Adidas Predator LZ Trainers Review/Info

So this post is about the latest range (2013) of Adidas Predators that are now available.

If you have checked my Adidas Nitrocharge and Nike Hypervenom post (link here: https://intfootviews.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/adidas-nitrocharge-v-nike-hypervenom/), they also come in different classes suited to budget and/or skill level.

The Predator range is designed for players who like to have total control of the game, therefore they need a boot which controls the ball effortlessly. Predators now have five lethal zones designated on the boot which help improve ball control and feel. These are on the instep, outside of foot, area near laces, front and the outer side where the 3 stripes are.

We will start with the Predator LZ (Lethal Zones) range which is the professional range. This uses “HybridTouch” synthetic leather for the upper which gives the boot a great feel when touching the ball. This combines the quality of leather but is lighter so the boots weigh less. Looking at the LZ areas, the material is thicker which provides better grip. This helps control the ball better in my opinion as it acts like a glue, so the ball sticks to the foot easier.

It is also fitted with a “SprintFrame” chassis which is lightweight and provides stability when playing. Therefore the boot feels very light and is sometimes is shown/felt as you feel you are not wearing any boots. The boot has the “Traxion 2.0” sole-plate which is now Adidas’s new design for stud configuration. This helps to get maximum grip depending on playing surface and help with quicker acceleration from a standing position. The FG boots uses moulds with 4 of them in the rear of the boot and 7 at the front. The SG sole-plate uses a mixture of metal studs and plastic moulds to help with acceleration and grip in soft ground conditions. The metal studs are unscrewable; therefore new ones can be replaced if necessary.

The boots are also “miCoach” compatible to record data which includes distance traveled, speed and sprints made. This is great for players who like to look at stats and make analysis on previous performances.

The next range is the Predator Absolion. This product is targeted for regular football players who play in local leagues/tournaments. These combine many features from the LZ range (above) but using less quality materials to make it more affordable and/or catered for these players. For example, they still use the “Traxion 2.0” stud configuration but only use standard synthetic leather which has a more artificial type of feel compared to the Hybrid leather, however it is still “miCoach” compatible and contains the “Nubuck” touch heel lining to provide comfort at the back of the foot.

Some parts of the boots can be compared to the LZ range to see the difference in quality. However, with the Predator range, not much is lost and the LZ provide more of a comfortable upper and just slightly better materials used.

The basic and last range is the Absolado. These boots cover the whole range of FG, SG, AF, TF, HG and IN. These are for players who enjoy regular sociable football with friends and family. These use synthetic leather on the upper part of the boot which helps to provide a smooth fit and comfort. Again this is “miCoach” compatible which ideal for those who do like to keep track of their progress. However, the boot does not have a “Sprintframe” Chassis and therefore uses an EVA (plastic) substitute. This does affect comfort slightly but can range depending on the individual’s taste/style. Again this boot is ideal for those who enjoy regular football and need a boot that makes things easier and comfortable when playing. The material is very similar to the Absolion range but loses some of the other features e.g “SprintFrame” and Hybrid leather.

Regarding with all of the ranges, the colour selection is very poor in my opinion. Other than the black boots, the colours do not blend well and create a poor design feature for these boots. The colours range from Blue/Orange; Black/Green; Green/Light Green.  Some retailers do offer different colours, with White/Red; Black/Purple available. Also, Adidas do offer customisation on their website (not available in all countries) so players can create their own designs.

Adidas do fail at times when designing the colour of the boots especially this 2013/14 season. That is my opinion, as I have enjoyed some of the designs of past two years of the Predator range.

Professional players who use these boots: Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Xavi, Angel Di Maria and Samir Nasri.

These boots are recommended for players who’s play is based around control and first touch. It is not surprising to see that most professional footballers that wear these are midfielders; who tend to have most touches of the football in a game. Therefore it is ideal for central midfielders and play-makers who are looking to create assists and control the tempo of the game. Also strikers who enjoy having the ball at feet will benefit from a boot like this as the Predator range is one of the best when it comes to first touch and close control.

Design available here: http://www.adidas.co.uk/mens-predator-lz-trx-fg-boots/Q21664_580.html

Predator Black/Purple/Orange Design

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(Post may be updated in near future)

Seb Gomez