The 2013 NFL season kicks off tonight with the Baltimore Ravens traveling to Denver as the Broncos try to avenge their gut wrenching loss from last season’s playoffs.
One story line this season revolves around the return of Robert Griffin III as he tries to return from a season-ending knee injury. He’s slated to start game 1, and here he’s ready to roll with Adidas as the season gets underway.
Most of our readers have probably seen ads for the adidas Springblade, which are the first running shoe with individually tuned blades engineered to help propel runners forward with one of the most effective energy returns in the industry. Right when we put these shoes on for a test run, we couldn’t believe the explosive energy from the Springblade shoe! Unlike standard EVA midsoles, which deliver energy return in a vertical direction, Springblade features 16 forward angled blades made out of a high-tech polymer. The highly elastic blades instantaneously react to any environment, compressing and releasing energy to create an efficient push-off that feels like you have springs under your feet. The feeling is so unique and new that you really feel like you are experiencing something from the future.
For all the serious runners out there, it’s important to know that each blade is precisely tuned in geometry, thickness and position for each phase of a runner’s stride to provide support and a full range of movement. Additionally, Springblade’s flexible construction was designed to hug the top of a runner’s foot, locking it in to harness the energy returned from the springs on the outsole. After six years in the making, aIT (adidas Innovation Team) tested hundreds of materials to ensure each spring produced maximum energy efficiency with every step and conducted rigorous ballistics tests to maintain long-lasting durability For top performance in all environments, Springblade is seven times more temperature resistant than shoes with adidas’ standard EVA cushioning. Aside from all of the technology under your feet, these new Springblade’s look incredible and will grab attention from folks of all walks of life.
The adidas Springblade is available for $180 and has been on sale since August 1 at adidas.com and retailers nationwide, including Finish Line, Foot Locker, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Eastbay and select running specialty stores.
We were fortunate to review the newly designed and developed D Rose 3.5 Signature Basketball Shoe from adidas with input from Chicago Bulls superstar point guard Derrick Rose. The shoe has improved performance, bolder style and more personal details than its predecessor and launched just a few weeks ago. The D Rose 3.5 shoe is inspired by Derrick’s dedication and hard work to his game and features adidas’ most innovative performance technology, premium and rich style elements and personal details.
To exceed the performance needs for Derrick’s unique style of play, which includes extreme changes in direction, acceleration and explosiveness, adidas designers made the D Rose 3.5 more supportive, comfortable and responsive than its predecessor. The shoe fits even closer to the foot for faster cuts and features a SPRINTWEB upper engineered specifically for his style of play, which reduces weight with maximum support and breathability.
Additional performance features include an ergonomic ankle collar pocket to ensure maximum support during hard cuts and a breathable mesh tongue to improve comfort. SPRINTFRAME technology features an external heel counter to reduce weight and allow for energy return and motion control, giving Derrick his best performing signature shoe to date to improve his performance on court.
The bold spiral overlay pattern is inspired by Derrick’s goal to tighten his game, and functionally, it increases flexibility and provides optimum toe protection. The synthetic leather upper features the spiral protruding from the D Rose logo on the ankle to represent how his on and off-court success continues to grow from the support of his family, who inspired the logo. Chicago call-outs on the inside of the tongue showcase the essence of Rose, including a “Rooted in Chicago” graphic with lettering, colors and shapes inspired by Derrick’s tattoos and the Chicago flag. Each colorway of the D Rose 3.5 will feature special graphics, materials and colors that give details about Derrick’s life and style of play.
The three stripes are again featured on the back of the shoe to represent Rose’s speed, and now wrap around the outsole so opponents will see them not only when he drives past them, but also goes over them.
The D Rose 3.5 launched at retailers worldwide on January 31st for $160 in away (black/white/red) and home (gray/black/red) colorways. The shoe will launch in six additional editions through April.
The new D Rose 3.5 not only looks incredible, but the fit and finish of the new shoe from adidas hits new levels for comfort and stability. These new offerings are extremely lightweight but add to the strength of an already top-shelf shoe. The attention one gets from wearing the new D Rose 3.5’s might surprise you because everyone wants to check them out on and off the court.
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.
When #Adidas sent us a pair of the all new and super hyped Adidas adiZero Crazy Light 2 to review, we were thrilled to say the least. Reviewing men’s shoes is always cool, but these are one of those special shoe launches that are quickly turning into must-haves for those in the know of basketball kicks! The adiZero Crazy Light 2 are the WORLD’S LIGHTEST BASKETBALL SHOE, weighing in at 9.5 ounces, which is nearly 10 percent lighter than the nearest competitor’s basketball shoe. I swear these shoes were so light coming out of the box that you just shake your head and ask, “How do they do this”? If you play competitive basketball, the light construction means plenty, as NBA players have let their affection for the Adidas adiZero Crazy Light 2 be known, like this quote from NBA player Jrue Holiday: “In the league, every game matters, and you don’t want anything weighing you down on the court. Putting on the adiZero Crazy Light 2 gives me that speed and confidence I need when it counts.”
I’m watching the NBA playoffs closely and see the adiZero Crazy Light 2 on some of my favorite players. We also noticed how strong the new Crazy Light 2 felt once we started testing them on both indoor and outdoor courts. Per Adidas, “The increased strength of the adizero Crazy Light 2 comes from an enlarged asymmetrical SPRINTFRAME, allowing for maximum motion control. Designers added volume to the midsole for a more supportive base. The new aerodynamic three-layer SPRINTWEB is the thinnest ever, with a tighter web layout that gives players enhanced vertical and horizontal strength. Overall, the shoe’s new geometry allows for maximum weight savings, energy return and motion control.”
Of course, how the shoes look is just as important as how they function for plenty of folks looking for an edge. Our test pair was black with red trim, and the colors really pop off the sleek Crazy Light 2. The first adiZero Crazy Light 2 collection was off the charts good-looking, but these new ones appear to be more aerodynamic, which enhances the new offering from Adidas.
My game has jumped as well, and maybe it’s because I’m much more confident wearing the stronger and lighter Crazy Light 2 from Adidas. They’re now on sale and can be found on adidas.com as well as Foot Locker, Eastbay and other leading retailers. Check out the above pics and video below to see for yourself!
