Out of left field, Adidas has released the latest version in their adiPure range! The adiPure IV has been designed with some new features that differentiate it from its predecessors including centered lacing, a quilted vamp front and some aesthetic upgrades that give them a more retro classic look. The releases come in a Black/Light Scarlet and a White/Black/Fresh Splash colorway.

At first glance, I felt uneasy looking at the new design, something seemed off. There was something different about them that I couldn’t pin-point. But after reading more about them and studying the design and look of the boot at length, they are starting to seem a lot more stylish! If you are wondering why they look different, here is a breakdown:

• Center lacing – Adidas have gone back to a centered lace system. I was a fan of the off-center lacing, but this change shows Adidas desire to create a heritage look.
• Lower 3 striped – the signature Adidas striped have been moved further down the side of the boot. It is a simple change that produces a completely different looking boot in my opinion.
• Quilted Vamp front – A change to the strike zone is a new quilted vamp surface. The idea is to give players a more cushioned surface for controlling and striking the ball. You will notice more stitching in funny shapes around the toe area!

Also of note, Adidas have lowered the weight of the adiPure down from 10.6oz to 9.8oz. This is a pretty decent drop for a follow-up release and will please many players who want something that offers a more lightweight feel. Personally, I felt the adiPure III were fine weight-wise during testing, but it will be interesting to see what effect (if any) this has on the new release. They obviously don’t challenge the 5.8oz adiZero, but then again the adiPure is designed with a lot more protection!

Finally, is it just me or does the Black/Light Scarlet release remind you of an old school Predator? Something about the colorway screams Adidas Predator to me – not a bad thing, just something that came to mind when I first saw them! I can’t say much more until I have them in person to review, but between you and I my personal preference still lies with another boot in the adiPure range right now!

The red and white version has been designed to honor David Beckham, who will wear the boot when he comes back from injury. It is a pretty flashy boot and will be easily spotted on the field. In comparison, the Black/White/Cyan version offers a more classic look that I actually really like. In fact, it is my preferred choice in the entire range. The cyan color really compliments the primary black color.
Last October, I reviewed the Adidas Predator X and was impressed by what they offered. When you have players like Steven Gerrard and Robin Van Persie wearing them, you know that they have a high quality about them. What are your thoughts on the current releases and if you had a choice which one would you go for?

With the release of the Adidas Predator X, it was only a matter of time before the Predator Powerswerve range hit the bargain bins. Well it didn’t take long to start seeing the numbers come down, and right now you have an opportunity to get a great deal! Two weeks ago, the Predator Powerswerve was one of the dominant cleats on the market (although all the talk about the Predator X made them less of a force). And lets be honest, they still are a quality cleat. The sale sees some of the Powerswerve’s as low as $141.99, a savings of $100.00!

Check the full range out right now!

Adidas has, again, raised the bar in their fight to be top-dog in the elite world of soccer cleats, by releasing a completely new and advanced type of power boot; the Adidas Predator X.

With just 8 months until the beginning of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Adidas have unleashed a cracker of a boot on to the market! Over the past few months, Nike has been releasing new cleats left, right and center, while Adidas has simply kept their cards close to their chest. Well, no longer! The Adidas Predator X is now available for all to wear. Thanks to the folks over at soccer.com, we have been lucky enough to be testing a pair for the past few weeks, in games and in practices, in order to bring you the most in-depth review right as the cleats are released.

First off, let me just say that I have never been a big Predator fan. Growing up, I was the one who avoided the Predator range, as they always seemed a little too gimmicky for me. On top of that, I see myself as more of an Andrei Kanchelskis than a David Beckham, so I have always looked for the lighter boot that is advertised for speed and acceleration. These cleats are a little different, and I must admit, I am a big fan of what they have to offer.

I wear a size 9 soccer cleat, and for this review I wore a 9. Size wise, the Predator X fits true to form. I was wearing the White/Dark Brown/Yellow version. Visually, they have a ‘whoah’ effect, testament to the fact that anyone who has seen them really likes how they look. They have a sleek attractive look about them that makes them very appealing. There is plenty of yellow in the design, but this actually looks really good. It is the simple things like the yellow area where ‘Adidas’ is embroidered into the cleat that make it look good. I am also a fan of the ‘Predator’ logo that is embedded in the ‘Predator Zone’.

Breaking them in
From the first day of testing, the cleats felt comfortable. Breaking them in was pretty easy, and thankfully, I did not encounter any blistering. Having the right size is obviously crucial, and from my experience, there were no pressure points where the cleat rubbed. One thing I noticed (and I am not sure if this is a design that Adidas added) was that the inside heel has a series of ridges or lines. They are very small, but they definitely help with keeping your heal gripped to the cleat and I personally think that this will reduce in first wear blisters on the heal. After 3 games and several practices, I still have no comfort issues to report.

Technology
One of Adidas’ developments on this cleat is a new upper material called ‘Taurus’. You can tell that quality materials are used in this cleat by the feel of the full-grain calf leather. Along with its super-soft, lightweight properties, you also get the added bonus of weatherproofing. One thing that is very noticeable about the cleat is how thin the material feels. Adidas maintains that this allows for a barefoot feeling when touching the ball, and I tend to agree with that. On passing the ball, it feels super close to your foot, but you are not losing protection. On the inside of the cleats and along the tongue, you will see the word ‘Optifit’ printed, and this is the technology that allows for this. Another aspect to the design that I really like is how they have removed the tongue, leaving an extra snug fit when you tighten the laces. This is new to the Predator range, and for sees Adidas move towards an adiPURE style design. The lacing system is asymmetrical allowing for a larger strike zone.

What really separates this version of the Predator from its predecessors is the new ‘Predator Zone’. In this version, the strike area is covered with ridges of bubbled silicon. One thing I have not liked about previous versions of the Predator is the area covered by the actual ‘Predator zone’, but on this version it seems to cover exactly the area that is needed. This area is designed to help with swerve, control, and accuracy. And there definitely is some benefit to the technology. If anything, it will help you focus mentally on striking the ball as you intend. I spent some time taking corners and free kicks, and it did seem easier to place swerve on the ball. I was pretty impressed with the amount of whip that I could get on the ball.

Negatives
There are two negative sides to the release. In my opinion, they are again priced a little high. I think this would have been an ideal opportunity for Adidas to give back to its legion of fans by lowering the cost. The second thing that I don’t like is the fact that Adidas have not found a way to decrease the weight of the boot. Seeing as they removed the tungsten elements (and all the other gimmicky insoles they have had in the past) I thought this boot could have weighed somewhere around the 10oz mark, instead they are a modest 11.2oz. Adidas need to address this on the next release in order to stay competitive with the likes of Nike.

Conclusion
To sum up, I have to say that not only is the Adidas Predator X my choice for ‘Surprise cleat of the year’, but it will also fall into the ‘Best Release of 2009’ category! Not only do these cleats look good, but they also offer great comfort and quality. In terms of who they suit, I have to say the options are pretty open! From Goalkeepers to strikers, I am sure that all types of players will be wearing them.

David Beckham has been the center piece of Adidas Predator releases in the past, and this new version will be no different. Even though much has been said about Beckham’s decision to play in the US with LA Galaxy, he is still a high class player and one of the best free-kick specialists in the wall. Expect to see the plenty of highlights while he is wearing the Predator X!

(*boots supplied for review by soccer.com)

The Adidas Predator X has been one of the most eagerly awaited cleats to be released on the market in recent times, but they are finally here.

New to the Predator X:

• There is no over lapping tongue on this version of the Predator X. Adidas has chosen to move towards an adiPURE style design rather than previous versions of the Predator range.
• There are no replacement inserts for this cleat, no tungsten elements and no added weight. The Predator X come as is, with one insert that can be taken out.
• A new upper material called ‘Taurus’ is used. Taurus is a high-end supreme touch performance leather that is also extremely durable.
• Adidas has constructed this cleat using ‘Optifit’. Basically, this means Adidas has found a way to improve not only the fit of the cleat, but also its performance. This includes a a new last, Traxion, Thermoform, a medial 3-D design and mono-tongue.
• Redesigned Predator Zone, and this version uses a mix of silicon and plastic, and is designed in a series of small raised bubble spots.
• Dual compound Xternal heel counter is smaller but extremely strong and reduces pressure on the Achilles tendon.
• And finally…the Adidas Predator X just look and perform a lot better!!

Next step: check out the pictures below….buy yourself a pair right now….or head over and read our full and comprehensive Review!

Current Chivas USA Goalkeeper Dan Kennedy in action

Name: Dan Kennedy
Position:GK
Team History:UCSB 2001-04
Puerto Rico Islanders 2005(USL)
Club Deportivo Municipal Iquique 2005-08(Chile)
Chivas USA 2008-

Cleat size: 10.5
Sneaker size:11

Preferred cleat? Predator firm grounds
In one sentence why? Very comfortable and I like the control I feel that I have with the ball.

What do you look for when choosing a cleat? Color- I usually wear black cleats, Comfort- I do not enjoy blisters, and weight- nothing too heavy

How much would you pay for the perfect pair?
$200 seems to be the standard for nice cleats these days, so I guess I wouldnt pay more than that.

What advice would you give to someone when choosing a new pair of cleats?
I usually have about 4 pairs of cleats, three firm grounds and one soft ground…I like the firm ground cleats to play in when the conditions permit, I also like to train in them. I always have a firm ground broken in and ready to go…for rainy and wet conditions…I usually rotate my cleats using them for games only in the begining, then once they start showing wear and tear I turn them into my training boots. I usually clean and leather food all my cleats the day before the game.

Danny Kennedy is currently one of the leading goalkeepers in MLS. His leadership qualities are well renowned, shown by his captaincy of the 2004 UCSB team that played in the schools first ever National Championship Final game. We thank Dan for sharing his knowledge on soccer cleats with us!

What do you look for when choosing a cleat? Comfort first and then the look

How much would you pay for the ‘perfect’ pair? Up to $200

What advice, from your experience, would you give someone buying cleats?
I prefer to buy my boots a half size smaller and wear them in the shower before I use them to stretch them out. Thats just personal preference because when I buy the correct size and wear them in the rain, they stretch too much and dont fit. I have 2 pairs of firm ground and 2 pairs of soft ground. They are all predators and i use two of them for training and the other 2 for games. I would say once you find a pair you like and are comfortable with dont change them.

Are there any other tips you can give?
Dont put your boots on the radiator to dry them. Use vaseline to keep the leather soft.

Chris Loftus, who currently plays Professional in Sweden, gives his personal opinion about cleats

Name: Chris Loftus
Position: Forward
Team History: Duke University 03-06,
New England Revolution 07-08,
Limhamn Bunkeflo (Sweden) Current
Cleat size: 12
Sneaker size: 13

Preferred cleat? Adidas Predator
In one sentence why? I like to Adidas Predator because it fits my foot best and is a comfortable cleat.

Chris, thanks for taking the time to share advice with our readers.
First, What do you look for when choosing a cleat?
I have very narrow feet so Adidas shoes have always fit me best. The first and most important thing for me when having a cleat is comfort. I also like the end of the shoe near the toe to be more
narrow and pointed like the end of a foot so that I can feel the ball. I’ve found that many shoes like Nike are wide and rounded so it makes it harder to feel the ball. I also prefer leather shoes as
opposed to the synthetic shoes because I feel that the leather molds and forms to your foot better. I’ve also always been a fan of black shoes, but having a comfortable shoe that you can feel the ball and
have a good touch with is most important.

How much would you pay for the ‘perfect’ pair of cleats? $200

From your experience, what advice would you give to people choosing new cleat?
I think it’s always important to have at least one pair of cleats for hard grounds and at least one for soft grounds. What I do when I first get a pair of cleats is to put them on and wear them in the shower. Once they have gotten really wet I wear them around for about 20-30 minutes so that the leather has a chance to stretch and mold to my foot. Alot of players don’t break in their soft grounds until the first time they wear them. This can cause blisters and also hinder your touch on the ball. This shower technique has always worked for me. In terms of taking care of your cleats…if they do get wet make sure to leave them out to dry so that the stitching in the leather doesn’t get too lose. Sometimes I will put newspaper
inside of them to dry them out. Most importantly though when buying a shoe is to buy the one that feels most comfortable.

Finally, are there any other tips you would like to give our readers?
Whenever I get a cleat I usually have it one size smaller than my regular shoes. I do this because it
helps me feel the ball better. I’ve found that when the cleats get wet, especially leather cleats, they will stretch a little.

I would like to personally extend a huge “thank you” to Chris for taking time out of his busy professional schedule to supply great advice for other soccer players!!