Adidas Summer Sale: Up to 50% Off

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As the 2014 World Cup in Brazil rages on, you're probably thinking about getting on the field and reenacting your nation's best goals and moments. Just in time, Adidas has just brought their A-game to their summer sale! Now, you can get thousands of items—FIFA World Cup soccer gear, running shoes, basketball gear, swimwear, even iconic Originals and NEO lifestyle pieces and more—up to 50% off! Styles for men, women and kids; everything you'll need for a summer of sports. This sale only happens twice a year, so it is time to go all in or nothing.

Adidas Summer Sale: Up to 50% Off Over 1,000 Items

The links in this post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link. 


 If you've put off shopping for your summer sports wear until now, you have just hit the jackpot. The adidas Summer Sale is on and you can get up to 50% off of over 1,000 items! Running shoes, basketball gear, soccer cleats, swimwear—for men, women and kids—everything an athletic family needs to participate in a summer of activity. This sale lasts as long as the supplies, so don't wait or before you know it, just like summer, the sale will be over.

Adidas Reveal Spain and Germany Away World Cup Kits

The World Cup always brings an influx of new kits, cleats, and gloves as companies try to make every single team's equipment memorable in case they win the tournament. Recently Adidas revealed the away kits of two big contenders for this year's tournaments, and they've both taken a darker look, especially the Spain kit.

The black body with neon design is an interesting choice, most reminiscent of referee kits. Germany on the other hand have a Flamengo-esque combination of red and black horizontal stripes, with a slightly more defined collar than the Spain jersey. Both of these teams will be debuting these jerseys in upcoming friendlies: Spain against Italy at the Vicente Calderon Stadium and Germany against Chile, both on March 5th.

Although these are simply friendly matches, there might be some incentive to prove something (especially for Italy) after the latest FIFA rankings were updated today. Italy moved down to eighth after Switzerland jumped up to sixth, and Spain and Germany remain in first and second untouched by the movement in the top fifteen. Portugal moved up to fourth, while England was bumped down two places to fifteenth after USA and Chile leapfrogged the three lions.

With Adidas getting ready for the big tournament in Brazil with its announcements, if you're planning to go to Brazil for the World Cup, it's important you be prepared. From knowing the cities, stadiums, and travel packages, there are many ways to ensure you get the best deal for the best experience. Here are some top tips to save money and have the best World Cup experience possible in Brazil.

Kaka Wears 2011/2012 Real Madrid Home Kit

On my new Tumblr blog, called Loving That Soccer, I recently posted a picture of Kaka wearing the Adidas Real Madrid home kit for next season. While there have always been rumours and leaked images of possible designs of the Real Madrid kit, there were never concrete images to prove anything.

The new kit features pretty snazzy gold designs on the jersey, shorts, and socks along with the Adidas logo being golden. The collar is also new, and I prefer it a lot more to the the the past season's. While I like the design quite a bit, others might not find the gold design very appealing.

My Tumblr blog is soccer/football photos, usually ones which I find funny or inspiring. Take a look and follow if you like it.


What are your thoughts on Real Madrid's new home kit? Do you like the new style? Share your thoughts and comments below!

Adidas F50 Adizero Synthetic Review

After getting the chance to test the Adidas F50 Adizero, it is apparent that the German boot-maker has created the ultimate speed cleats. While Nike and Puma have done their best to keep up, Adidas managed to come out on top with their release of the Adidas F50 Adizero Prime, which are currently the lightest cleats on the market. The long history of crafting Adidas soccer shoes has culminated in the production of the Adidas F50 Adizero. The synthetic Adidas F50 Adizero which I tested are just about 20 grams heavier than the Prime version, and they're the best pair of boots I've played in yet.


Breaking Them In


I was slightly apprehensive before using the cleats for the first time. While they are extremely light, often that comes with the disadvantage of discomfort or blisters while breaking them in. But my experience was wonderful with the cleats. While the synthetic material felt different (I often wear cleats with leather uppers), it didn't give me any discomfort or blisters.

For my first wear I decided to go with the "ultralight" insole instead of the "comfort" one. While I expected it to be tough on the bottom of my foot, I probably would have worn it for my entire practice if I didn't want to try the "comfort" insole. The comfort insole is notably more soft, but I prefer the "ultralight" insole because it provides enough comfort, and is a few grams lighter.

I initially feared the breaking in experience because of the lack of padding on the cleats, but it turned out to be a lovely and easy experience. The only complaint I have regarding breaking in is that the first couple of times I switched the insoles, they jiggled around a little when I turned sharply. With time this got better, and now that they're broken in I don't have this problem anymore.


On Field Performance

The first thing that strikes you when you start playing with these cleats is the astounding lightweight feel. My friend said that when he held them it felt like they were floating. Obviously they aren't weightless, but at 165 grams (5.8oz), they are incredibly light. While they probably don't make you much faster, they give a psychological advantage, along with the fact that it's much easier playing in these for 90 minutes instead of a heavy pair of T90 Laser III's.

The touch and control were better than what I expected, especially after I broke them in. Thanks to the thin single-layer Sprintskin upper, the ball is a lot closer to your foot. While there are internal TPU support bands which help support the cleat, there's basically only your socks and the upper between your foot and the ball. The leather version of the Adizeros provides better touch, but I was impressed by the feel and touch on the ball of the synthetic material.

Striking the ball is an equally pleasurable experience with theses boots. While I initially feared that it would be uncomfortable and not provide enough padding, the smooth upper gave me good contact when hitting the ball. While I can obviously hit it better when I'm wearing a pair of T90's or Concave's, taking shots with the Adizeros had a "clean" feel to it.

Regarding traction and the studs, I loved the Traxion stud system used by Adidas. It offered solid acceleration, and changing directions was easy to do as the triangular studs gripped well from whatever angle. While there have been lots of problems regarding studs falling off with the Traxion system, it hasn't happened to me yet.


Design


Before the final judgement, the visual design of these cleats has to be looked at a little. The main orange color which Adidas calls "Warning" is extremely bright and eye-catching. In fact, wearing the cleats really made me stand out from everyone else, and it almost put a sense of "having to perform well" in such a flashy pair of cleats.

Wearing these gives you a sense of speed. Everything about them emits a feeling of sleek rapidity, from the three signature Adidas black stripes on the inside and outside, to the design which goes from the laces to the toe of the boot. The three colors of Orange, black, and white all complement each other well and help give the cleat a vibrant look.

Regarding the actual physical design fo the boots, Adidas have crafted a great cleat. The heel tab makes it a lot easier to put them on, and the redesigned tongue helps tightening and adjusting the cleats. Luckily for me, these accommodate people with wide feet, and give a nice glove-like feel once laced up and tightened. Probably the greatest element of the cleats is the bottom frame band. It's a clear support band between the sole and the upper which gives the cleats a very solid feel.


Final Judgement


The Adidas F50 Adizero have truly defined the category of speed cleats. We've seen professionals like Manchester United's Nani and Barcelona's Dani Alves switch to Adidas is because of the lightweight, comfort, and solidity of the Adizero. Dribbling and running with these cleats is a easy and enjoyable because they're amazingly light. They also offer excellent comfort and traction which make these cleats a very complete package. If you're looking for a pair of top quality lightweight cleats, but you're not keen on spending 300$ for the Prime version, I suggest you to check out the Synthetic Adidas F50 Adizero at SoccerPro.com.

Thank you very much to Matt Wall and to SoccerPro for providing me with the cleats to review.

Adidas F50 Adizero Synthetic Warning/Black Just Arrived

After my preview post of the Adidas F50 Adizero, the boots have finally arrived at my doorstep. After unboxing them and snapping some photos, I quickly took to the field for a quick jogging session to see how the boots felt out of the box.

While the full review will be up in a week or so, I can tell you a couple of things from my first run around in the cleats. Putting them on is a wonderful experience, the lightness just makes you want to run around and jump.

The "Ultralight" and "Comfort" insoles side by side

In my short session I went with the "Ultralight" insoles and then switched to the "Comfort" insoles to see if I could notice the difference. While I experienced to discomfort or problems breaking them in with the "Ultralight" insoles, the "Comfort" insoles were obviously much more comfortable yet slightly (barely noticeably) heavier.

While some might stray away from the idea of a synthetic upper, I'm finding it to be quite nice. I haven't tested the ball touch or striking of the cleats, and I'm not sure what to expect. Check out the full review soon if you're interested in seeing how they perform.

They're certainly shaping up to be a fantastic pair of cleats, and I'll have the review up soon. A big thanks to SoccerPro for supplying the cleats!

Adidas F50 Adizero Synthetic Warning/Black/White Preview

Adidas are the speed kings, there's no other way to put it. When they released the original F50 Adizero, everyone was speechless at how the German company managed to trim so much weight while maintaining a comfortable boot. Now Adidas have revamped the F50 Adizeros, making changes to the upper, visual design, and releasing the Prime version which is now the lightest boot in the world.

I'll have a chance to review a pair of the Adidas F50 Adizero as SoccerPro is kindly sending me a pair. First of all, I chose to review the synthetic version of the cleats. While many professional players decide to go with the leather version which is slightly heavier, I'm interested in seeing how the lighter synthetic version plays.

At 5.8oz (about 165 grams), these boots are only surpassed in lightweight by the Puma V1.10 SL and Adidas's F50 Adizero Prime. What enables these cleats to be so light is the Sprintskin technology, a single-layer synthetic upper which is very light. The upper is covered in thin textured lines, used to improve first touch and control on the ball. Whether these actually do make a difference compared to just a smooth upper, I'll find that out in the review.

Adidas also utilizes internal TPU support bands to keep the upper well supported. There's also a bottom frame "for increased stability and abrasion resistance" which from what I've heard is actually a very useful part of the boot. It helps increase the durability of the cleats, in an area which is often the first to fall apart.

The outsole features Adidas's innovative Traxion technology, the firm ground triangular studs which offer strong grip in all directions. Among all the statistics of increased acceleration and performance, the eleven studs placed on the bottom seem to offer very solid traction. Of course, I'll share my thoughts on the studs and how they perform once I've reviewed the cleats.

Overall the Adidas F50 Adizero look like a fantastic pair of cleats, but I've yet to get my hands on them. The cleats are supplied by SoccerPro, and if you're interested in buying soccer cleats or any other type of soccer gear, I wholeheartedly recommend them.

Lionel Messi in New Adidas F50 Adizero Prime Commercial

I usually don't post many ads/videos, but when I saw this one from Adidas, I had to post it. The F50 Adizero Prime are being hyped up by Adidas, and this ad with Lionel Messi has become one of my favorites.

While I usually prefer Nike ads (mainly because they tend to be much more epic compared to Adidas which has always been slightly cheesy), this new Adidas ad is my favorite right now. It starts with a few seconds of Lionel Messi, juggling the cleats, and the ad just gets better and better from there. The camera angle is dynamic and amazing, and the final line by the commentator gives the ad all the awesomeness it might have needed.

Here it is below:



My favorite ad I've seen yet, even better than Nike's Write the Future. But what about you? What do you think about Adidas's newest ad? A step in the right direction? Share your comments below!

Adidas F50 Adizero Prime Revealed!

The orange version of the F50 Adizero Prime

Adidas revolutionized the idea of a lightweight boot when they released the F50 Adizero. Now they have raised the bar yet again with their release of the Adidas F50 Adizero Prime. While Puma held the title of, "lightest cleat in the world" with the Puma V1.10 SL, Adidas managed to shave off about 20 grams from the original F50 Adizero, making the Prime version an impressive 145 grams (or 5.2 ounces).

The orange colorway of the Adidas F50 Adizero Prime

There are many things which helped this drastic decrease in weight, and a lot of it has to do with Adidas's new synthetic upper called, Adilite Twin. It's a single layer (to reduce weight obviously) upper, and it seems like Adidas have put the majority of their effort into the synthetic version of this boot. This is interesting to me, mainly because with the Adidas F50 Adizero, most professionals decide to go with the leather version. While the leather is slightly heavier, it offers better comfort along with a better touch and protection.

The adiLite Twin synthetic upper

The lines on the upper are supposed to help with ball control etc.

The Prime also feature kevlar laces (which help reduce weight and are probably more durable) along with the (in my opinion) very important TPU bottom frame. The TPU bottom frame is the strip between the outsole and the upper which offers lateral support and stability along with protecting the upper from general damage.

There is also a leather version, but there hasn't been much said regarding it. There won't be TPU support in the leather version, mainly because it isn't needed with the leather upper which is already durable enough on its own.

Some sideshots of the leather version

The inside of the leather version of the F50 Adizero Prime

Right now only three colorways have been announced for the Adizero Prime. You've already seen the orange and black ones above, but Adidas have obviously created a unique chrome colorway for Lionel Messi. Strangely enough, it feels like I've already seen a similar colorway... Silver, orange, and a bit of black? Very similar to Nike's Elite range which was very popular during the World Cup, does anyone else see the similarity?

Whoops! How did that slip in there? Anyone else see the similarity?

With the fact that Adidas has created the lightest boot in the world now, they've decided to crank up the price. I've read many different prices on many different websites and blogs, but expect the prime version of this cleat to be at least $300. I wouldn't be surprised if Adidas tried to put it all the way up around $400, just so that they can compete with Nike.

I want to mention that I'll be reviewing a pair of Adidas F50 Adizero soon, and if you're interested in reading the preview, you can check it out by clicking here.

An exciting release, and now we'll have to see what Nike's reaction is. While Nike have been pumping out plenty of new colorways for their cleats, they haven't mentioned anything regarding a new speed boot. Adidas have the crown of the lightest boot in the world, for now...

Adidas F50 Adizero Review Coming Soon!

Leather Adidas F50 Adizero, Black/Sun colorway

Instead of writing about all the midweek action which took place today, I've decided to write about my next Product Review! I have managed to get my hands on a pair of "gently-used" leather Adidas F50 Adizero, yet I could only find them in a US size 12 (I'm a US size 10), but I went for them anyways.

I played around with them a little at the end of practice, and so far the results are wonderful! Although they're a little big, the feeling of lightness is astounding. But I'll tell you more in the review which will be posted sometime next week.

And while you're waiting for the review to be posted, be sure to visit the Product Reviews page, and read up on other awesome products I've already reviewed! Alternatively, if you're interested in soccer cleats, especially lightweight soccer cleats, I suggest you go over to read my review comparing lightweight soccer cleats, and how they compare in weight, price, and quality.

There will be better pictures (with better lighting) in the review!

Lightweight Soccer Cleats Review

Nike Mercurial Superfly II Pink Cherry

This is a full review regarding lightweight soccer cleats, in this review I'll be comparing the Nike Mercurial Superfly II, Adidas F50 Adizero,Puma V1.10 SL, along with the Umbro GT Pro. If you're interested in winning a free pair of Nike Mercurial Superfly II's, Soccer Cleats 101 is having a competition to win a pair of Nike Mercurial Cherry Superfly II's! And now, onto the review!

Nike Mercurial Superfly II

Nike have released probably the flashiest cleats I have ever seen, their Mercurial Superfly II's are designed to look like pure speed. Whether it's the Cactus Green, the Mach Purple, or the Pink Cherry, Nike always release some of the coolest colorways I've seen for cleats. 

Nike's state of the art Mercurial Superfly II cleats (priced around 400 dollars!) are what hundreds of professionals use because of their lightweight quality. They weigh an impressive 210 grams (or about 7.8 ounces) thanks to the FlyWire technology that runs along the inside and outside of the boot.

A picture of the Adaptive studs

The boot also features a Pressure-Activated Adaptive Traction System on the front two studs of the cleat. What all those big words mean is that the circular part in the middle of the stud actually extends when you put pressure on the cleat, allowing you to swivel/change direction quickly.

If you're interested in reading a great review of the cleats, you can visit this Nike Mercurial Cherry Superfly II's review over at Soccer Cleats 101.

Adidas F50 Adizero

The grip on the synthetic Adizero

Although Nike has included all these cool technologies, they still haven't managed to make the lightest cleat in the soccer boot market. Before the World Cup, Adidas released their lightweight cleat, the Adidas F50 Adizero which pushed the boundaries of lightweight. Messi, Forlan, and David Villa all wear this cleat, because of it's comfort and extremely light weight which is just 164 grams (or 5.8 ounces) for the synthetic version!

The Adidas F50 Adizero's come in two different formats, the leather version, and the synthetic version. The leather version is more comfortable, with a better touch on the ball as it moulds to your foot, while the synthetic version is for those who want pure speed. Although about 90% of the players who wear the Adizero opt for the leather version, the synthetic version has it's features. 

For example it has the grip on the upper, which is very similar to the Jabulani ball. It's not really grip, but it's more like bumps in a pattern which are supposed to help when hitting the ball. Although I'd certainly prefer the leather version, if you're looking for pure speed, go with the synthetic version.

Adidas's cleat right now costs about 150-200 dollars, much less compared to Nike's cleat, so if you're looking for a lighter, and cheaper cleat, you might want to think about the Adidas F50 Adizero.

The top stud fell off playing on an artificial surface

But there's a small thing I should mention, the Adizero's have a little bit of a stud problem. Many have reported that playing on artificial surfaces, their studs have fallen off, like in the link above. So if you're a big player on artificial/turf surfaces, be careful, because these might not be the right choice for you!

If you're interested in a review of the F50 Adizero's from Soccer Cleats 101, you can click here.

Puma V1.10 SL

And finally, when you speak of lightweight cleats, you have to mention the king of speed, the Puma V1.10 SL's. Puma recently surprised everyone releasing this cleat, right when everyone thought that Adidas had created the impossible, Puma took it a step further and made their cleat which weighs only 150 grams (or about 5.3 ounces)! 

Three wicked diamonds in the heel

There's two versions of this cleat, and while they both weigh and perform the same, they have different appearances. The first is the Yellow/Green version which Inter Milan's Samuel Eto'o wears, and then there's the less flashy white/blue version. Now the reason that the Yellow/Green version costs so much more than the white/blue version is because the Yellow/Green cleats have diamonds studded into the heel of the boot! Talk about flashy.

Now you might be asking, "How much will the lightest soccer cleat in the world cost? If the Nike's Superfly II's cost 400 dollars, then these must be 1000 dollars!" Well, no, Puma have made these super light, super comfortable cleats, and the white/blue version only costs about 200 dollars! While that's still quite a sum of money, it's a great deal compared to Nike's high priced cleats, and Adidas's which might have a stud fall off on you.

The white/blue version of the V1.10 SL

If you want to read a great review of the Puma V1.10 SL's at Soccer Cleats 101, click here.

Overall 

So if you're looking for a new pair of cleats, and you're interested in the lightweight options, please take into consideration what I've said above. Think about the surfaces you'll be playing on, whether you want to be flashy with the Pink Cherry, or whether you just want pure lightweight speed by Puma.

I found a couple of great comparison pictures from Soccerlens which compare's cleat weight (in grams), and then cleat price (in British pounds). Here they are below, they compare the Nike Mercurial Superfly II's, Adidas F50 Adizero's (synthetic version), Puma V1.10 SL's, and the Umbro GT Pro.

The top cleats ranked by weight

The top cleats ranked by cost

I hope you've enjoyed this overall review of lightweight cleats, and remember to enter in Soccer Cleats 101's Nike Mercurial Superfly II Cherry competition!