New adidas adizero 'Prime' color way

With the recent release of the adiZERO Prime consumers have been in a buzz regarding how light the boot is and what players are currently wearing the Prime vs adizero F50. Furthermore, adidas is set to also release another color way for this elite boot which retails at $300.00. In addition, rather then talk about the price many consumers are obsessed with how light the boot is which make me wonder if adidas has made a smooth transition into the elite/sl series with its customers.

As a consumer, would you purchase the Prime or the regular adiZERO F50?

• Family: F50 adiZero
• Made In: Imported
• How Attached To Upper: Cemented
• Insole Material: EVA foam
• Insole Removable: yes
• Lacing: Asymmetrical
• Outsole Material: TPU
• Primary Upper Material: Synthetic
• Stud Material: PU
• Stud Shape: Bladed
• Studs Removable: no
• Suitable For: Firm Natural Surfaces
• Weight: 5.2 oz.

I'm off the planet series #3: Puma SL

One of my ideas for Puma involves the SL. The idea is to give the SL the old school look/feel but while still keeping the weight. Furthermore, imagine a hybrid boot that features the upper of the Puma King Classic, and the current outsole of the Puma SL. The boot would have the K leather upper that every footballer loves but would be unique in that it is a classic boot ingrained with new school technology. I believe this boot would look and feel amazing and have that old school look that people used to associate with Puma. I truly feel like that image has died, I like a lot of soccer players feel that Puma is a classic brand but with recent releases everything looks so main stream.

Puma King Classic

As for price, I would put this boot at $130 to undercut Nike and adidas. To originally put this boot at $200 killed the launch/excitement of this boot BIG TIME! Furthermore, at a price point of $130 along with the unique/classic look I believe consumers would start to notice the boot and take a chance on it. At the end of the day, I think money talks and if the price is right along with the looks/style of the boot consumers will take a chance. For example, take a look at the adiPURE IV by adidas, the price is at $130 and it kills in the boot market due to its price, unique/old school style, and the beloved k leather upper.

Japan edition adiPURE IV

Japan edition adiPURE IV

Elite series place in the soccer market...

NIKE WC Elite Boots

With the introduction of elite boots by Nike and now adidas we have seen the price of boots increase. Furthermore, many of us Footy fans wonder why the increase in price, who is buying these boots, and why form an elite series/professional level boot is being available to public.

Adidas SL/Elite version of the adiPURE IV

The first answer to the price increase is the materials used but also with the boots weight is a major factor for consumers/players. Since the rise of the mercurial series boots have been dropping weight to what we now call the speed boot race. Over the years manufacturers/companies have put millions of dollars into testing and development to create the lightest boot on the market. It is called an elite boot because it is the top of the line, materials, weight, and not to mention it is what you see the professionals wearing. In the end, you are ultimately paying for the technology that went to produce the boots.

Furthermore, with these boots set at the prices they are at people keep wondering why make an elite boot, who is buying these boots? Well if you are an elite or serious soccer player in the world you want the best technology and the best boot money can buy. I have tested cheap boots in the past and compared to an elite boot there is no comparing. The comfort, fit, and performance enhance your ability on the field and are far superior then its knock down boot. Furthermore, equipment plays a major role in sports but in soccer specifically the boot you wear says a lot about you and your needs as a player in order to get the job done on the field. I personally believe there is a certain boot for everyone and that certain/perfect boot depends on your foot shape, the level of soccer you play, and position.

In the end, I believe football companies created another series/silo specifically focussing on the athletes needs and wants, that is why it is elite. However, through satisfying their needs companies like Nike and adidas have made a new silo which it geared towards the professionals or players that play at a high level that want the best money can buy. In this, by creating the elite series boots football companies were able to introduce a new silo/series to give consumers more options. The test subject were the elite boots Nike created for the world cup which were very successful and created a demand for elite boots because consumers saw those boots/specs and wanted the best money could buy, they did not care about the price point but rather cared who was wearing it, how much it weighed, and how cool it looked.

In my opinion, players/boots are categorized by four different categories;

Elite level- new market
Pro level
Club level
Intro level

Why do you think consumers are now buying the elite vs the pro level boots? Technology, fit, performance? I am interested in hearing other peoples opinions regarding the elite series of boots. Negatives, positives, etc.

(RED) adiPURE IV

At the moment, I am testing the adiPURE IV by adidas and will have a review of the boot by the end of the week. In the review, I will focus on comfort, fit, and performance. However, i wanted to share these pictures of the newest color way of the bots and to share some opinions/impressions other footballers have had regarding the adiPURE IV.

Family: adiPURE
Made In: Imported
External Heel Counter: yes
How Attached To Upper: Cemented and Riveted
Insole Material: EVA foam
Insole Removable: yes
Lacing: Central
Outsole Material: Traxion PU
Primary Upper Material: Kangaroo leather
Stud Material: PU
Stud Shape: Bladed
Suitable For: Firm Natural Surfaces
Weight: 9.8 oz.

What Footy Guru followers are saying about the adiPURE IV:

"i played in the adipure iv for the second time on saturday and they are so comfy. amazingly comfy in fact. good fit all round with no blistering. i could wear them all day. i had the adipure ii and they were lovely with a great feel for the ball. i didnt go for the adipure iii as i didn't quite like the styling although i recognize them as a good boot. the adipure iv nail it with the styling. Between the adipure ii or iv i'd say the iv's just get the nod. Only because they are slightly more comfy than the ii's straight out of the box. The adipure ii is a more narrow boot than the iv but once broken in are super comfy."

Speaking on the behalf of the adiPURE IV "i have not had any blisters, the heels feel fine after breaking them in. after playing for a few hours on saturday, the outsides of my feet were getting sore but there were no blisters. I think once the k-leather stretches it will be very comfy. I played a league game last nite and they felt great, the touch is excellent..maybe its a mental thing or marketing hype, but i feel like my touch is so much better with these because of the k-leather. "



BLACK AND YELLOW CTR 360 II ELITE-" Thank me later"

Constructed from Kanga-Lite synthetic leather for enhanced control and precise distributon in all conditions and with a carbon fibre soleplate for elite performance, the CTR Maestri II Elite offers ultimate comfort, support and touch.

Source: EBAY/CLARITYS

The Jordan of Football Boots; Umbro Akusereita SJ 2s (PART 2)

Umbro Akusereita SJ 2s; never before seen color ways.

 Well one of the boots that i have yet to see in person but am dearly in love with is a boot called the Umbro Akusereita SJ 2s. The boot is for some reason only sold in Japan and in my opinion i believe it is the Jordan of Football boots because like Brand Jordan does with its sneakers, Umbro have replicated this philosophy by combining three of Umbro's most successful boots into a hybrid boot which is bread and butter. Call me old school but I have always been a fan of Umbro products, there is just something about that diamond inside a diamond that gets me every time. At the moment, like i stated a couple weeks ago my favorite boot at the moment is the UMBRO GT PRO, which I am wearing right now. In terms of style, price, comfort, and durability there is no better boot on the market.

 What makes the Umbro Akusereita SJ 2s so unique? 
It is a boot specifically designed for the far east market. Unlike North America or other parts of the world, the far east is a unique market and due to its large size boot companies design/cater different boots to fit the need/wants of that particular demographic which is often times based on price, technology and what environment/playing surfaces these markets are playing on. That being said, what is popular in the USA or Europe might not be as popular in the far east because it is a totally different market.

 In the end, what do you think about the this boot and the idea of taking several different boots/technologies and combining them into a hybrid boot? Would love to see Nike do this with the Vapor series and adidas use this thinking with the next Predator.

F50 adiZERO TRX FG- The third color ways releases 3/01/11

If you are not a fan of the current F50 color ways and think the black is boring or the orange is a remake of the old Nike Vapors which died long ago there is hope around the corner for a new color in the F50. Below is a color way which will be released 3/01/11 which i think is a hot color way that will get consumers excited.

Nike Tiempo IV; Dat New 'NEW'

Tiempo IV will also have an elite version to the series which includes fly wire.

The Tiempo series which is Nike's classic football boot has undergone little to no change in recent launches which has consumers wanting more from this boot/series in terms of style, price, and technology. What is so attractive about the Tiempo series is the price of the boot and the narrow cut of the boot which is perfect for players with narrow feet looking for a boot with an old school feel and look. In addition, with the purchase of these boots unlike other Nike boots you are not left with sticker shock after you buy these because for what you are buying in terms of style, price,durability and technology they are justifiable. Furthermore, Nike had to innovate this series due adidas recent success and growing popularity of the adiPure. I have said this many times but based on the value of the boot, the adipure is at the top of its class. I do not know how adidas does it, but to produce a boot and put it at a retail cost of $130 is beyond my and every other footballers wildest dreams. The price and the boot are HOT! Especially with the recent introduction of the adiPure IV, which shits pure class in opinion. The boot is tremendously well done and has a new school and an old school feel all at the same time which is hard to beat.

AdiPURE IV; Unreleased RED color way

However, with this launch and reconstruction/development of the Tiempo IV i think footy fans will be very pleased with the new style, design, and technology of this boot when it hits stores this summer.

Well fans I hope you enjoy the specs and leaked photos on this post. Nike has come to play with the creation of the Tiempo IV... The boot will come in an elite version, the regular version will feature a twist of kanga-lite and k leather a boot/upper that no other Nike Teimpo boot has seen besides the elite World Cup version, and the drop down version of the Tiempo which will feature a calf skin upper also looks to be a contender in terms of price, materials, and style in the boot market.

Key Information regarding the launch:

• Will have an elite version composed of flywire and carbon fiber outsole.These will be spendy but it will be an elite version which means it is superior in materials used, the weight of the boot, and do not forget the price tag that comes with a Nike elite boot.
• Tiempo Legend IV will feature a kanga-lite upper.The kanga-lite upper will help reduce the weight of the boot and make it more water resistant in wet conditions. Due to the change in upper this boot will be lighter then the Tiempo III.
• Launch date 7/1/2011

AdiPOWER Predator; adidas sells out. RIP power & accuracy

Passion for the Product- above me/footy guru
 T-shirt I made for an interview I had at adidas.

GOOD OLD DAYS...

Besides the hoopla that adidas has set the tone in 2011 by creating the lightest boot on the market, blah blah Lighter is not always better, market gimmicks make poor consumers believe that the lighter the boot the faster you are. You could put messinator and ronnie in a boot that weighs a ton and they are still going to be the fastest players on the pitch. Let me make this clear, players make the boot, the boot does not make the player. You can not teach speed and if you have ever truly been tackled so hard wearing these speed boots you will think twice about how light and rather focus on how much protection is this boot going to offer me. I am more concerned with one of the most popular boots of all time. A boot that changed the game of soccer in terms of technology, style, and comfort. A boot that in the past couple releases has begun to die little by little. What boot is on my mind....

The predator which at one time was the best boot you could buy, now days however people are walking right by it and going for the super light weight boot that looks like something you would wear to a ballet reception. Sure the trend is light weight boots, but I think the predator line has struggled to innovate and put their one of a kind technology what got them to soccer supremacy in the boot world on the back burner and focussed more on how light they could make the boot. With the new adiPower getting ready to hit a store near you, it will be interesting to see if this boot flops like the predator x did on the Footy market. The predator has always been a power boot, a boot that possess the technology to allow you to make that game changing cross or shot that changes the game. Again, the player makes the boot but the predator used to be that go to boot that elite players flocked to in order to raise their game or to get more power/accuracy around their shot. With adidas giving in and making the boots super light you have to think the power, technology, comfort, and protection this boot once produced is now gone. Lighter is not always better and if you are an elite player you need a stable boot that provides comfort/protection in order to get you through your season. Back in college I would take knocks while wearing the vapors and playing a Friday, Sunday schedule it would be hard to recover if I had a bone bruise at the top of my foot...

In the end, only time will tell but in my opinion the past couple of predators have taken a back seat to innovation. I think the power swerve technology is a interesting technology and something that combined with a new upper/rubber knobs then the predator could be the power boot that elite players go to. Making the predator lighter is not the option that I would have taken the series and if adidas was smart they would make a power boot/hybrid that was the weight of 9 oz that packed power behind your shot. I can not imagine how much power of increase in surface area you can get with a boot that weighs 5.8 oz. Should be interesting how consumers perceive this boot and technology. I still believe this boot has all the tools it needs to be the power boot it used to be but ultimately I believe adidas sold out and followed the trend of making a boot as light as possible with a sticker on the boots that says defenders please step on my foot, I have no protection.

Issues i see on the adiPOWER Predator?

How much protection will these boot provide?
RIP power, accuracy? Will this boot be a game changer or has all the technology gone into making it as light as possible?
How durable is this boot going to be? With the sprint frame outsole will the cleats be snapping like they did on the F50?
Will this be the boot/predator that people take a chance on, or will it flop like the predator X?

From the fans of the predator, are you happy where adidas has taken the predator line?

Consumer feedback regarding this post:

"Just checked out your newest blog.....love the Predator t-shirt.

Also love the post. Predators are may favorite footy boots of all time; CTR is 2nd though I have never used them; but appreciate the concept and reviews that I have read about them.

My favorite Predators are the Pulse's. I have a pair of the lower level ones and love them.
I also love the PowerSwerve ones with the ClimaCool technology (love the black and white color).

I am really disappointed in the direction Adidas has taken Predators. I thought their new release was a chance to get back to their roots and make up for the mistakes they made with Predator X........I think adiPower just took an even larger dent out of the Predator legacy. Predators are not meant to be a speed boot. they are pure power and control plain and simple. They are trying too hard to be something they are not; which is very disappointing."

-Anonymous