The new football boots releases never stop here at the SoccerBible, as we present the alternate launch colour adidas F50 adizero football boots , already the most talked about boots of the year.
This Black/Sun colourway forms part of the trinity of adidas boots for this summer's World Cup in South Africa. Joining the Predator X and adiPure III, the F50 adiZero will take centre stage across the pitches of the game's biggest stage.
It has been a while since adidas have had a genuinely competitive speed boot (in our eyes not since the +F50) but with a plethora of tech and design craft gone into the new adiZero, have the German giants hit pole position?
In the weigh-in stakes, it seems likely. This synthetic upper version is a super-slim 165g (5.8oz!), making this not only adidas' most revolutionary football boot to date, but by far their lightest.
You may be surprised at how much thought, development and tech adidas have crammed into that 165g cleat, considering logic would suggest everything has been stripped away, taken out or ditched in the pursuit of shaving away vital grammes.
From an improved Sprint Skin uppper, to a whole new outsole chassis and frame, the new adiZero is a potent weapon for today's speed merchants. This Black/Sun/Gold colourway is the reverse of one of the three launch colours, which you can enjoy in full with our exclusive first look feature - no cluky cameraphone shots or boring catalogue images for us, no sir...
The F50 adiZero is offered in both synthetic and leather upper material options. The SprintSkin single layer synthetic returns from the F50i, this time upgraded and uprated to give even more of a second skin feel. Thinner and lighter that the previous model, perhaps the most obvious benefit is the zero water uptake - meaning this cleat doesn't get heavy even in wet conditions.
Adidas have also engineered a new "grain" onto the outer surface, designed to give greater ball grip in both the wet and dry. Using a Copa Mundial as their test benchmark, adidas claim much greater spin and grip with this grain. We'll have to wait and see what our play test team make of that claim first!
Of course, as well as a choice of uppers there are a comprehensive choice of outsoles for different ground conditions. The F50 adiZero boots are available in three distinct sole plates, from soft ground (SG) to firm ground (FG) and also a new hard ground (HG) plate.
The FG plate features new triangular Traxion studs, placed at strategic positions across the sole unit which aid pressure distribution and are designed to give improved directional grip. The SG plate takes the form of a mixed sole version which substitutes 6 removeable aluminium studs at the toe and heel. Both sole plates offer stability through a sleeker midfoot area which also goes to creating a snug fit.
This new last is unique to F50 series, differing from the Predator and adiPure lasts with a wider yet flatter footbaed. This means the studs can be positioned closer to the outside of the sole, giving greater stability. Which is kind of essential when you are looking to create the fastest boot on the planet.
The F50 adiZero adopts an asymmetric parrallel lacing system which moves off-centre to create a greater, cleaner kicking surface. Also introduced is a new "Taperlace" system, intended to be much thinner and flatter to reduce any unncessary material between the foot and the ball. The top of the lace area has also been made wider, so your tied laces won't get in the way as much!
At heel of the boot you'll notice a stable external heel counter which intends to lock your heel in as you sprint to evade the opposition. Attached to the heel counter is a new outsole construction, dubbed Sprint Frame, which adidas claim brings "stability through geometry" (yeh, us neither).
In essence, the unique construction takes away the need for a standard insole which reduces the weight yet keeps the boot strong and supported. Simply? Less layers, less materials, less weight!
Inside the F50 adiZero are even more tech tricks, with the inclusion of internal TPU support bands which offer increased support and stability during quick motions and direction changes. These support bands not only reinforce the upper structurally, avoid wear and tear, but also aid reaction to a player's lateral and medial movements throughout the game.
Perhaps the biggest talking point outside the weight of the new adidas F50 adiZero boots is the price. With other performance boots only increasing in price, you might be surprised to know a pair of the top end adidas F50 adiZero football boots will set you back around £125 GBP ($200 USD) - the same price as the adidas F50i starter packs.
Which, considering all the tech innovations and unbelieveable weight loss, makes the F50 adiZero the serious speed boot we've been crying out for adidas to make!