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.

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...