The Adidas Nitrocharge gets a revamped and is the Nitrocharge 2nd Generation. There are significant changes to the Hybridtouch upper and the Energy Sling that alter the performance of the Nitrocharge, and make it a very different beast from its predecessor. Do we like them, or do we not? How will they perform on the pitch? Tune in to find out!
Adidas Predator Instinct 2014 Tribal Pack.
Unboxing and First Impressions coming soon.
The Puma Tricks series is easily one of the most recognizable boots on the field today. The unique bright 2 colour appearance, with inspiration from the rich Brazilian culture, was designed just for the World Cup, with full intention of standing out – and it does that with aplomb. Where wearing 2 colour boots are concerned, players have been doing that for a long time. Think of players like Benoit Assou-Ekotto formerly from Tottenham Hotspurs. Strangely though, the boot companies were slow to pick up that trend, but for the World Cup Puma have jumped straight in with radical colours – and the result is simply sensational. There are 2 boots in Puma’s Tricks series, the evoSpeed and the evoPower; for today, we bring to you the Puma evoSpeed Tricks.
Technical specifications
– Upper: Puma’s proprietary monolayer, monofiber synthetic with a star shaped, glossy, sticky finish covering the entire upper. Reinforced with Puma’s EverFit cage for solid lateral stability.
– Tongue: A mesh padded tongue
– Lacing: Thin, flat laces
– Insole: Foam insert that is plush, soft and relatively thick. Provides arch support.
– Heel counter: Plastic, minimalist heel counter.
– Outsole: Plastic elastomer with the rigid SpeedTrack technology through the midfoot and hindfoot and DuoFlex system in the forefoot
– Studs: Conical studs. Slightly longer than most boots. 12 stud layout.
– Weight: 7.0 oz
Performance aspects
Touch
The touch of the Puma evoSpeed is undoubtedly premium. Puma’s proprietary monolayer, monofiber synthetic combines the virtues of the thinness of a synthetic with the padding of a pair of leather boots. By this, I mean that the boots offer a thin, premium barefoot feel on the ball but when taking shots, there is just enough sufficient padding to take away the sting on the impact. This leads to no fear and no hesitation when taking shots and is truly amazing given the inherent thinness of the upper (which by the way, makes dribbling a true joy). You can really feel the technology that Puma has incorporated into the making of this synthetic and more importantly, can truly appreciate during the course of a match where you feel as if nothing is holding you back. The only issue that might turn some people off is the addition of a glossy, sticky finish all over the upper that is shaped like parallel stars – this is in stark contrast to the previous previous colourways of the evoSpeed 1.2 where the GripTex was present in much lesser amounts. Quite interestingly though, I did not feel throughout testing that the grip provided by either of the two boots differed very much. So if you are worried that this model may provide something of a different feel from the previous colourway, your worries are quite unfounded. As with the previous colourways of the evoSpeed, the upper combined with sticky and glossy finishing allows for a grip on the ball that I would describe to be perfectly balanced. Puma’s combination allows you to make touches on the ball without having the feeling that the ball is perpetually slipping away from you, but at the same time does not make touches feel overly sticky which I dislike very much because it interferes with my game. The grippy texture has the added advantage of providing grip in wet conditions that is definitely noticeable.
Dribbling
As mentioned earlier, dribbling in the Puma evoSpeed Tricks is wonderful because you get a truly close feeling of the ball, a premium barefoot feel, because the upper is a thin one. The addition of the grippy texture only adds to an already immensely satisfying dribbling experience. While dribbling, you feel as if you are in complete control with each touch being very true, and the grip adds on an extra dimension of confidence because of the perfect amount of grip that is present. Dribbling is also influenced by the fit and the traction, so I will discuss these here as well.
The fit of the Puma evoSpeed is very anatomical. By this, I mean that the boots are designed to fit the curves and structure of the human foot very closely. At the toe area, looking from the top of the boots, there is a slight protrusion for the big toe, and then the angle quite acutely cuts off and follows the tips of the other toes very closely. This allows for the feeling that the boot was custom-made for you because they follow the natural foot anatomy so closely. Because these boots fit so well, the areas of flexion and extension are perfectly in sync with your feet movements so when dribbling, you always feel you’re in control and that if you desire a certain touch, that touch is what you will get.
The traction of the Puma evoSpeed is a masterstroke as well. With this release, Puma has opted to use the more traditional conical studs. Nothing fancy there. What makes this truly work is that Puma has elected to increase the length of these studs just slightly but in doing so, making a world of difference. The slightly longer studs allow for greater and easier ground penetration and so offer explosive release and great grip on the ground; usually this comes at a sacrifice because rotation and maneuverability is limited once your foot is planted in the ground. However, because the studs are conical, there is no sacrifice here and rotation and maneuverability with your foot planted is as good as it gets. It is a true dribblers dream, with pace and agility all in one package. In addition, the conical studs make it easier to roll the ball under your feet, a la futsal style – again making these boots very attractive to players who love to dribble.
At this point, it is important to note that what contributes significantly to the excellent traction is Puma’s EverFit cage system and the rigid Speedtrack system. The lateral stability offered is up there with the best and gives you a very responsive feel and a great platform to make sharp cuts and turns. Without the EverFit cage, the traction would still be decent, but it is the Everfit that makes the locked in effect excellent. The Speedtrack system, because of its rigidity, gives an extremely responsive ride without sacrificing flexibility owing to the DuoFlex system in place at the forefoot.
Passing
We had some reservations about passing the ball in the evoSpeeds initially. This was due to the fact that the angle where the upper met the soleplate seemed unusually acute – how then would a player be expected to pass the ball on a convex surface? On testing, however, it was a completely different story. Upon slipping your feet into the boots, the boots conform to the shape of your foot (again playing on the whole anatomical fit angle of the boot) and passing becomes very natural. No problems that we initially anticipated occurred and we enjoyed using the boots thoroughly. Again, the sticky texture of the boot could be felt but just enough to generate friction without feeling overly sticky and frustrating. Kudos to Puma for creating this perfect balance.
Shooting
Shooting in the Puma evoSpeeds, quite surprisingly, has a certain Predator feel about it. Despite the thin feeling of the upper when you are dribbling, these boots give you the sensation of bulk when striking the ball. There is minimal sting on impact with the ball which gives the player a lot of confidence when striking the ball. Many players’ primary complaint about boots with overly thin uppers is that while it affords a great dribbling experience, shooting in them especially over the course of a game can be quite painful. The Puma evoSpeed manages to overcome that and it is great that Puma has taken players’ feedback into account. As mentioned earlier, the sticky finishing on the upper is just enough to allow you to generate friction to curve the ball, without sacrificing the overall feel in the sense of making it too sticky and unnatural. Well-played, Puma.
Protection
Protection is another area of the lighter boots that usually gets sacrificed, but with the Puma evoSpeeds, very surprisingly again, that is not the case. During the course of our matches we got stepped on with the full weight of the defender on our feet but they came through relatively unscathed, which was a very pleasant surprise. We expected to be hobbling out of the game but instead we gained more confidence with each challenge that failed to take us out of the game. For players looking for lighter boots but are unwilling or reluctant to sacrifice protection, the Puma evoSpeed is definitely a boot worth checking out.
Anatomy, Biomechanics, Injury Concerns
Here, we want to emphasize the great fit of the Puma evoSpeed. Everything about it is meant to conform to the anatomy of the foot, even if it was not very widely advertised. The ability of the upper to conform to our foot shape, the way the toebox is cut, it truly brings out the optimum function of the human foot. For Singapore players, and Asians in general, we find this pair of boots to be very suitable because it is slightly shorter than say the Mercurial Vapors and with the flex of the boot in sync with your foot, the amount of control you get is one of the best out there. Injury concerns are much minimized in this pair of boots as well, and this is something I was not expecting to say before I began testing the boots.
Personally, I have an average width foot to with a slightly wide midfoot, and I found these boots to fit perfectly, and true to size. I would even say that these boots have the necessary width to fit wider footed players, so for those players out there with a wider foot throughout the forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot, or those who have flat feet, this is a pair that you can consider if you are looking for a synthetic boot that is very light.
So that’s it for the written review from me. The Puma evoSpeed Tricks is a pair of boots that has defied my expectations, and is a pair that I would encourage many to try as well. If you are a player who has always wanted to try lighter synthetic boots but were put off by width or length, the Puma evoSpeed will give you a pleasant surprise, just as it has with us. We say, well done Puma.
Rating
– Comfort 4.5/5
– Weight 4/5
– Dribbling 5/5
– Passing 4/5
– Shooting 5/5
– Protection 3.5/5
– Durability 4/5
– Biomechanics 5/5
– Injury concerns 4/5
– Suitability for Singapore 5/5
Score (Singapore context): 44/50
Score (Local conditions not taken into account): 39/45
The Puma evoSpeed Tricks can be bought at Puma Concept Stores or Weston Corporation for SGD219.
Watch how these boots perform in performance related domains such as dribbling, shooting and passing, and see if our initial impressions from our first video changed after rigorous testing of the boots!
Puma EvoSpeed 1.2 Tricks FG World Cup 2014 First Impression Review is out! Check it out here:
Our very first video review on the Adidas Predator LZ 2 is up!
Video Review:
Introduction
The Adidas Predator has undergone a radical change from its original roots as a “power boot”. While its hugely popular previous iterations focused very much on shooting and innovative ways to increase the power behind each shot, the current versions since the original Predator LZ have seen the Predator line become Adidas’ “control boot” silo, becoming in the eyes of many Adidas’ answer to Nike’s hugely popular CTR360 Maestri series (now taken over by the Magista). But don’t be fooled. In this review, we’ll tell you why the Predator actually stays very much true to its original roots as a “power boot”, and are not as different from previous versions as many seem to believe – and why, actually, we think the Predator should not be confined to any boot silo simply because it performs so admirably on all fronts.
Technical specifications
Upper
The Predator LZ 2 features Adidas’ proprietary Hybridtouch synthetic. This is a synthetic that many describe as Adidas’ attempt at creating a synthetic that mimics the touch of leather, but retain the desirable qualities of a synthetic (does not absorb water as easily, easy to clean, not as stretchy as leather). This could not be further from the truth. Adidas’ Hybridtouch feels nothing like leather; instead, the touch feels exactly like that its name suggests – a hybrid of the 2 materials. You get the barefoot feeling of a synthetic but at the same time, strangely (but wonderfully) you also feel just a hint of padding that does enough to prevent foot pain when striking the ball hard. It affords the player enormous confidence. As far as retaining the desirable qualities of a synthetic, the Hybridtouch upper performs just as it should – compared to a traditional leather soccer boot, the Predator LZ 2s did not absorb as much water, and were definitely much easier to clean even when conditions get rough and muddy. Some have reported issues with dirt getting stuck between the lethal zone elements, but simple toothbrush and water does the trick. The Hybridtouch upper does stretch, which is a good thing. What makes it even better is the stretch feels controlled and as such offers great lateral stability when making sharp cuts, which is rare on a pair of boots that offers stretchability. These boots fit very true to size (more on the fit later) and so may feel a bit tight, especially if you throw a pair of cushioned Trusox on together with it – give it a few hours of break-in time however, and you will be rewarded with a custom fit that feels nothing short of amazing. You will feel as if the boot has been tailor-made for you, and because of this amazing comfort, your game is unhindered – and there is nothing more we can ask from a pair of soccer boots. The upper is also sufficiently thick to protect your feet from any scything tackles that come flying your way – a truly unique feeling, especially when the boot offers such a premium barefoot feel at the same time.
As far as the Lethal Zones are concerned, they are exactly the same as the original Predator LZs – five elements comprising the Drive, Dribble, First Touch, Sweet Spot, and Pass Pad (or now, the Pass Strips) zones. The only difference is that they are now in varying assortments of ‘X’s and raised geometric patterns. I am going to go against what most people are saying for these zones right now. Firstly, these zones do provide grip on the ball, but not an inordinately large amount of it. The amount of grip is perfect, where you feel it and it prevents the ball from running away from you especially during the heat of the match where things are moving very quickly, yet avoids being so sticky that you find yourself tripping over the ball all the time. For those who are worried that these boots have too much grip, put those fears away. The amount of grip is just nice. Secondly, the naming of these zones for things they are supposedly meant for should be acknowledged as a gimmick. They do their job by providing just the right amount of grip, but as an example, the Dribble pad 1) isn’t going to make you a better dribbler and 2) should not be mistaken to be ONLY used for dribbling. Any self-respecting footballer will tell you that all parts of the boots can be used for all purposes, depending on the situation you find yourself in during a game (just ask Zlatan) – so don’t go away thinking that the First Touch portion is only to be used to make first touches. Unless you want a knock on your head from Zlatan. Interestingly, these rubber elements have a significant effect on how shooting with these Predators feel and in protecting your feet – more on that later.
There are other aspects of the upper that should be taken into consideration. The tongue is slightly padded (but not overly so) and so feels comfortable when the laces are pulled tight, without being too bulky and overwhelming. The heel of the boot seems cut a bit high, and discomfort may be experienced upon putting on the boot and moving your ankle, with maybe even some disconcerting restriction of movement felt. However, when actually playing, the heel is never felt cutting into your feet and there is absolutely no discomfort, even from first wear – in fact, you will find that the boots have a very supportive feel, while being relatively lightweight and responsive, which was a great feeling that not many boots on the market now offer. There is a plastic heel cup that will protect your feet well from the many snapping feet of defenders, and they do their job well. Throughout testing, our ankles came out unscathed.
Comfort (Fit, Inner materials, Sizing)
The fit of the Adidas Predator LZ 2 is nothing short of amazing. It hugs the foot all the way without being too restrictive. With the material following every curve of your foot, especially after some break-in time, the tailor-made feeling you get while playing is absolutely premium. This boot is suitable for people with neutral to wide feet – the boot starts out being neutral in width pretty much all the way throughout (forefoot, midfoot, heel) but because of the stretch Hybridtouch affords, players with wide feet should not shy away. The inner material of the upper is made of a nubuck/suede-like material, and feels exceptionally comfortable while providing slippage, especially when paired with Trusox – a real winner.
For sizing, definitely go true-to-size. The boots may feel a bit tight initially, but as mentioned previously, give it a few hours of break-in time and it will mould to your foot, providing a premium, custom fit, much like a leather boot would.
Soleplate/Traction
Adidas has stuck to its tried and tested Sprintframe soleplate with triangular studs, and there is no reason for them to deviate. In the forefoot, the lateral and medial sides of the boot have 3 studs each, with one stud in the middle, and the heel has 4 studs at the back. The triangular studs combine the best of both worlds in the conical studs versus bladed studs debate – it allows for excellent rotation with the foot planted in the ground, and ease of rolling the ball under your feet (very useful when you find yourself caught in tight spaces), while at the same time giving great grip when you’re pushing off and sprinting as well as cutting past defenders at tight angles. The soleplate, made of a lightweight plastic-like material, keeps you low to the ground, which makes you feel stable and quick on your feet. It also absorbs heat minimally, which means no burnt soles when playing on artificial turfs under scorching heat. The insole is also made of a low profile nubuck/suede liner, which again affords maximum comfort and minimal slippage.
Weight
The Predator LZ 2 weighs in at 8oz, which meets our criteria for a lightweight boot (generally, 8oz makes for a lightweight feel throughout the course of a game, as far as we are concerned). The boots have the ability to disappear on your feet due to the great fit and light weight, but there is just enough weight to ensure that the presence of the boot is felt – which in no way detrimental because it gives you a very solid feeling without hampering your game. It is a truly unique experience, and one that no other boot offers currently on the market. Absolutely top notch, and something you have to try to appreciate.
Performance
Dribbling
Dribbling with the Adidas Predator LZ 2s took us completely by surprise. With many of us having worn previous iterations of the Predators throughout the years, we expected a cushioned grip, much like the leather uppers offered previously. Instead, we were treated to a premium barefoot feel on the ball, except this time with harder strikes our feet were protected by the thin but noticeable nubuck lining of the Hybridtouch upper. During close control, this nubuck lining curiously disappeared, and the barefoot feeling curiously resumed – we enjoyed it immensely. The close fit of the boot, matched with the thin Hybridtouch upper, meant that all our touches were true and precise; we were able to do anything we wanted with the ball. The Lethal Zones provided just enough grip to ensure the ball did not run away from us (so to speak) especially in wet conditions without being overly sticky. On the whole, dribbling was a joy in these boots.
Passing
The close fit of the upper, combined with the thin Hybridtouch, meant we could pick out our teammates easily with great precision. The thin nubuck lining prevented any sort of pain to our feet, which we were grateful for throughout the 90 minute course of a match.
Shooting
Shooting in the Adidas Predator LZ 2s was sensational, and is the reason why we frown when people suggest that the Predators no longer should be considered a “power boot”. The Hybridtouch follows the curves of our feet, is thin, and that when combined with the rubber elements (which provide a relatively harder surface) makes for an exceptionally clean and precise strike with efficient transfer of power from your leg to your boot. There is a satisfying thunk with every clean strike and the ball flies exactly to where you want it to go (assuming, of course, with the right technique) – which adds to the overall confidence that the boot gives you. The precision with each strike is very, very close to one you would get if you were, say, shooting with a pair of F50s or Vapors – except with greater efficiency of transfer of power, and a more solid feeling overall.
Off-the-ball running
As mentioned earlier, these boots have the ability to disappear on your feet, but maintain enough of a presence to give you a lightweight yet solid feeling when running off the ball. You tend to forget the boots are on your feet, and we at TSS feel that any pair of boots that can make you feel this way is a premium pair of boots.
Protection
Despite the thin Hybridtouch upper, we have found the Adidas Predator LZ 2s to offer excellent protection. The rubber elements play a big role in ensuring that studs that land on your foot are felt minimally. The internal plastic heel counter protects your ankles well, and we came out unscathed in each game we played regardless of the intensity of the game.
Durability
The Adidas Predator LZ 2s continue to shine where durability is concerned. The boots on the whole feel very solid, and this is even more remarkable considering it is such a lightweight boot. With these boots, you can expect more than a season’s worth of wear, especially if effort is taken to clean the boots each time after wear.
Local Quirks
In Singapore, most weekend warriors play at artifical pitches all over the island, in amateur leagues such as ESPZen. Most games take place at 1pm to 3pm, which is an incredibly hot time of the day. Heat waves can literally be seen emanating off the pitch. In these cases, we have found boots such as the Mercurial Vapor IX to literally burn our feet – it is very discomforting and can very easily throw off your game, since you will most likely be busy trying to prevent your feet from getting charred by hopping around. With the Adidas Predator LZ 2 however, the soleplate performs admirably. There is minimal heat absorption and nothing detracts us from our game. While our opponents were visibly distraught at their burning feet during the game, we weren’t – which again adds to the overall confidence that the Predators give you.
ABC (Anatomy, Biomechanics, injury Caution)
In general, we find that the Adidas Predator LZ 2s fit Asian feet better. Caucasians generally have feet that are a bit longer, which explains why many have found the need to go up half a size. For Asians, because of the shorter lengths of our feet, the fit of these boots is absolutely perfect if you go true-to-size. Do take note however that these are generalisations and the best thing to do would be to go to a store to try them out.
Where biomechanics are concerned, the Predator LZ 2s maximise the biomechanics of the human foot simply because they are so form-fitting. By following the curves of our feet and ensuring no dead space or areas with poor fit, the foot is able to function at its optimum range of motion and muscle tension, which ensures that you are able to perform to the best of your ability with no hindrances. The flex of the forefoot of the boot occurs maximally at the foot’s metatarsophalangeal joints (between the metatarsals and the toes), which gives you total control of the ball and a very ‘free’ sensation – again, adding to the confidence that you already have.
The protection the boot offers has been covered, and we find no injury concerns to report.
Comparisons
Most people would ask us the question: Which is better, the Adidas Predator LZ 2s or the CTR360 Maestri IIIs? To this we reply, they are different beasts. We find the Maestri to have much thicker upper that offers less flexibility than the Predator. We do not get that sensation of being as free as in the Predators, which bugs us a little. It is also heavier and does not have the ability to disappear on your feet. You don’t feel as free. That said, the Maestri does offer greater protection by virtue of its thicker upper, and it offers a more cushioned feel than the Predator. At the end of the day, it depends on what you are looking for; but for us at TSS, our personal preference is for the Adidas Predator LZ 2.
Common concerns
They are not too grippy, nor are they too heavy, so put those concerns to rest.
Conclusion
The Adidas Predator LZ 2 is a fantastic boot. The best way we can describe it is it is a boot that makes us feel the “free-est”, and in so doing, gives us utmost confidence to do whatever we want with the ball. If we could place this boot in any silo, we would put it in the “confidence-inspiring” silo. It is a boot that performs excellently in all aspects, and we would not hesitate in recommending it to any player. If you are looking for a boot that will free you from any hindrance and allow your abilities to take centre-stage, this is the boot for you.
Rating
– Comfort 5/5
– Weight 5/5
– Dribbling 5/5
– Passing 5/5
– Shooting 5/5
– Protection 5/5
– Durability 5/5
– Biomechanics 5/5
– Injury concerns 5/5
– Suitability for Singapore 5/5
Score (Singapore context): 50/50
Score (Local conditions not taken into account): 45/45
The Straight Shooters 