Product Review: Adidas Predator Instinct FG Cleats

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Two months ago, we wrote about the new collection of Battle Pack cleats that adidas unveiled in conjunction with the 2014 World Cup. And with two adidas-sponsored teams ready to battle it out in today’s World Cup Final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, we figured it was as good a time as any to take a closer look at one of the five styles available: the Predator Instinct.

The latest version of the popular Predator line has been worn by several top players throughout the tournament (including Germany’s Mesut Özil, Brazil’s Oscar and USA’s Graham Zusi), and that’s because it’s arguably one of the best soccer cleats on the market. Along with a HYBRIDTOUCH synthetic leather upper that offers premium softness and light weight without sacrificing durability, the shoes feature a transparent, firm-ground outsole with a control frame that’s more flexible and thus more responsive.

But what sets the Predator apart from adidas’ other styles are the five control zones located on the top of the cleat that are designed for more power, swerve and contact. Each raised zig-zag pattern (or “zone”) is made of a next-gen SL rubber that allows you to make the ball move in ways that’s an absolute nightmare for goalies. Additionally, adidas has upgraded the gel pad located on the instep that improves grip and control for a better all-around touch of the ball.

Though we weren’t crazy about the tribal war paint design of the Battle Pack collection when it was first announced, they’re a lot more attractive in person, particularly the Predator, which isn’t nearly as flashy thanks to its white-on-black color scheme. Of course, it hardly matters what the shoes look like if they perform on the field, and the new adidas Predator Instincts don’t disappoint in that department. Whether or not they’ll give Özil and his German teammates the edge they need to take down Lionel Messi’s Argentina is another matter entirely, but there isn’t a better stage to showcase these awesome cleats than the biggest sporting event in the world.

The adidas Predator Instinct Battle Pack cleats are available now in specialty soccer stores and online at www.shopadidas.com.

  

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Adidas unveils 2014 World Cup Battle Pack collection

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The 2014 FIFA World Cup is less than a month away, and adidas has debuted a new collection of Battle Pack cleats just in time for the tournament. Featuring a cleat from the brand’s five silos — including Lionel Messi’s signature adizero F50, as well as the latest Predator, Nitrocharge, 11Pro and adizero F50 — each model comes in its own disruptive black and white pattern.

Every adidas player will wear the Battle Pack cleats during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, including Messi (Argentina), Mesut Özil (Germany), Dani Alves (Brazil), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), Karim Benzema (France), Frank Lampard (England), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Fernando Torres (Spain) and Jozy Altidore (USA).

“The black and white design is unlike anything I’ve seen on the field,” said US forward Altidore. “Wearing the same collection as every other adidas athlete at the World Cup makes me part of something bigger.”

The unique black and white design of the Battle Pack collection is inspired by the war paint of native warriors and features gold stripes representing the FIFA World Cup trophy. Alternatively, the Battle Pack version of Messi’s signature adizero F50 includes a blue and white pattern to celebrate the Argentina federation.

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The adidas Battle Pack collection debuts on the field for the first time during the UEFA Champions League Final in Lisbon on May 24. All five models are now available for pre-order exclusively at adidas.com and will hit stores beginning May 26.

For more information, join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter using #WorldCup.

  

Product Review: Adidas adiZero F50 TRX FG Cleats

With Euro 2012 in full swing, you’ve likely spotted some of the cool gear that the world’s biggest names have been showcasing at the tournament. Although the newest adiZero F50 has been out for a while now, they remain one of the most popular shoes in the game, worn by the likes of England’s Ashley Young, Spain’s David Silva and Portugal’s Nani. I was recently sent a pair of adiZero F50s in the Euro 2012 colorway for review, and as someone who’s always been more of a Nike guy when it comes to my soccer cleats, Adidas has really won me over with the latest incarnation of their signature line.

The first thing that you’ll notice about the new adiZero F50 (apart from the bright neon colorway) is how incredibly lightweight they are. Weighing in at a mere 5.8 ounces, these are some of the lightest cleats on the market. Using a SPRINTSKIN single-layer synthetic upper and SPRINTFRAME bottom, Adidas has created an almost feather-light boot that has a snug, glove-like fit but still offers the stability that you need. Additionally, the SPRINTWEB on the inside provides great support for making quick cuts, while the TRAXION FG outsole ensures maximum grip and acceleration on firm ground fields.

Because of how thin and lightweight the synthetic material is, however, there’s very little standing between your foot and the ball. Though that creates a much better touch as a result, it comes at the cost of the protection you’d get from wearing a thicker or leather shoe. It’s a compromise that will differ from player to player, but if you’re the kind of person that favors speed over protection, you really can’t go wrong with the adiZero F50. They’re not quite as light as advertised when using the thicker comfort insoles that are provided or adding the optional miCoach chip, but so much thought has clearly gone into the smart and stylish design that it’s easy to see why they’re so incredibly popular.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the F50 also happens to be the official shoe of three-time Player of the Year Lionel Messi, who absolutely lit up La Liga this year with 50 goals and a record-breaking 73 goals in all club competitions. More recently, Messi lit up the soccer world yet again, but this time as the focus of a massive digital protection in New York City in support of the new adiZero F50 and the Argentina vs. Brazil friendly, where he coincidentally bagged another hat trick. Check out footage from the campaign below.

The Adidas adiZero F50 TRX is available in a variety of colorways at soccer specialty stores and www.shopadidas.com, and in conjunction with our review, we’re giving away a pair to one lucky reader. Click here to enter for your chance to win, and be sure to include which size you’d prefer in the box marked “Additional Information.” Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates on all of our latest giveaways.