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!
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 