A week before the end of 2009, there has been a new contender for soccer cleat of the year released: the Adidas adiPURE III. If you have spoke to me about soccer cleats in the last few months, I am sure to have told you about how much I love the adiPURE II, and how I deem it to be one of the best cleats on the market right now. Well Adidas has taken the initiative to update the boot to a version III that boasts some new features without losing out on performance. Over the past month, I have had the opportunity to test the adiPURE III in 3.5 games and dozens of training sessions and here are my thoughts. I was testing a men’s size 9US in Black/Royal White/ Gold.
What you need to know:
- Kangaroo leather upper
Adidas has stuck to using a K-leather for the adiPURE III. People have been questioning why they transitioned to calf leather with the Predator X range, but with applause, I am happy to report that these cleats sport a super soft K-leather. - New redesigned tongue
Adidas has moved away from the wrap around tongue, and back to a more traditional loose tongue. On the adiPURE II, the tongue was attached to the cleat on the inside, while the outside was detached. The adiPURE III is detached on both sides. - Off centered lacing
Just like the adiPURE II, the adiPURE III sports asymmetrical lacing This results in a strike area with a larger sweet spot for clean strikes. - Firmer Insole
This version of the adiPURE boasts a firmer insole that is designed to cushion impact in a more dynamic way. The heel has extra cushioning to allow for softer landings.
First Thoughts
If you are a fan of flashy cleats that offer all the performance of a Formula One race car, then you are probably not going to want a pair of adiPURE III’s. But if you want a classic cleat, that offers the best performance and extreme durability at a reasonable cost, go buy a pair now! Straight out of the box, these cleats ooze class. The K-leather is super soft and extra shiny. They almost look like someone has covered them in dubbing (leather food).
Breaking In
Not the smartest thing in the world, but I took these cleats out of the box and straight to a match! After testing the adiPURE II, I had a feeling that these cleats would break in easily, and they did! Thankfully, the soft K-Leather moulds pretty easily to your foot, and the sole plate is flexible enough hat it didn’t cause any foot discomfort on day 1. After a
month of testing, I encountered absolutely no blisters, and didn’t experience any areas where the cleat was tight. For this review I was wearing a size 9US, and the boots fit true to size. If you are normally a size 9, then these are the right fit. Another aspect that really helps, and is something that Adidas also deployed in the Predator X design, is a ridged area on the inner heel of the cleat. I think this is a genius move, as it allows the cleat to grip to your heel and not move, thus lowering the opportunity for blisters to occur (as long as the boot is not too tight!). You can see what I am referring to in the image.
Performance and Durability
I found these to perform really well. They break in easily, molding to your foot from day one, and they last because of this. I have had a pair of adiPURE II’s for the past 5-6 months, and they are my go-to boot when I need a trusted pair. Right now, they are still as good as new (except for some scuffs on the white area) and the leather is softer than you can imagine! Although I have only had the adiPURE III for about a month, I can tell they are going to offer the same lifespan. And that is a key attribute to any new cleat! I also like the new tongue, even though I had no problem with the tongue on the adiPURE III. The new tongue makes you feel like you are wearing Copa Mundial or older classic cleats!
Design
Adidas has altered the design of the cleat. Most notable is the addition of three white strips on the inside of the cleat. On the adiPURE II, there are no white strips on the inside. For me, this is an upgrade in terms of looks. The sole of the boot has also been changed, but the only players that will see this are the ones you leave eating your dust (if you are a goalkeeper I doubt anyone will see it!!) Other minor changes include the area around the cleat opening, where the color design has been changed and a new gold version of the adiPURE signature placed on a black background instead of white.
adiPURE II vs adiPURE III
Negatives
Again with the laces! In the past few weeks, I have reviewed cleats with laces that I deem to be too short, what is this all about? When I tie my laces, I need enough to wrap around the bottom of my cleat, it seems that this might be going out of fashion, although I have no idea why! One other thing is the insole. I was a huge fan of the adiPURE II insole that offered a much spongier feel, which I found to be extremely comfortable. In saying this, the firmer insole in the adiPURE III is very effective around the heel area. Maybe a blend of both in future releases?
Conclusion
My opinion of this cleat is pretty obvious; I like them a lot! But, case in point is your taste and what you are looking for in a cleat. The adiPURE III might be more appealing to the old pros than the younger generation who crave the lighter more colorful cleats on the market. Either way, the adiPURE III can not be beaten in terms of quality and value for money. Adidas have used this release as more of a design upgrade than performance upgrade, simply because they know that in the adiPURE III they have a cleat that already offers the best on the market! Expect to see the likes of Kaka and Frank Lampard taking to the field in these over the coming weeks.
(boots supplied for review by soccer.com)
Peter,
Go with your normal size. I normally wear a size 9, and wore a 9 in these. It's leather, so they will stretch a little, but ordering a size down is going to mean they are uncomfortable breaking in. The leather will stretch naturally with your foot.
What is the cleat you use in games, your favorite? I recently got a pair of these. Pretty Sick!!! I am using them over my Vapors and Tiempos. Very good cleat. Before buying, I was a little iffy because I am a player who likes cool designs and these are classic. Overal very, very nice
im going to get these cleats, i wear a 10 but when i was trying them on the man working there told me to get 9.5's because they stretch almost a full size. just wanted to know if they really stretch or if i should stick with my normal shoe size?
Jake,
The do stretch but not a full size! Go with the pair that feel most comfortable wearing now, they will mold to your feet.
One problem I've had with my copas, is that they stretch so much during a game, I'll be twisting my ankles the whole second half. Have you noticed this happening with adipures
Adipures feel as good the first day you wear them as day 100.
I have 3 pairs of adipure II’s LOL.
enjoy ‘em
just got mine today in white/blue. love them.
Hello Bryan,
First of all, your reviews have been very helpful. Second, I've read other reviews of the adiPURE 3 and they have said that they are not durable and barely last a soccer season. Was this true for you?
To Steven: it depends how you take care of the shoe. For example, if u wear them in mud and don't clean them off, the mud can damage the cleat as it dries, seeping into spots. But if u keep them cleaning looking like new, they will last alot longer. Of course you could just be unlucky and get a bad pair. Hope this helps
Danny,
Thank you. I never knew that cleaning your cleats helped them last longer! Some of my other pairs of cleats have gotten torn up after just one season and I never knew why. I'm going to buy some shoe cleaning things now.
hey Bryan i just started reading your shoe reviews and i love them.
But i have a question that i haven't been able to get much help on.
Right now my foot is bigger than size 9, but not as big as size 9.5(i would say 9.3 or 9.4)
How ever since my foot is so close to a 9.5 anyways my dad says it will probably grow and i should just order a 10.
Now my question is which would be better? I don't really like playing with a size 10 because f the extra toe space but my dad thinks i should.
Joe,
This is tough one as sizing questions can become very arbitrary. If you are looking for a long term boot and you are growing quick then a larger size might be more suitable, but if you are serious about soccer and want to move to the next level you will need to look at the short term solution, and that is your right size!
if you go with a larger size maybe try wearing some extra socks.
Well i'm entering high school next year and will most likely be playing on varsity. i only need the boot to last the whole season+summer.
How ever if my foot does grow to a size 10 and i play in a 9.5 do you think this could damage to my foot?
Thanks for responding so quickly. BTW the shoe i'm planning to order is http://www.footlocker.com/product/sku:09869408/mo…
I don't really want to spend over $150.
Joe,
You are not going to want to wear a pair that are too small, they will more than likely cause blistering and it would not help your game. Ordering a half size up and wearing 2 pairs of socks might be the way to go.
k thanks for the help, i will consider this when buying the cleat.
also how long do you recommend i break in the cleat before a game?
Joe,
Just an idea, since its my understanding that while the Mercurial Miracles are good boots, they're still not top of the line like vapors or superflys. Try to use your growing foot as some leverage with your dad and make a deal with him. Tell him since your foot is still growing you'd like to get the cheaper lower end boots the right size now, and when your foot grows to the next size where you think its going to not grow anymore he can get you the nicer higher end boots since you'll be able to wear them for a longer period of time.
I've heard the Nike synthetics take a while to break in too.
I was just wondering about how is this cleat when its wet outside. I heard alot of leather cleats soak in alot of water when its raining or when the field is wet. So does anyone know anything about this problem?
Hello, just a few question. personally, for you which is a better boots? adipure II or III? and Adipure II or adizero leather? im a winger and looking for fast boots which can do skills in them. unlike predators
Bala,
If you are looking for a speed boot the adizero is going to be the best option. The adipure II and III are very similar, both offer great quality and value. The main difference is how they look.
Great reviews Bryan, very useful ! grats !!!
I would like to ask you, in wear US10 in predator powerswerves, and US9.5 in nike lasers II and III.
What size should i get for adipure III? 10 or 9.5?
Thanks in advance,
Hey Bryan,
Your reviews are Great!! TOP CLASS
I bought the Adipure III but i was wondering, should i use Dubbing (leather food)
and which leather food do you recommend for the adipure III
Thanks in advance
kfrix,
Its difficult to say, I wore a size 9 in all 3 and felt they were very similar size wise. I would personally go with a 10 as they are likely to fit you a lot more like the Preds than the Lasers.
Jeet,
Dubbing never hurts (like a Chelsea leather food) but to be honest if you just clean them after using and make sure they air dry you will get great life out of them!
Hey Bryan ,
Im going to get these cleats this weekend , should i get the f50 adizero instead?
I wear size 13 us , but the guy at the store asking me to buy 12.5 because of the extreme moulding of the k-leather , which size should i get??
your reviews are great man , thanx!!!
Kaashyap,
I would say your normal size is the way to go, but if you feel the half size down fits well you should go with them. They do stretch over time, maybe a half size. But, you don't want to be waiting a few weeks/months for that to happen!
Hey brian did you have any problems with durability with these as the months went on? cuz a lot of people say that the leather comes off of the sole plate in a couple of months and I am thinking about getting a pair. thanks in advance.
Hey Jack,
Pending you keep them clean after wearing you will get a good long life out of them. A lot of the time, the leather will come apart because the boots are not dried out properly after use. If the leather is left wet, it tends to come apart from the sole. So, keep them dry and clean!
Thanks Bryan
Just to say that you have the best reviews on the web
and do you know how to use leather food ( Dubbin ) because this is the first pair of leather boots i have gotten and i dont want to ware them out.
Jeet,
Make sure they are dry and then simply rub a little ball of dubbing over the surface of the boot with an old cloth or rag until it completely covering the surface. Don't leave any blobs of the leather food, the boot should be smooth. Then, leave them in a dry spot where the leather can soak up the leather food.
Bryan,
I’m in the market for some new cleats, and tried these along Vapor V’s and Predator X’s.
The Adipure’s felt more comfortable in the store, but I’m looking for a boot where I can really bend a ball and have a powerful shot. Should I go for the Adipure’s, the Vapors or the Predators? Which would you recommend?
Jan,
Sounds like you should get the Predators, they offer that little bit extra needed when striking the ball. The adipures and Vapor V's are great boots also, but the Predator Zone serves an additional attribute that it seems you are looking for.
Thanks for the quick response. i figured as much. I tried a friends F50 tunits yesterday and did not like them at all. they were lacking in comfort compared to my old Nikes. Are the Predators more comfortable than the F50s?
Jan,
Check out the Review Scores page to compare both boots.
which cleat should i go for? the adidas adipure 3 or the adidas copa mundial?i play 4 a competetive level and i play in various surfaces?
Hello, i tried size 10 and they fit just right, should i go to 9.5 since they will stretch ? also a couple of my freinds told me that the ankle part stretches out and is usally too big by midseason that you need a new pair? is that true, did it happen to your boots? Thanks
Sam,
Both are great options, only real difference is that the adiPures are a current day version of the more classic Copa's.
Andriy,
Go for the 10, if you order a pair that are too tight it is just going to cause problems breaking in. The leather stretches, but not enough to go down a size from the best fit.
Hey, so i tried on the adipures and adizeros today. I tried 10 on both but still had about an inch of space in the front part of the shoe but the sides were fine. Trying on 9.5 there was little room left and tight on the sides on both. Like I said i am size 10 sneakers, but i guess i have wide feet. How much room do you usually leave in the front and based on the info above which ones should i get ?
Andriy,
Normally, I would want less than a finger width of room at the top of the boot. In terms of width it is a tough one. I wore a size 9US, which I would normally wear, and they broke in really well. It is difficult to give a recommendation, I would personally choose the 9.5 (to keep it tighter and let them mold to my feet) but that can often lead to problems (blisters and cramping.) Whichever one feels more comfortable, I would go with!
which would you recomend as a better buy? a $78 dollar pair of new Tiempo Legends or a $91 dollar pair of new adipure II? by the way your reviews are a great help!
bryan sup
i play defender alot and sometimes forward for my team
i currently have the predator x but they or unopened because i was worried i was going to not like them…
my choices are between adipure 3, predator x, 360 maestri, and t90 laser 3
what would u suggest…ps i like to move up and down the wing and for the most part play simple and really want to improve my shot
thanks
yo sorry i forgot to leave out that i dont care about durability as i go through cleats pretty fast cuz of my foot size
Thanks Bryan, i found them at a store in 9.5 and they felt great and i bought them, cant wait to start training with them.
Michael,
I would personally choose the adiPure II, very good deals by the way!
Sergio,
Your best bet is to check out the Review Scores page and read the review for each. They are all top of the line boots!
Andriy,
Glad you found them buddy!
i just bought a pair of 11.5s, black and white. they pretty much fit. tiny amount of room, and i usually wear a 11.5 or 12. when i put them on i can wiggle my ties a bit, but not really my big toe. i feel like i'm pressing into them a little much.
i'm nervous about soaking them in water, wearing them, and not having them expand at all. i don't want to drop another $120.
do they stretch?
i feel there could be more arch support; that it's a little stiff there right now.
Bryan, i have four questions
1. which leather is softer, the tiempo or adipure?
2. which is easier to break in, tiempo or adipure?
3. does the adipure and tiempo leather become softer after broken in?
4. which softens more after borken in adipure or tiempo?
thanks
Bryan, im on my second pair of adipures in the past two months, in my first pair, the leather around my toe began to rip apart from the bottom of the shoe, so i returned them, and the same thing is beginning to happen with the pair i have now. i'm not sure if this is a big problem or what, any tips?
David,
If they feel too tight my advice is to go for a half size larger, always better to have it that way then suffer with blisters! They will stretch, so there is some hope. It is just a matter of deciding if the pain is worth it!
Matt,
adiPures and Tiempo are very similar, both offer good comfort and break in well.
Jake,
Depends on the type of surface you are playing on, and how you are striking the ball. Best advice is to get plenty of leather food on there to soften the area around the toe. Sorry to hear about them ripping.
Just a bit of friendly info like I was looking for when I was recently looking for some new boots,
After being an avid nike wearer I switched allegiances to the latest white with red stud colourway of the adipure 3's. The feel between these and my previous CTR360 maestris and lasers is really noticeable. Both my nike options were quite "baggy" in comparison to the adipures, the adipures wrap around your foot from toe to heel and there is no room for your foot to move around. This gives you great confidence in your footing and makes being able to feel the ball at your feet much easier. As said above by others there is a tendancy for your heel to have some slight up and down movement which caused a blister on one foot but this was probably due to me wearing these for a match after only one training. Tight lace-up should assist this aswell as a proper wear in period. For a boot that hasnt focused on the current industry fad of saving weight these are relatively light even though they have all the comfort and durability incoporated.
To what some may consider sacrilege I have re- laced my pair with the nike red laces from previous boot and in my opinion should gave been adidas' choice with lace colour, make them not so much golf shoe like and more like a football boot.
One concern at this stage is the design of a seam which runs from laces to toe of boot, no sign of any issues yet but this creates a small pocket where the leather is pulled in and promotes the edge of the soleplate slighlty which may over time open up with dragged shots etc.
after looking at my very own adipure 3 pair.. what jeremy said about the seam which runs from lace to toe of boot.. hmmm its a possibility but i think dragged shots, kinda rare unless you're mistimed the kick itself. thus far, i think most people will find it more comfortable to hit the ball with the instep. but this is just my opinion
i got these boots in the middle of may and the eyelets for the laces started ripping i had a puma v1.08 before the adipure III and i got them in may last year and there are still goin strong and i played football with them nearly everyday
do these boots run wide?
I just bought these cleats in the blackout colorway and I really like them, but I have a few questions. How often should I apply leather food to them? Also, can clear leather food be used on black cleats with out it affecting them? Thanks for your help.