History of the adidas Predator football boots

adidas Predator is back once again. Ssome will like it more, some will like it less - but there is no doubt that we are looking at one of the most important silos in the history of football boots. Let's take a look at its history up to the present day.

23 December 2024 - Written by Laura Arriero

adidas ‘Predator’ football boots (1994)

To coincide with the World Cup in the United States, the German brand launched a new boot. The main feature was the toe cap, which was covered in rubber to improve the kicking action, giving rise to the 'predator element'. It became popular thanks to young footballers, David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane, who chose to wear it during their matches. Thanks to this element, combined with kangaroo leather and an optimal fit, these boots broke the mould at the time.

adidas Predator ‘Rapier’ football boots (1995)

Without any major structural changes and reinforcing the "Predator element" concept, Adidas continues the evolution of this silo with a subtle but important detail: a reversible tongue that will become the symbol of the Predator.

adidas Predator ‘Touch’ football boots (1996)

In 1996, adidas developed this model further. The upper was slightly redesigned and at the same time the tongue was more pronounced, making it the main innovation of a model that kept the same style but introduced laminated studs for the first time. This was something that was rarely seen, as conical studs were the norm at the time.

adidas Predator ‘Accelerator’ football boots (1998)

At the 1998 World Cup in France, the Predator Accelerator became one of the favourites of many. Players loved the fantastic combination of rubber and leather, while the redesigned upper with the elongated Adidas lines and red tongue created the perfect fit. On this occasion, Alessandro Del Piero joined Beckham and Zinedine Zidane as another classic Predator figure.

adidas Predator ‘Precision’ football boots (2000)

In 2000, with the turn of the century, a new Predator model was introduced, the 'Precision'. This time it had interchangeable rivets, but the formula was not very attractive and they went back to a model very similar to the previous one.

adidas Predator ‘Mania’ football boots (2002)

In 2002, the Predator arrived again to revolutionise the market. With the World Cup in Korea and Japan came the Predator Mania, another fan favourite, in both the launch colours and the now iconic champagne colourway. The classic Predator element was simply moved to the maximum strike zone and the boot became a little more streamlined. Despite these new features and a fantastic sole with laminated studs for traction, the key aesthetic detail of this boot was the tongue.

It was a David Beckham trademark, and it was this, along with his spectacular look, that made Predator Mania one of the all-time favourites.

adidas Predator ‘Pulse’ football boots (2004)

In 2004, the Predator Pulse arrived for the Euro Cup in Portugal. They continued with the combination of kangaroo leather and 'rough' or 'touch' elements. They also added the 'Power Pulse System', which consisted of an insole that moved the boot's centre of gravity closer to the point of impact, giving more power to shots. In terms of the sole, the most significant change is that the replaceable studs on the SG sole are no longer screw studs but clip studs, eliminating the problems of the previous system.

adidas Predator ‘Absolute’ football boots (2006)

To coincide with another sporting event, this time the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Adidas brings us the Predator Absolute. With a slightly smaller tongue, but still with the trademark silo, this model tries to give a new twist. The 'Power Pulse' is visible on the outsole and allows you to use two insoles, one lighter and one heavier. The reinforced heel also stands out, providing more grip and support in this area.

adidas Predator ‘Power Swerve’ football boots (2008)

In 2008, with fond memories of winning the Eurocup in Austria and Switzerland, the Predator Silo returns to its origins with the Predator Power Swerve, a model that builds on its predecessor, but with an aesthetic more akin to its predecessors.

adidas Predator ‘X’ football boots (2010)

The Predator X arrives. This is the tenth version of the Predator, which has been completely revolutionised and redesigned in line with the times. In 2010, at the World Cup in South Africa and with the fantastic memory of all Spaniards after winning it, we could see this model on the feet of Xavi Alonso and other ambassadors of the brand. It was the first model without a tongue, with the new Taurus leather and PowerSpine technology. This system consisted of a spine in the centre of the outsole, which allowed the boot to flex but never stretch and lose energy on impact, as well as avoiding unnecessary twisting. All these features made this boot one of the most comfortable to wear.

adidas Predator ‘Adipower’ football boots (2011)

A year later, Adidas launched the Predator Adipower, evolving this silo again to have two key areas: the classic strike area, which mixes Taurus leather and the aforementioned Predator element, and another more adapted to the fastening and adjustment to give speed, accompanied by the Sprintframe sole inherited from the F50 model. This sole reduces the weight by 25%, resulting in a boot that perfectly combines the concepts of lightness and impact resistance. Finally, there is also a special David Beckham version in synthetic leather and a different colour.

adidas Predator ‘LZ’ football boots (2012)

In 2012, the Predator LZ was born, which for the first time does not separate a single strike zone, but is divided into 5 strike zones (Lethal Zones, hence the name). This is achieved thanks to a type of rough gel that is distributed throughout these distinct and differentiated zones, enhancing the feel and impact of each one. The outsole is a Traxion 2.0 with Triad studs and a Pibotation stud (the Powerspint disappears). Finally, there is a very light sole which, as a detail, houses the Micoach, a revolutionary device for monitoring training and matches.

adidas Predator ‘Instinct’ football boots (2014)

For 2014, the latest Predator is called Instinct. For the upper, we have Hybrid Touch, a synthetic material that mimics the characteristics of natural leather and provides a great touch on the ball. In addition, the spirit of the Lethal Zones is maintained, integrating the striking elements in the different necessary zones to achieve more effect on shots. On the outsole we see the Control Frame, a modification of all the edges at the base of the outsole, which favours control thanks to its relief design. The colours are also studied, being 50% of one and 50% of the other, unifying the design with the Adidas motto: "all or nothing".

The 25th of May 2015 was a sad day for all fans of this silo. The Predator range came to an end. Although we have been able to enjoy different versions thanks to anniversaries or to commemorate special moments, from the last Beckham pack to the Mania or Accelerator this year and even the Revenge pack in 2014 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this football boot. Luckily for all lovers of this fantastic boot, 2017 has arrived and the adidas Predator is back.

adidas Predator football boots

adidas Predator ‘18+’ Football Boots (2017)

After a few years with the adidas Ace as a touch or control boot, the German brand decided to bring the adidas Predator concept back to our days. The leather upper or Hybridtouch was modified and Primeknit was used, a Primeknit treated with different foam plates that gave shape to the Predator element, and we once again had that rough and differential touch that we always had with the Predator. In addition, the outsole regained its essence with more aggressive studs and a harder and more powerful flexion arch, taking us back to the pure essence of the adidas Predator. Without a doubt, the Predator was back.

adidas Predator ‘19+’ football boots (2018)

A year after the return of one of the German brand's most emblematic silhouettes, it has been slightly redesigned. On a technical level, a new colour mix is introduced in the 'Controlskin' that gives shape to the upper, and new 'scales' are added to the heel, reminiscent of the old Predator models. The outsole is exactly the same, including Boost technology for the laceless model. It was an evolutionary generation and we still saw some traces of the past adidas Ace in this model.

adidas Predator ‘Mutator’ football boots (2020)

The year 2020 has arrived and the German brand has given us back one of those Predators that we love, one of those that are truly crazy no matter where you look at them, they have simply done it again. All the essence of the original Predator has been captured and the 'Demonskin' has been moulded, with spikes all over the ball contact area of the upper, giving us a grip from another planet. The touch and control of the ball with this new technology was incredible and the Primeknit was kept as the technology to create the base of the boot, which was a little harder than the last generation, but gave us that feeling of reinforcement that has improved a lot. A boot that has regained everything that is adidas Predator.

adidas Predator ‘Freak’ football boots (2021)

A new year, a new Predator and adidas present the latest Predator. The new adidas Predator Freak, keeps the base of the last generation with an aggressive outsole and reinforced Primkenit. The most significant change is the new version of Demonskin, with spikes that have been reduced in number, but which extend over the upper, even reaching the knit area, which has also been modified and extends up to the upper heel. The look of the laceless version of the Freak is still spectacular.

adidas Predator ‘Edge’ football boots (2022)

After the drastic change of the Freak and the return to a true ‘Predator Element’, we continue in 2022, with a new change of the silo, to take the direction to a less aggressive, but more forceful striking concept. With the new adidas Predator Edge, the German brand leaves behind the spikes of the last generation and creates the new ‘Predator Element’ in the form of panels to give the boot a more rounded strike and emphasising the power as the differential point of this boot.

It also introduces a new element in the sole, which is a continuous design, but it has the Powerfacet, which is the diamond we see in the front of the boot, which adds weight to the boot so that every strike has all the power we have in our foot.

Quite a change to bring us a new adidas Predator that, like the last generation, has all the elements of a true Predator.

Since its inception in 1994, the Predator has evolved to stay at the forefront of ball-contact technologies. This philosophy is still present in the new adidas Predator Accuracy football boot, the latest creation from the brand with the three stripes, which undoubtedly improves on its predecessor, the Predator Edge.

Let's start with the upper and the material it's made of. This is Hybrid Touch, a synthetic compound that we have already seen in other boots from the German brand, and this time it will be responsible for maximising the comfort of anyone who gives the new adidas Predator Accuracy football boot, the 19th generation of this silo, a chance. But... What would Predator be without its Predator Element? This is the technology that has a different name every year, but always with the same aim: to maximise ball impact and increase comfort when hitting the ball. In these new adidas football boots, it is called High Definition Grip and it consists of two densities. The first is the Kicking Zone, which is located in the inside of the boot and is designed to facilitate kicking. On the other hand, we have the Dribbling Zone, which is located on the outside of the boot and has a lower density, with the aim of increasing grip when driving the ball.

Finally, we come to the only element that these adidas Predator Accuracy football boots inherit from their predecessors. The plate is still the FACETFRAME, exactly the same as on the Edge, so the brand decided it wasn't the right time to create a new outsole for their flagship silo.

adidas Predator 24 football boot (2023)

The boot was unveiled at the end of 2023, almost coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Silo (1994), and adidas simply dropped a bomb. The return of the tongue, the redesign of the upper and the return to a much more 'manic' aesthetic hit the nail on the head in a model that was a success by any measure.

The new upper gives us a very matt feel to the ball and the 'predstrike' or Predator element returns with the grip and full strike feel we love and have come to expect from Predator over the years. Clearly inspired by the adidas Predator Mania, both the strikeskin and the tongue give us that punching boot feeling, comfortable and with an outsole that gives us the perfect traction without losing stability.

A gem of a boot that has made the delights and put the Predator back as one of the best boots on the market.

adidas Predator 25 football boot (2024)

After simplifying the name and going back to the classic name without surnames almost at the end of 2024, and after giving us a spectacular boot, adidas has presented us with this small redesign of the adidas Predator 30 Anniversary, which slightly improves what we already had and fulfils a football maxim that if something works, don't touch it.

The upper has been modified and goes back to the normal Hybridtouch (not the 2.0 we had on the last generation), giving us a softer and lighter material. The strikeskin has also been reduced and is more reminiscent of what we saw on other Predator models (adidas Predator Pulse). A model that still has the same aesthetics as the Accelerator with the adidas three stripe design and that slightly improves the few weaknesses that the old model had. The Predatorias 25 is the top of the range.

adidas Predator Moments football boot (2025)

Football boots are there for the most epic moments on the pitch, and that's what this exclusive edition of the adidas Predator is all about.

A spectacular model in the colours that represent the Predator: red and black. In addition to the corporate colours, the Predator Moments is characterised by the details that tell the story of this model. The upper features a pair of eyes. For the youngest and most unsuspecting, they are the first Predator logo ever!

The inside of the boot also features two of the most iconic goals in football history: Zidane's goal in the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen and Beckham's free-kick goal against Greece in 2001. Both, of course, with Predator at his feet.

These and many other details make this one of the most special Predators in recent years.