SoccerBible Regulars
Connect with SB

Follow Us

 

Popular Tags
UK Freeview TV

Football Boots > Power Football Boots - adidas Predator Rapier 1995 - 23/09/09






Next up in the SoccerBible's countdown of adidas Predator football boots is the Predator Rapier, released in 1995. Ahead of the launch of the new Predator X football boots, SoccerBible will be taking an in-depth look at EVERY previous Predator model.

The adidas Predator Rapier came out a year after the release of the original adidas Predator football boot, and is currently the only adidas Predator boot to be released outside of a World Cup or European Championship year.







The release of the adidas Predator Rapier football boots set a benchmark in Predator style, which has continued through every model since. The Predator Rapier was the first to feature a fold-over tongue, a detail now synonymous with the Predator boot series, along with the classic black/white/red colourway.





For the Predator Rapier, adidas re-designed the rubber fins over the forefoot area to offer greater ball control and increased power. The boot also featured an increased amount of kangaroo leather for a more natural and comfortable fit, along with additional support from and strength from a redesigned heel area.





So far we have looked at the original adidas Predator football boots, but join the SoccerBible as we continue our weekly countdown of EVERY adidas Predator football boots incarnation, culminating in the official unveiling of the brand new Predator X football boots!


Comments

 

holt_86 said:

these are alright

September 23, 2009 5:21 PM
 

adri the king said:

predator rapier? :O xD

not much difference from the 1st, but kinda nice though.

September 23, 2009 5:21 PM
 

gregb11 said:

without the tongue it has the same shape as the total 90 laser ii's

September 23, 2009 6:03 PM
 

RONALDO9 said:

nasty

September 23, 2009 6:56 PM
 

DamooVilla said:

wtf r they doin man remakin da preds ): the ones theyve gt out now are easily da best

September 23, 2009 9:41 PM
 

martincillo_mexico said:

thwy are weird the lace cover dont work here, and that look like crocodile leather hahahaha

September 23, 2009 11:02 PM
 

macca14 said:

as a bit of a boot geek.: i'm pretty sure that the Rapier above was the 3rd generation pred. i can't find a pic of the 2nd generation. but it retailed at £119 oppossed to the rapier at £79. it had a slightly different upper (non croc) and the sole was grey where this is black (same as the top model Questra) further the 2nd generation in the shops had a black tongue, but Adids pro's wore it with a white (copa like) tongue. i'm sure there msut be someone else out there that can confirm my suspicions?

September 24, 2009 7:37 AM
 

cadmonkey12 said:

macca14,

You are exactly right.  The Rapier is to the Predator II as the Absolion is to the Powerswerve. The second gen predators were the first Predators that I owned.  The upper was smooth leather and if I'm not mistaken it was buffalo leather like the adidas Velez TRX (first shoe to use the Traxion sole plate).  The adidas stitched on the top of the tounge was white and the heel and collar wre accented differently.  Honestly one of my favorite boots, comfortable, durable, good bend on the ball and plenty of power.  Coming from Copas I thought they would be nothing but hype, but they really were the buisiness.

Oh, yeah I do remember Neil Ruddock wearing the ones with the white toungue too.

September 24, 2009 3:02 PM
 

cadmonkey12 said:

Here's a link to an image of the actual Predator II, as opposed to the Rapier shown above, you can see the the subtle differences.

media.photobucket.com/.../0000randompic-44.jpg

September 24, 2009 3:42 PM
 

Steven4vapor said:

ugly.

September 24, 2009 6:09 PM
 

macca14 said:

cadmonkey12,

there the ones? not much difference, but they are indeed different and were more expensive. can't say i owned a pair. my first were 1st generation touch (the geek within coming out again - i'm sure they'll be debate over this, but the ones without made in germany on the tongue) look forward to the artical on the king of the preds - the accelerator!!!

September 24, 2009 9:31 PM
 

holland said:

pretty sick shoe for 1995!

September 24, 2009 9:56 PM
 

martincillo_mexico said:

excellent explanation cadmonkey12, i really enjoy that coment about the difference between that rapier and the full pro predator

September 27, 2009 4:37 AM
 

Abbs9 said:

they are the most ugliest boots i have ever seen. Who will wear them ??

October 4, 2009 5:20 PM
 

Steven4vapor said:

i guess people didnt have a good tast in shoes back 15 years ago.....

October 8, 2009 11:06 PM
 

port94 said:

i can't believe people would give these boots any grief, they are the first generation of the greatest football boot of all time. predator abú

February 6, 2010 4:20 PM
 

bellyhvfc19 said:

wow at macca14 and cadmonkey12 knowledge of these historic and great boots,, who would of thought in 1995 these boots would still be going and improving every year.. adidas predators are by far the greatest boot ever made!!!

January 17, 2011 11:43 PM
 

A_Di_Natale said:

best adidas boots

November 11, 2011 12:18 PM
Sponsored Ads
One Life. One Game. The SoccerBible.
Copyright © 2013 SoccerBible Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.
Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the SoccerBible Privacy Policy.