A tragic end to an iconic line of football boots. Several prototypes later and an apparent meeting with Franz Beckenbauer, Adidas released the first Predator in 1994. After ending his active career, he worked together with the Adidas innovation team (a.i.t) in the further evolution of the new boot. The Precision equivalent, however, was black and white only, while the Supernova (Predator Mania without the Predator elements) was black with either silver or gold heel caps and stripes. And it did it for a simple reason: Predator had lost its way, it lacked character and personality, words of its creative director. Adidas threatened to bring back the fin style logo but never quite got there. The tongue has belcro to protect the instep from the laces. The adidas Adipower Predator SL was released on 24 June 2011 as the lightest Predator yet, offered in a Black/Blue colorway at a retail price of US$250. The second zone is called "dribble". Lighter than ever with no discernible pads or patches to help with swerve, touch or control. The Predators were rested only to rise from the ashes a few years back. The former Middlesbrough and Liverpool midfielder Craig Johnston, a winner of five league titles and the 1984 European Cup, was coaching kids. External heel cup that fixes the foot so that it does not move. 27 long years ago, Adidas Predators were launched - part-rubber, part-Kangaroo leather boots that would shake up the game as we knew it. We take the chance to update our look at the full history of the Adidas Predator, fro mthe first-ever Predator to the upcoming leaked Predator 20. Launched on the occasion of the 1994 World Cup that took place in the United States. The Adidas Predator X football boots are the first Predator to remove the tongue, which Adidas says improves performance. The SL wasthe lightest Predator at the time, weighing in at only 211 grams. First Adidas boot to be classified as a mid-weight boot, not as well armed as previous models. This would not be the last we hear about Zidane and the Predators. The Adidas Predator soccer boot has in its design the 3-Stripes or 3 lines typical of adidas. The first colour released was black and red (original). The colours were fantastic too, bringing back the classic black/red/white of Predators past but white/black/gold versions that referenced the mid-00s versions. Zinedine Zidane tested and reviewed the newest version of the Predator range (Predator X). It is a boot with history, prestige and that has evolved enormously thanks to innovation and technology. By 2011, the F50 was the cutting edge boot in Adidas's catalogue. Beginning with the Mania, Adidas started to produce its Predator boots in countless color variants. The new elite level predator brought back by adidas is named the Predator 18+, which features a primeknit upper with a laceless design as in Ace 16+ and 17+. With this version, Adidas introduced a foam material they called Smartfoam, while PowerPulse technology would essentially shift tungsten powder toward the point of of the boot you were kicking with, to generate a boost. Understandably, these boots were huge. The scales are grooves that can provide more spin or more momentum. They released a champagne colour - which Becks donned - along with blue ones and red ones with silver Adidas stripes. Other features include the HybridTouch upper which is designed for optimal performance in all weather conditions and Traxion 2.0 stud configuration and SprintFrame soleplate.[23]. This boot weighed in at 7.3oz. A very low weight, it is an increasingly lighter boot. These studs were available in various lengths that made the boot adjustable to ground conditions as is possible with the classic screw-in soft-ground studs. However, and this is an important part of the mystique around the boot going forward - testing showed the boot provided players with a more powerful shot. They designed it with a "Far Eastern" style in mind, so it had sharp angular styling and came in various colour schemes in addition to the traditional blackred design. Rubber bands with 3D texture, a key element of the Predator collection. They weigh in at 7.8 ounces.[17]. The new generation was worn by Paul Pogba, Mesut zil, Dele Alli and Ivan Rakiti. They were a massive hit, these ones. With the difference in leather and other features, the Predator Mania FG is intended as the peak of the Predator range. Do you know everything about the Adidas Predator collection? A limited edition version was also released in "Japan Blue" and was worn by Alex of the Japan national team during the tournament. The "Predator Absolute" introduced in mid-2006, just before the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Adidas obviously recognised the change in style during the 90s, this was also the first-ever boot to be released in multiple colours. This release was followed up by the PredatoradiPower SLsoon after, which favoured a SprintSkin upper instead of leather. Steven Gerrard has been given the option of a Miadidas Predator which he personalised as black/gold/red. The change in shape would become important in later designs but while David Beckhams goal against Wimbledon wearing these boots would not be forgotten, the boots themselves would be, because of what followed. Adidas got rid of the fin design when it came to their logo, added more colour with a red sole and heel. The Predator[12] Pulse was introduced in late 2003, before UEFA Euro 2004. In most cases, basic materials these adidas shoes use are: You will find adidas Predator Mania shoes in a range of serviceable conditions on eBay. World Cup year brings about a gentle evolution for the Predator rather than anything too bold. Understanding the features and options you can choose will help you find the adidas Predator Mania shoes that suit your style. There were even five zones on the boot designed to do different things - power on the strike zone, first touch on the toe box, etc. Real Madrid's Kak and Manchester United's Nani wore the adiPower Predators. It only came in a few colors, black with white stripes and red accents. This was a slightly cheaper alternative to the Predator Accelerator. Other than that, classic design. Most of absolute's PowerPulse is 40g, however only Red version is 60g. The Preds were available in black and white - of course - with red accents. While the SL remained loyal - or semi-loyal - to the design style of the Predators of the past, the Predator Instinct abandoned everything which made it such an iconic boot. For the 2010 World Cup, Adidas released a black/sun colourway to follow on a colourway they used for all three of their boot styles (F50 adiZero and adiPure), later came the white/sky/cyan and black/white/cyan colourways, followed by another David Beckham designed Collegiate Red/White colourway. It looked great. Your email address will not be published. [3] Whilst coaching a group of schoolchildren in Australia, he came across the idea of using rubber instead of leather to build ridges on the top of a football boot to, theoretically, aid control of the ball. There is no more natural leather, the material in the whole area of the upper is synthetic. Where the Predator used to have stripes and strips for contact, it was replaced on the tenth edition with a single pad that had the word "Predator" on. It merges the predators armed style with natural leather upper, the characteristic predator element with rubber inserts and lightens the sole with a system that allows to reduce its weight by 25%. Like the fine folks and 21 Jump Street, they should have done the exact same thing, the same way. Adidas would move onto weightless Predators in the years that followed. It is still kangaroo leather and finally increases the Predator element. This became the standard colourway for the boot as time went on, too. Scales that run along the entire surface and help us to improve the strike. The Primeknit materials had CONTROLSKIN, ideal for midfielders controlling the ball, while the ridges of this boot resembled those on early versions. This color scheme is now known as the main one for all predators. With the Predator PowerSwerve in late 2007, Adidas introduced a foam material they call Smartfoam. There have been 24 different predator models, with a cheaper version without all the predator technology going by a different name. The first Predators of the new millennium were suitably futuristic - well, relatively - with replaceable studs. Instead of making a boot for the stylish centre-midfielder, the lightweight boot was built for speed rather than control of the ball and resembled the F50 more than anything. A very limited edition of this boot was released called the David Beckham Ying Yang box set. With France 98 came the Accelerator. These things looked weird. WATCH: Team 33 look at the history of the Adidas Predator and where they went wrong. [22] First released in a Ray Green colourway, the next-generation Predator boasts new raised rubber lethal zones which add increased friction between your foot and the ball for ultimate control, touch, passing and shooting. NY 10036. In 2015 Adidas had to take a very risky decision, to disqualify the Predator range. [3], Johnston spent a lot of time and money developing prototypes and experimenting with designs. Problems with reliability of the XTRX Blades meant a revised version was released in late 2003, which incorporated minor changes to the layout and design of the studs. Hands down. The Predator Precision introduced replaceable Traxion studs that were fitted by the tightening of a minute screw. They added a tongue to the front of the boot - which could, of course, be held down by the rubber band attached. This Predator is the first boot include what Adidas calls the Power Pulse System, and only Predator Pulse can't change to the original insole. The kangaroo leather was revolutionary at the beginning of the 90s and managed to position itself in the market as one of the best soccer boots in the world. The last one is called "sweet spot". 2 insoles can be used, one lighter and one heavier, with the power pulse system. Replaceable! The three stripes continued onto the sole, too, and these were the first Preds that really moved the laces to the side of the foot. They claim it gives the Predator element more rebound power, swerve, and improved control through longer ball contact. No more catching the ball with your instep just to make sure it doesn't fly off. Smaller tongue than in previous models but retained with a rubber lacing. We've got you covered! [20] The Predator LZ features that same SprintFrame and stud configuration that is found in several other ranges such as the adipure and F50 adiZero. Rather than using the Hybrid S-L seen in the regular LZ, Adidas employ a thinner SprintSkin on the back end of the LZ SL. The red became even more prominent but Adidas launched a blue version too, worn by Patrick Vieira among others. Very technical boot: Combines kangaroo leather in the instep area with synthetic materials in the heel, outside and inside. By The eponymous Predator elements have developed over time. The boost insole which was used in the Ace 17+ was also used on the new predator. Footballers such as David Beckham, Xavi, Robin van Persie, Michael Ballack, Ral, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Kolo Tour, Edwin van der Sar, Petr ech, Brad Friedel, Anderson and Eiur Gujohnsen have all worn Adidas Predators. This was a triumphant return. [24] The Predator 18 marked the first time a laceless upper was used in the collection, initially launching in black as part of the "Skystalker" boot pack. 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