It is the blackout boot spot that has captivated the boot community. German international Sven Bender brought out one of the more interesting blackout boots of the year, and adidas did not do a very good job of keeping it quiet with the addition of the yellow tape across the midfoot of the boot. It has certainly raised questions and speculation, but we run our eye over the possibilities of what these mysterious boots could be.
There also appears to be some sort of technology on the instep of the boot, perhaps working as a pass pad of sorts. Plus you have the Sprint Frame outsole and the exclusion of a miCoach cavity, which we think is a very interesting decision. So let us break it down, here is what the boot could be as we rate each potential possibility.
Definitely going to rule this one out straight away. It does not look anything like a potential adiZero due to the technology on the upper and within the instep, plus it looks a little on the heavy side. An adiZero would be a clean one piece upper, but there are multiple sections to this boot. Not only that, we have seen images of the adiZero that will be released at the end of this year and it looks nothing like Sven Bender’s blackout boots. It looks amazingly unlikely to be an adiZero to us.
Chance: 1/10
The next adiPure
Another possibility we think we can safely rule out. Much like the adiZero, the adiPure line never moves away from it’s traditional roots. While the removal of K-Leather on the adiPure 11Pro may have changed the ‘heritage’ conception of the boot, Bender’s boots look way too futuristic for it to be an adiPure boot. The only thing that would suggest it to being an adiPure boot would be what appears to be leather trim on the toe of the boot. Not enough to suggest it is an adiPure to us.
Change: 2/10
The next Predator
We highly doubt it is an adiPure or an adiZero, which really leaves the Predator as the only likely candidate. While the boot does not come with the classic Predator vamp, there is definitely more to suggest this is a Predator more than it being an adiPure or adiZero. There seems to be some sort of technology within the instep, the quilted upper suggests it is made of leather, it has the same Sprint Frame outsole as the Predator LZ, it does add up to it being a Predator boot. Just looking at the pictures suggests it is a comfortable boot that will probably emphasise on ball feel. Considering the Predator LZ is being marketed as a ‘Control’ boot, this definitely has properties about it to suggest it could be another ‘Control’ boot, or to put it simply, a new Predator. Definitely the favourite.
Chance: 8/10
A brand new 4th silo from adidas
While we do think Bender is wearing an early Predator prototype, the boot does not sport the classic Predator vamp, which is evidence to suggest that Bender could be testing a new 4th silo for adidas. Nike have had 4 silos for quite a while, but it is something adidas is yet to capitalise on. Considering the Predator LZ is being touted as a ‘Control’ boot, the yellow taping across the midfoot could have rebound properties, which means this could even be a ‘Power’ boot. It is hard to say whether this will be a ‘Control’ or a ‘Power’ boot, but if it is a ‘Power’ boot, then we could be looking at a 4th silo from adidas. This would also mean that it will be released in tandem with the LZ. But if it is a ‘Control’ boot, it will replace it. We are leaning towards it being a Predator, but it is a close call.
Chance: 7.5/10
Soccer Reviews will keep delving into the situation, and we will break any news we hear about a new Predator or a 4th silo on the site. What do you think adidas’ new prototype boot is?
About Jordon English
It is a new silo.
I know it. The leather is the hybrid touch as it is in the LZ.
i was wearing the shoe for 20 mins and it is great. perfekt. my version was black and red
You are right. Im not sure whether it is a control boot or power boot etc… But I do know that it is going to be part of the new Adidas Nitrocharge range which is to released along with the Adidas predator Lethal Zone 2.
and it is not a power or a control boot. it is something new.
not any other brand has a similar boot.
Can’t you tell some more about it?
totally agree with Raffer
tell us more
I would go for a new silo! Way too early for adidas to let their players test out some boots coming in a year, so I would rule the Preds out.
Not bladed studs. It’s the same sprintframe that comes on all adizero boots. New predator LZ just came out, so I’d lean toward a new silo. What the tech is still left to be seen. What boots does he usually wear?
I said it has the adidas Sprint Frame, yet I also said it has bladed studs. Weird, thanks for picking up on that!
Something that should be mentioned is that the companies take years to develop new football boots. The Nike Green Speed took a whole year, which is considered to be a compressed time frame. We don’t expect a new Predator until October next year, so that is one year. If adidas are testing a year in advance, then we are not too far away from it being a Predator release. Don’t forget the adiPower was only around for 1 year, so it doesn’t mean we can rule it out being a Predator just because the new LZ came out.
He has worn T90s and CTRs in the past season, but he interestingly wore the CTR III just a few days after this boot spot. Strange…
You’re absolutely right about the developing time. Though, we haven’t seen players wear a unreleased boot a year before it comes out. That’s why I don’t think it’s a Predator.
That isn’t entirely true – Michael Ballack wore at prototype LZ in june last year, and even though it isn’t a full year, it’s a hell of a long time before the actual release.
the studs look to be from Adidas’s f50
first ones w/ sprint frame
He was spotted in the next game wearing the new maestri iiis. Seems strange he would make the switch from these to nikes within a period of a week. Can anyone make anything of this?
Sven Bender has now a Nike contract. But he will get an adidas contract and he will be a one of the faces of the new shoe. So he is testing the one.
The concept of the predator will be the same. The zones will be there. Perhaps in an improved way. But the concept will not be changed.
The new one Sven Bender is wearing is a complete new boot. adidas will release a running shoe with the same idea in a few months…….
Where do u get this information?
and the hybrid touch is great. When i touched it, i can´t tell if it is real leather or the new material on this shoe…
honestly don’t care. not buying one single boot from adidas before they change the studs. has anyone else in here gotten small internal bleedings on there footsole from the sprint frame and triangular studs
I haven’t, maybe you got a bad pair.
Heres what I think. Bender has a contract with Nike that will soon expire and Adidas has offered him a contract and let him try this prototype boot. Many players have said they have seen what the boot company has in store when they sign a contract with a different company. Bc he was spotted playing in a ctr3 Nike may be doing the same thing. @Eli I’m guessing this doesn’t have a hybrid touch upper bc there are stitch marks and hybridtouch is a one piece upper. I’m going to guess this is a completely new boot silo from Adidas because it doesn’t have enough predator like elements to be the new predator.
It is Hybrid Touch.
I was wearing this shoe. I know it. Aubrey Dolan told me the things about the shoe. You can believe me.
You can bet whatever you want.
This is a new silo. Complete new.
Will it be similar to old predators? Or is it like adipures with pred elements?
There is no pred element. The yellow thing has nothing in common with the sprintweb.
And the shoe will get a micoach cavity.
How did you wear them?
Soccer Reviews know the answer to this already they just can’t tell us. It is a 4th silo for sure. Adidas have decided to shift Predator from more a T90 into a CTR boot, alienating old school Predator wearers in the process. That is why they have now brought in this 4th silo to bring in a boot similar to the traditional predator but under a new branding. Even looking at the lacing system you can see it has been designed for a clean strike.
Best damn answer ive heard yet.
did anyone wonder why there is no mi-coach slot after adidas advertised it as beeing the future of soccer??? why the yellow part look almost identical to the sprintweb from the leather aizeros??? And why there is no lines on the heel counter like the current adizeros?? In my oppinion the pictures that we saw with the messi adizeros are put out there by adidas just to attract our attention so they ca concentrat more on the next adizero model (because the messi adizeros look like sh*t tbh). this is just m opinion.
There will be a micoach cavity in this shoe.
Elo, please stop cr*pping on to your keyboard.
leather in front, synthetic in the back? seem to be the trend with boots nowadays. The black triangle at the lateral foot might be a dribble pad, no?
Can I just remind everyone that the LZs were being tested this time last year by Michael Ballack, very real possibility of next preds.
i think its the next generation adipure sl’s.
Either way it will be horrible. Whether its a new boot of an existing range or a new silo. I don’t know wht you guys are dying to find out. Look what Adidas made the Predators into. Like another version of the F50s. The colours. Green, yellow, pink, purple. This is what Adidas turned their Predators into. Look at the Manias, Pulses. Traditional powerful elegant boots that look fearsome. Not these clown shows. Horrible Adidas horrible.
100% agree
Your statement is absolutely spot on. I fondly recall when the Predator instilled terror in opposing defenders when they were wielded by goal machines and destructive midfielders alike; now they have become synonymous with ‘fashion’ and have lost that intimidating aura they have for the sake of appealing to the lowest common denominator. I remember the Accelerators, the Pulses, the Manias being absolutely fearsome in their time but now they’ve become nothing more than some pathetic attempt at aping Nike; the LZ if it didn’t have 3 stripes on it you’d swear was a Nike boot given their propensity to have ‘brainfarts’ and tack on all manner of ‘technology’ onto their boots which in the real world make not one iota of difference.
these predators run more towards the predator’s roots than the last several versions. the original predators were covered in rubber I don’t know what you guys are complaining about.
Its the leather adizero
that name is adidas exo (adipure)
It’s the new adidas nitro chargers! New prototype shown in this picture. Expected in 2013
http://www.soccerreviewsusa.com/2012/11/first-official-picture-of-adidas-nc-new.html?m=1
its a new silo. my friend got a pair from a sample sale. i think it starts with an x