for passes....to the younger crowd, this or any boot isn't giving me "touch" or "control" practice did that, the boot just allows me to feel the ball naturally. So practice more, and buy features less. Also, while this is a "speed" boot, I can assure you that they didn't make me faster, I am currently running like a gimp with a load of crap in the back of his shorts because my gait is way, way off normal. Will I be fast after getting my proprioception, strength, and confidence back, yes. Will the boot give me an edge or do the work for me, nope, not at all.

Cons:

The heel material - adidas was using a soft nubuck type material on boots for a while, this is now gone. I think the new synthetic material is passable but I have yet to try with some socks that lack heavy cotton make up so....heel slipping could be an issue.

The heel counter could be a tab more solid/rigid. It might have been the fact that I wasn't adjusted to the boot, but I feel like it could be more rigid back there around the achilles tendon.

Deliberating:

The stripes - they didn't hinder anything, but I really question the logic of not making them graphics on the leather model as well as the plastic model. It would be one thing if they were "zones" but they are just overlays that serve no functional purpose. They would look much worse on a two toned boot because they are not streamlined and they look slightly out of place with their location. I have noticed the stitching seems solid, but the edging of the material is not finished well and fraying a bit already. The stripes could be restricting the lateral and medial forefoot a bit in terms of fit, but I am giving them a few wears to come to an opinion.

Personally, I can see myself taking them off the boot as they look odd and add no value, while possibly being a slight hindrance with shaping.

Other info:

I didn't really strike standard powerful or bending shots in them because I tweaked my hip abductor a bit on Sat when I struck deadballs for 2.5 hours...ahh the perils of long injury lay offs. I should be fine by next week to really start putting those types of balls in, but for now pinged balls and short passes are what I am limiting myself to doing.

 

I like a lot of boots, but as with everything there is a give and take in what I am willing to accept and over look. I most likely will overlook the flaws the adiZero and enjoy the boot until it breaks down or I move on to the new adiZero, which looks promising. I might even move it into the "love" category, if it plays well.

I do love some boots, but I'd nitpick those, too. The adiPower, the MIJ Morelia, adiZero 1.5, Profi, Copa, adiPure III, Brasil (90's - 02), King Finale SL, Tiempo Premier (2000-2004 and re-release 2008-10), and the Legend IV all fall into the love group.

I am just hyper critical....part of being a perfectionist.

 

Would you say the miadidas is worth staying at a standard size in? I felt I needed to size up in the LZ II, specifically due to the toe box on the retail model, I am a snug 11 in just about everything else from adidas.

 

Those were quality, I forgot them on my love list. The felt foldover tongue was nice as well.