I have received several emails from readers recently, looking for details on which boot is a better option; the Adidas F50 adiZero miCoach or the Pele Trinity 3E. Both boots offer their own individual set of positive characteristics to the market, so defining which one is “better” is simply unrealistic. Instead, here is our break down of how they compare in several different categories to help you decide which pair is right for you!

For full reviews, check out Adidas F50 adiZero miCoach or Pele Trinity – otherwise, keep reading below!

The Uppers – Plenty of choices
You have a choice when it comes to Adidas – either a synthetic or Galeo full-grain leather. Both have been used on previous releases, showing there is some consistency in how they perform. Pele Sports employ an all new Symbioskin upper that is touted to be very durable, with little to no scuffing. Because it is new, it is really untested through the market.

What does this mean in terms of touch? You will notice a great difference between all 3, but from testing both I can tell you that the Trinity feels a lot thinner and you can really feel the ball. This gives you more feel but less protection. My choice for most natural feel goes to the leather F50 adiZero, with the Galeo leather easily molding and shaping around the ball as you connect.

How much do they weigh?
Pele Trinity 5.6oz – Adidas F50 adiZero 6.0oz
The Pele Trinity “wins” in the weight category. I say “wins” because when you hit the lightweight levels seen in these releases, the difference becomes little less than a talking point! Both boots are built for ultimate speed and acceleration but don’t factor your decision solely on which boot is lighter.

How do they fit?
The Adidas F50 adiZero fits very much true to size lenght wise, whereas the Pele Trinity fits long. I normally wear a size 9US, my ideal size in these boots is a 9US in the adiZero and an 8.5US in the Trinity. In terms of width, they offer a very similar fit – medium/wide. For those that need a more narrow fit, Pele Sports has actually released an SL version specifically for you!

Technology Included
This is a category where Adidas win hands down thanks to the inclusion of miCoach performance tracking. The performance chip sits in a cavity in the soleplate and it is designed to track several aspects of you game, including your speed and distance run.

Everything to do with the Soleplate
Adidas stick with their triangular shaped studs on the same SprintFrame that is being used right across their ranges – this shows their confidence in the finished product. Because the miCoach chip sits in a cavity around the midfoot area, there was concerns around comfort. I am happy to report that there are no problems and they feel great from first wear.

But – the Pele Trinity wins out in terms of soleplate innovation! The stud configuration on these boots is absolutely extreme and is one of the focal points of the release. The idea of playing with 3 misaligned studs at the back goes against the norm, you grow up expecting at least 2-4 parallel studs to keep you stable in play. Pele Sports claim that “The extreme position of the rear tripod studs trigger earlier ground contact and stability with high velocity release and the forefoot studs permit excellent traction and explosive acceleration.” I found the configuration to be particularly effective, and my concerns of turning my ankle were unfounded. In fact, I felt more balanced in these shoes than many other pairs on the market.

Price Points
Both boots were released on the market with the same price point of $200 -  a number that seems to be consistent for super lightweight releases at the moment. The only difference is that you will need to fork out extra money to buy the miCoach SPEED_CELL technology, which is in the region of $60.

“So, which one should I buy?”
That depends on what you are in the market for. Most players will tend to drift toward the adiZero, simply because Adidas are such an established brand. But realistically, the Pele Trinity is a contender for players who are on the fence; you get a lightweight boot, a newly developed upper material and one of the most unusual stud configurations ever released on a boot! For players that want the ability to take things to the next level and track their game performance, then you will need to pay a little extra for miCoach technology, something that is definitely worth the money.

New + innovative = the Pele Trinity
Tested + Performance based = Adidas F50 adiZero

Grab yourself a pair of Pele Trinity or Adidas F50 adiZero right now!

If you are a fan of the Adidas F50 adiZero range, but have not yet found the right colorway, Adidas has released a new Phantom/White/Electricity version that incorporates a recent release with very atypical colors. From what we have seen so far, this is one of the better looking releases in the adiZero range, and it will see added popularity since it includes miCoach technology. This version, as pictured above, comes compliments of a Goleo calf-leather upper.

As well as the recently released Slime/Silver/Black, we also saw a similar look in the original F50 adiZero Prime series, a Black/White/Electricity, so it definitely looks like Adidas has found a combo of colors that is popular with the market. I like this version more than what we have seen so far, with the minor modification in color choice offering a positive vibe.

At 6oz, there is no doubting this lightweight release is designed for speed. And adding the concept of performance tracking makes these a very appealing release. The miCoach chip does a good job of capturing your data through play and the benefits of seeing how you performed can help you improve your game. It sits very comfortably in the cavity of the boot and you will have no idea it is there through wear.

Something important to note is that this is just the boot – if you want to include miCoach tracking system, you need to purchase a sensor separately or look for a package deal. The F50 adiZero comes in at under $190 and is only currently available on WeGotSoccer, while the miCoach chip can be purchased for $70.

Eagle-eyed readers might have spotted Lionel Messi wearing a new Adidas F50 adizero colorway in El Clasico tonight, switching from his latest Ballon d’Or adiZero in order to avoid wearing a boot that resembled the Real Madrid colors! This new colorway is actually a pretty decent match for the Barcelona colors and they looked extremely sweet on the feet of the World’s best player.

The official colorway is listed as Prime Blue/White/Core Energy and they add a completely different look to the adiZero range that is sure to be popular.I am a huge fan of the Prime Blue color in general, but mixed with the Core Red detailing it makes for a great look, and I have to admit it is the first release in the series that looks good with the red strip around the toe!

This latest adiZero release features a slightly altered stud configuration compared to the original released adiZero. This results in better traction in game and a complete resolution to the breaking-stud issue. The upper also features SprintWeb, which is designed to add extra structure and support – resulting in a more protected boot for players. Through testing the F50 miCoach, I found that this new version has been updated in the right ways! At 6.0oz, there is no doubting this lightweight release is designed for speed. And adding the concept of performance tracking makes these a very appealing release. The miCoach chip does a good job of capturing your data through play and the benefits of seeing how you performed can help you improve your game. It sits very comfortably in the cavity of the boot and you will have no idea it is there through wear.

Something important to note is that this is just the boot – if you want to include miCoach tracking system, you need to purchase a sensor separately or look for a package deal. The F50 adiZero comes in at $199, while the miCoach chip can be purchased for $70.

Fans of the Synthetic version, there is also a boot for you priced at $199.

In light of winning the FIFA Ballon d’Or award for the third consecutive year, Adidas has created a personalized pair of F50 adiZero to celebrate Lionel Messi’s unique achievement! You might have caught our sneak peak yesterday, well here are released images of the Royal boot! There is no doubt Messi is a living legend and he thoroughly deserved to win the award once again. As many of you will agree, there are not many better there are not many better gifts than a personalized pair of boots – and this official Gold/White/Flash Red is all Messi!

There are plenty of details on this boot that represent Messi’s achievements starting with a leather upper, which is his preferred choice. On the inner side of the boot, you will find “FIFA Ballon d’Or player of the year” and “Gracias A Todos” imprinted just below the Adidas signature 3-stripes. The outer side of the boot features a very, very smart integration – there is a year listed on each of the 3-stripes, signifying the years Messi has won the award! And just below that, you will find Messi’s new logo. The heel features an Argentinian flag, representing the pride Messi has for his country.

For those of you that want to see the new boot in action, you won’t have to wait long – Messi will be sporting them this weekend as Barcelona take on Real Betis. For those that want to buy an exact replica pair, I am afraid you are out of luck – Adidas has created a one off for Messsi only (as it should be!) although you might be able to replicate a similar look using miAdidas.

For the third consecutive year, Lionel Messi has been named the FIFA World Player of the Year – and deservedly so. The Barcelona and Argentinian forward continued to mesmerize throughout 2011 and continues to be an idol for aspiring soccer players around the world. We extend our congrats and hope to see more of his wonderful skills in 2012!

2011 was another very busy year for Messi. On the field he inspired Barca to five trophies, including the Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup and a third consecutive La Liga title. He was also the first player to wear the truly advanced Adidas F50 adiZero miCoach in the High Energy/Electricity/White colorway. Off the field he was involved in the creation and release of his new logo a few months back!

If you want to wear the same boots as Messi wears, you need to get your hands on a pair of Adidas F50 adiZero with the current miCoach performance system. This system allows you to track your in-game data and review what and how you did it after you play. Although Messi wears a personalized version (as you would expect the best player in the world to do), the system on the market is ideal for allowing aspiring players the opportunity to follow their performance and visually see their progress over time. Having tested the miCoach system, I will admit that is offers something that is quite unique to the market and although it has a high price tag, it is well worth getting your hands on!

Below is a “thank you” message released by Messi to his fans after he was named the FIFA Ballon d’Or winner.

Who doesn’t love a good deal, especially early in the year as you look forward to brighter nights and weekend soccer action! With that in mind, we have teamed up with the guys at WeGotSoccer to bring you another exclusive (and pretty fantastic) deal – an additional 30% off any boots in their Sale section!

More boots have been added to the deal, which runs through this weekend only. In order to take advantage, simply use code SC101-X30SALE during checkout.

To see all boots on offer, check out the Sale Section, or below are some recommended deals:

• Nike Tiempo IV Elite – retail: $350, final sale price: $203
  
• Adidas adiPure IV SL – retail: $250, final sale price: $157
• Nike CTR360 Maestri II – retail: $180, final sale price: $106
• Adidas F50 adiZero – retail: $180, final sale price: $119
• Umbro Geomatra Pro – retail: $170, final sale price: $95

With the introduction of miCoach technology a few weeks back, it was only a matter of time until we started seeing new colorway’s in the Adidas F50 adiZero hitting the market. I haven’t been overly impressed with the releases thus far, but this Slime/Black/Chrome could catch a decent following. It is a combo of colors that clashes well together and the Chrome detailing that produce a boot sure to stand out in game!

Compared to it predecessor, this new release features a slightly altered stud configuration, resulting in better traction in game and a complete resolution to the breaking-stud issue. The upper also features SprintWeb, which is designed to add extra structure and support – resulting in a more protected boot for players. Through testing the F50 miCoach, I found that this new version has been updated in the right ways!

At 60z, there is no doubting this lightweight release is designed for speed. And adding the concept of performance tracking makes these a very appealing release. The miCoach chip does a good job of capturing your data through play and the benefits of seeing how you performed can help you improve your game. It sits very comfortably in the cavity of the boot and you will have no idea it is there through wear.

Something important to note is that this is just the boot – if you want to include miCoach tracking system, you need to purchase a sensor separately or look for a package deal. The F50 adiZero comes in at $199, while the miCoach chip can be purchased for $70.

It is official – after 3 days of voting, the absolute winner of our “Best Boot of 2011” is the Adidas adiPower Predator!

With over 900 votes in total, the adiPower finished with well above double the votes of the 2nd place boot. Congrats to Adidas and the designers of this latest Predator design – it seems like they have got things spot on! And as it turns out, Adidas had a 1-2 with second place going to the F50 adiZero miCoach, while the Nike Superfly III rounded out the top 3.

From my experience, the overall look and performance of the adiPower Predator is very competitive and they offer a great mix of power with a lightweight feel. Adidas has re-engineered the entire Predator Zone in a pretty cool way and now refer to it as the Predator Element.  Basically, a silicon rubber is strategically positioned and tuned to create a uniform surface with rebound effect, for those times when you need some extra power behind your shots. Holding a pair, it is hard to comprehend the fact that they fall into the power category, but I can tell you after testing the adiPower that they have everything that you could require and more!

With a regular retail price of $220, you can find the adiPower Predator right now for as low as $135.

For those of you interested, the final results looked like this:

With companies seemingly turning their attention to lightweight releases in the past few years, I thought is would be pretty interesting to look at what the current average boot weight is, and how that compares with our expectations. Below you will find a compilation of the top 34 boots currently released on the market and their respective weights, with a summary of the overall results listed at the bottom of the page.

What boots are included?
To compile the numbers, only the top releases from each company currently on the US market is included. The idea here is to find out what the average weight is on all top releases – and from there, you can compare how the second or third tier boots rate against that number!

Why are second and third tier releases not included?
Companies focus their attention and technology on their primary release, and even though there is nothing wrong with the second and third tier releases, it would be unfair to include the weight of those boots in the average.

What does each weight represent?
Each boot listed shows the corresponding weight for a size 9US before they were used in testing. There might be some discrepancies in the numbers, but for the most part they are accurate.

Adidas (average = 7.9oz )
adiPure IV – 9.8oz | adiPure IV SL – 7.0oz | F50 adiZero – 6.0oz | F50 adiZero Prime – 5.1oz | adiPower Predator – 7.8oz | Copa Mundial – 11.7oz

Nike (average = 9.2oz )
CTR360 Maestri II – 10.8oz | Superfly III – 7.8oz | Vapor VII – 8oz | T90 Laser IV – 10oz | Tiempo Legend – 9.6oz

Puma (average = 8.3oz )
PWR-CT 1.12 – 10.4oz | V1.11 – 8.2oz | V1.11 SL – 5.3oz | King Finale – 9.2oz

Umbro (average = 9.8oz )
Geometra Pro – 10.2oz | Stealth 2 – 10.2oz | Speciali Pro – 9.2oz

Lotto (average = 9.7oz )
Stadio Primato – 9.6oz | Futura 100 – 9.8oz | Zhero Gravity Ultra – 9.4oz | Fuerzapura II – 10oz

Diadora (average = 10.1oz )
Kobra K – 10.4oz | Maracana – 9.4oz | Stile K – 10.6oz

Under Armour (average = 9.4oz )
Blur – 9.9oz | Create II – 8.6oz | Hydrastrike – 9.6oz

Asics (average = 8.9oz )
Lethal Tigreor – 9.6oz | Lethal Stats – 9.4oz | DS Light 5 – 7.8oz

Pele
Trinity 3E – 5.6oz | 1970 – 11.7oz

Joma
Total Fit – 9.4oz

Average Weight: 9.07oz

Number of Boots Included: 34
Heaviest Boot: 11.7oz (Pele 1970, Adidas Copa Mundial)
Lightest Boot: 5.1oz (Adidas adiZero Prime)
Median Weight: 9.5oz

There you have it – as it stands, we are looking at an average weight of 9.07oz per boot, which is slightly lower than I estimated before putting together the numbers. Having assessed all of the information, I think the Median score of 9.5oz gives a better understanding or comparison point when we look at the weight of new boots released on the market. Following along the current lightweight trend, I can see the average weight continue to drop over time, and probably pretty quickly too!

One final note: I am not endorsing or encouraging players to wear lighter boots – protection is a much needed attribute that players need to consider when looking at new boots.