Adidas Predator Lethal Zones (LZ) Firm Ground Boot Preliminary Review - 5 June 2012
Woo hoo! That was my immediate reaction when I received my Adidas Predator Lethal Zones in blue with red fins from Pro-Direct Soccer today. Interestingly, the label on the box reads "Predator D5 TRX FG micoach" (and not "Predator LZ TRX FG micoach")...
I ordered the Predator LZs with the micoach sensor at a pre-order price of GBP 180.99 including shipping to Singapore. The Predator LZs (with the Adidas micoach) retail for GBP 209 but Pro-Direct Soccer were having a special pre-order price of GBP 178.99.
I have been a regular Predator user since 1996 when I got a pair of the Predator Rapiers. I then moved on to the Predator Accelerators (to me, still the best looking Predator boot ever released by Adidas) and only missed out on the Predator Manias. I also had a pair of Fila Tornado boots (which Hidetoshi Nakata was using during Japan's campaign in the World Cup in France in 1998) - which, on a side note, being made of Kevlar, would be in my view, the ultimate granddaddy of today's lightweight boots such as the Adidas F50s and Nike Mercurials.
Anyways...moving on to the Predator LZs. This review will be on a preliminary basis as I won't get to use the boots until Sunday evening on the turf.
In the meantime, here are some pictures (pictures of the boots themselves would have been circulating on the Internet well in advance of this prelminary review) of what you can expect to get when you order a micoach bundled Predator LZs.
First impressions
I must confess that I am not altogether convinced by the design of the Predator LZs but perhaps (just as was the case with the Predator Adipowers), the design will grow on me.
The boot definitely feels light subjectively compared to its predecessor, the Predator Adipowers (I'm a big fan of the Adipowers which fit my feet much better than the Predator Xs ever did which were a bit too wide even after I had tried using a pair which was a half size smaller than what I usually wear).
The upper seems to be made out of a new synthetic material which claims to combine the "benefits of leather and synthetic". The red fins (or rather, zones) each have a distinct function. According to Adidas, the 'Drive' zone creates a rebound effect for greater distance and power while the 'Sweet Sport' zone generates greater spin and pace. The 'First Touch' zone on the forefoot area give immediate ball contact. On the instep of the boot is the pass zone with memory foam and sticky print, designed to increases ball contact time for more precise passing. The 'Dribble' zone allows for a large number of quick ball contacts, spaced out to ensure optimum grip.
The zones look pretty funky but I am personally a little concerned about the durability of the zones. Having said that, time will tell and I guess it won't really matter to those who are able to follow Adidas' "upgrade" path of releasing new Predators once every 2 years to coincide with major football tournaments (i.e., the World Cup and the European Championship).
The Predators are made in Indonesia (which is pretty common for Adidas boots). The particular pair I received did not seem to be very well made - I could see obvious glue residue on the front of the right boot and on the heel area of the left boot. The same comment I made in respect of the durabilty of the zones applies here (as would my comment about it not really mattering to those who are able to upgrade their Predators every 2 years or so).
Slipping barefoot into the Predator LZs...gosh, they are pretty comfortable. The sole is well padded, the boots themselves seem to mould themselves to wrap around your feet. The upper also feels very comfortable on the top of the foot. All in, a very good first impression. In comparison, the Predator Adipowers - being made of the "Taurus" leather upper were a bit stiff at first and even after a few months of wear, remain a tad rigid. The Predator LZs are pretty amazing in comparison.
Stay tuned for the fuller review after / on Sunday...
Edited: 16 October 2013
I prefer these boots to the Predator LZ IIs (though frankly, for a Sunday (and Tuesday) footy warrior such as moi, perhaps my skill level is insufficient to take full advantage of the re-designed Lethal Zones on the Predator LZ IIs).
