Football Boots : vault, Football Boots, power, Predator History

Power Football Boots - adidas Predator PowerSwerve 2008 - 23/10/09

Editor — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:27:00 GMT

The adidas Predator PowerSwerve football boots are the ninth and final incarnation in our Predator countdown series, ahead of the launch of the new Predator X football boots. One of the most iconic football boots of the modern era, the adidas Predator PowerSwerve football boots have been a hugely successful addition to the Predator family, and they've come in a variety of different colourways! ...(read more)

Football Boots - adidas Predator Absolute 2006 - 21/10/09

Editor — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:19:00 GMT

We're just five days away from the official launch of the new adidas Predator X football boots, the tenth generation of the iconic Predator range! In preparation for this momentous day, the SoccerBible has been counting down all the previous adidas Predator incarnations, and we're now at number eight - the adidas Predator Absolute. ...(read more)

Football Boots - adidas Predator Pulse 2004 - 16/10/09

Editor — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:03:00 GMT

We continue our countdown of the Predator series, with the adidas Predator Pulse football boots launched on the tenth anniversary of the Predator in 2004. To celebrate the tenth anniversary, adidas set about creating the lightest, most accurate and powerful adidas Predator boots yet....(read more)

Football Boots - adidas Predator Mania 2002 - 12/10/09

Editor — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:49:00 GMT

The adidas Predator football boots continued their innovation and success into the new century with the release of the Predator Mania. The 2002 FIFA World Cup in the Far East was the launch pad for the adidas Predator Mania football boots, which helped to unlock a new market for the adidas Predator.

The new adidas Predator Mania football boots retained the signature black/white/red colourway, along with a soft kangaroo leather upper, stitched-in Predator technology and the distinctive asymmetrical lacing.

The Predator Mania gave even more swerve to the ball than previous models. The rubber serrations, now in stand-out white, were concentrated on the in-step of the boot - the part of the foot which strikes the ball to generate curl.

Once again adidas advanced the tongue design for the Predator Mania, with the introduction of an elasticated strap going under the foot to hold down the tongue. This also pinned in the laces to give the boots an enlarged area for clean striking of the ball.

Other new additions to the adidas Predator Mania football boots were the external TPU heel counter, and the split outsole construction. A two-piece outsole which helped to make the Mania a much lighter Predator boot.

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!

Football Boots - adidas Predator Precision 2000 - 08/10/09

Editor — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:36:00 GMT

The adidas Predator Precision is the next boot in our Predator countdown series. Ahead of the launch of the new tenth generation adidas Predator football boots, the SoccerBible is taking a look back at all the previous incarnations of this unique and popular football boots range.

The adidas Predator Precision was launched during the EURO 2000 championships, as adidas continued their tradition of releasing a brand new Predator boot during a major championship year. But were probably made more famous by David Beckham, who was wearing the Precision football boots as he scored THAT incredible free-kick in the final moments of England's match against Greece!

The adidas Predator Precision was the first Predator boot to make the transition from rubber fins to thinner, more frequent ribs which increased the spin that could be put on the ball.

The overall design of Predator Precision was again completely unique to any models that had gone before, as adidas continued to re-invent and progress their increasingly popular boot range. The adidas Predator Precision football boots featured a tongue that covered the laces and attached with velcro to a point further down the forefoot.

An innovative addition to the adidas Predator Precision football boots were the exchangeable Traxion studs, a merge between some of the leading football boot innovations ever; the idea of exchangeable studs from 1954 and the Predator and Traxion technologies of the mid ’90s.

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!

Power Football Boots - adidas Predator Accelerator 1998 - 02/10/09

Editor — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:39:00 GMT

Released in 1998, the adidas Predator Accelerator was the fourth incarnation of the Predator series, and is the next boot in the SoccerBible's Predator countdown ahead of the launch of the new Predator X boot.

Released to coincide with the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, the adidas Predator Accelerator football boots had an outstanding tournament through key wearer Zinedine Zidane, who gave the boot global recognition by scoring two goals in the final.

The adidas Predator Accelerator was the first Predator boot to include asymmetrical loop lacing. This new system provided a larger, cleaner kicking surface, and by tucking the laces away improved the striking area on the top of the boots. The new lacing system combined with redesigned rubber vamps, which were less pronounced so more boot surface area came into contact with the ball.

As the outsole of the Predator Accelerator suggests, this newer version was more anatomically sound. This was achieved by developers working extensively alongside professional footballers, so the new boot held the foot more firmly and was able to improve a players movement.

The adidas Predator Accelerator was also the first visually striking Predator boot, with a bold and radical design that incorporated more of the Predator red colour and used the adi three stripes in an unconventional design.

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!

Power Football Boots - adidas Predator Touch 1996 - 29/09/09

Editor — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:39:00 GMT

Continuing our countdown of Predator football boots we arrive at 1996, when adidas released the Predator Touch football boots the next addition to their Predator range. By 1996 the adidas Predator football boots had been available for over two years, and were making quite a name for themselves on pitches around the world!

The adidas Predator Touch football boots introduced the Predator's distinctive red tongue, which was elongated so it could fold and cover the laces, to enlarge the striking zone.

For the Predator Touch football boots, adidas became more creative with the design and positioning of their rubber fins. Instead of covering the entire forefoot area, the fins were divided into panels specially aligned for improved boot-to-ball contact. Which was further enhanced by the rubber material continuing up alongside the laces, and either side of the new lace-cover.

With the fins concentrated in the forefoot area and reduced in size, adidas were able to increase the amount of kangaroo leather used in engineering the boot upper. This improved the comfort and fit of the football boots, but more importantly the ball feel, control and touch.

The sole-plate of the adidas Predator Touch football boots featured a new Traxion system for the firm ground versions. For the first time the studs were re-shaped and re-positioned to give less resistance when players ran, but greater grip when turning.

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!

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

Editor — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:23:00 GMT

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!

Power Football Boots - adidas Predator 1994 - 18/09/09

Editor — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:06:00 GMT

The adidas Predator is an unmistakable boot, a true icon of the football boots world! So to celebrate the upcoming release of the adidas Predator X football boots the SoccerBible is proud to present a unique series looking back at the different incarnations of this unique boot range, starting from the beginning with the original adidas Predator boot...

It has been over a decade since the first adidas Predator football boot was introduced to the world, and it is clear to see how this unconventional piece of equipment became an unmistakable design icon!

The design brief of the adidas Predator was to create a football boot that could generate more power, more swerve and more control. And to achieve this adidas had to step out of the realms of regular boot design, incredibly finding inspiration from a table tennis bat!

The finished product was a boot that featured a rubberised zone covering the forefoot, enabling players to put unprecedented swerve onto the ball. These vulcanised rubber fins (shown in the images above) yielded amazing bend, power and control, making the adidas Predator football boot unlike any other boot of its time.

As you'd expect with the high quality associated with adidas football boots, the adidas Predator upper was primarily made with supple kangaroo leather, for excellent comfort and ball feel. Add to this the new traxion technology (featured on the outsole of the firm ground versions) and the adidas Predator football boots had become the biggest revolution in football boot design since Adi Dassler's screw-in studs.

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!