Successor
The follow-up to the wildly popular F50 adiZero, the adiZero Prime set a ludicrous new benchmark in lightweight performance footwear by beating out their older models by a slight 20g. The undisputed Highest Scoring Boot of the World Cup the original adiZero was available in two different material selections, Leather and Synthetic – with the Synthetic version of the cleats tipping the scales at a mere 165g.
The new Adidas Adizero Prime will be available in just Synthetic, but has had several special tweaks to bring it’s weight down to a mere 145g per boot. Amazingly, the adiZero wasn’t the lightest boot released last year, with German rivals Puma releasing the v1.10SL at 155g; but with the adiZero Primes, it definitely seems that the legendary Three Stripes of Adidas will take some shifting from their new throne.
Technology
One of the reasons behind this weight-drop is the new upper. Dubbed the adiTwin Light, this newly designed material is exclusive to the adiZero Prime and is once again a single-layer synthetic for optimum comfort, ball feel and, of course, weight-reduction.
Next is the TPU bottom frame. We know that Adidas Adizero are real fans of TPU, having used it in the original adiZeros internal support bands, and we see it again here in the form of the dark coloured ‘rim’ above the soleplate and bellow the upper.
This handy feature will take the strain away from the upper and frame (which – due to the forces exerted during a match – are constantly trying to move in different directions) and result in a more durable, comfortable pair of football boots.
Finally Adidas have also clearly left no stone unturned on the adiZero Prime, employing lightweight (and bulletproof!) Kevlar laces to ensure that every last milligram of unnecessary weight has been shaved off these sharp looking football boots.
Pricing
The main point of contention for most football boots fans will be the cost. At £260/$400, these are the single most expensive football boots that Adidas have ever produced.
Many fans still bemoan the £275 price tag of the Mercurial Vapor Superfly II a year after it’s release, and many fans will see the £260 price of the adiZero Prime as a move by Adidas to move their football boots into the same ‘prestigious’ price-bracket that their American counter-parts have created.