adidas ‘Predator’ football boots (1994)
On the occasion of the World Cup in the United States, the German brand launched a new model of boot. The main feature was the toe cap, which was covered with rubber to enhance the strike, thus giving birth to the ‘Predator element’. It became popular thanks to young footballers, David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane, who chose to wear them during their matches. Thanks to this element, combined with the kangaroo leather and an optimal fit, these boots broke the mould at the time.
adidas Predator ‘Rapier’ football boots (1995)
Without major structural changes, and reinforcing the ‘Predator element’ concept we were talking about, Adidas continues the evolution of this silo with a subtle but vital detail: a reversible tongue appears, which will later become the symbol of Predator.
adidas Predator ‘Touch’ football boots (1996)
In 1996 Adidas continued to evolve this model. It incorporates a slight redesign in the upper part and at the same time, it marks the tongue more and more, making them the main novelty of a model that continues with the same style, but that in spite of this, it introduces laminated studs for the first time. This was something that was rarely seen, as at that time conical studs prevailed.
adidas Predator ‘Accelerator’ football boots (1998)
With the 1998 World Cup in France came one of the favourite models of many: the ‘Predator Accelerator’. The fantastic combination of rubber and leather delighted the players, the redesigned upper with the elongated Adidas lines and the 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 arrived, the ‘Precision’. This time it featured interchangeable studs, 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)
Again, in 2002, Predator arrived 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 moved only to the maximum strike zone, and the boot became a bit more streamlined. Despite these new features, and a fantastic sole with laminated studs for grip, the key aesthetic detail of this boot was the tongue.
It was a David Beckham hallmark, which thanks to this and his spectacular look made Predator Mania one of the all-time favourites.
adidas Predator ‘Pulse’ football boots (2004)
In 2004, with the Euro Cup in Portugal, the Predator Pulse arrived. These 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 centre of gravity of the boot closer to the point of impact, which gave more power in the shots. In the sole, the most significant change is that the replaceable studs of the SG sole are no longer screw studs but clip studs, eliminating the problems of the previous system.
adidas Predator ‘Absolute’ football boots (2006)
Coinciding again with another sporting event, this time the World Cup in Germany, in 2006 Adidas brings us the Predator Absolute. With a slightly smaller tongue but again as the hallmark of the silo, this model seeks to give a new twist. It visibly adds the ‘power pulse’ on the outsole, giving the possibility of using two insoles, one lighter and one heavier. The reinforced heel also stands out, giving more grip and fixation in that area.
adidas Predator ‘Power Swerve’ football boots (2008)
In 2008, with pleasant memories for the Spaniards after winning the European Championship in Austria and Switzerland, the Predator silo returns to its origins with the Predator Power Swerve, a model that continues with its predecessor, but with an aesthetic more similar to the previous models.
adidas Predator ‘X’ football boots (2010)
The Predator X arrives. This is the tenth version of the Predator, with a complete revolution and a total redesign adapted to the times. In 2010, at the World Cup in South Africa and with the fantastic memory of all the 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 with no tongue at all, new Taurus leather, and PowerSpine Technology. This system consisted of a spine in the centre of the outsole that allows the boot to flex but never to extend and lose energy in the strike, as well as avoiding unnecessary twisting. All these features made this boot one of the most pleasant to remember.
adidas Predator ‘Adipower’ football boots (2011)
A year later, Adidas launches the Predator Adipower, evolving again this silo to have two key areas: the classic striking area that mixes Taurus leather and the aforementioned predator element and another one more adapted to the fastening and adjustment to give speed, accompanied by the Sprintframe outsole, inherited from the F50 model. This sole reduces the weight by 25%, thus achieving a boot that perfectly combines the concepts of lightness and reinforcement of the strike. As a detail it is worth mentioning that there is also a special model for David Beckham, in synthetic leather and in 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 its name). These are achieved thanks to a kind of rough gel that is distributed throughout these marked and differentiated zones, enhancing the touch and strike with each one of them. In the outsole we find the traxion 2.0 outsole with triad studs and a pibotation stud (the Powerspint disappears). Finally, it adds a very light sole that as a detail includes the cavity for the Micoach, a training and match monitoring device, revolutionary for that moment.
adidas Predator ‘Instinct’ football boots (2014)
In 2014 the latest Predator called Instinct was born. For the upper, we have the Hybrid touch, a synthetic material that imitates the properties of natural leather, and gets a great touch with the ball. In addition to this, the spirit of the Lethal Zones is maintained, integrating the striking elements in the different necessary zones and achieving more effect in the shots. On the outsole, we can see the Control Frame, a modification of all the edges on the base of the outsole that favours the controls thanks to its relief design. The colours are also studied being 50% of one and 50% of the other, and unifying the design with the Adidas motto: ‘all or nothing’.
May 25th 2015 marked 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 the anniversaries or remembering special moments, from the most recent Beckham pack, to the Mania or the Accelerator this year, and even the Revenge Pack in 2014 on the 20th anniversary of this football boot. Luckily for all the lovers of this fantastic silo, 2017 arrived and friends and friends adidas Predator was back.
adidas Predator football boots
adidas Predator ‘18+’ Football Boots (2017)
The german brand after a few years with adidas Ace as a touch or control boot, decided to bring back the adidas Predator concept applied 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 Predator. In addition, the outsole, recovered the essence, with more aggressive studs and a harder and more powerful flexion arch, which took us back to the pure essence of adidas Predator. Without a doubt, Predator was back.
adidas Predator ‘19+’ football boots (2018)
A year after the return of one of the most emblematic silos of the German brand, it has undergone a slight re-styling. On a technical level, a new mix of colours is introduced in the ‘Controlskin’, which gives shape to the upper, and adding new ‘scales’ in the heel area, reminiscent of old Predator models. The outsole is exactly the same, including Boost technology for the laceless model. It was a continuist generation and we still saw some traces of the past adidas Ace in this model.
adidas Predator ‘Mutator’ football boots (2020)
The year 2020 arrived and the German brand gave us back one of those Predators that we love, one of those that are really crazy no matter where you look at them, they had simply done it again. All the essence of the initial Predator has been recovered and the ‘Demonskin’ has been shaped, with spikes all over the area of the upper that comes in contact with the ball, giving us a grip from another planet. The touch and ball control with this new technology was formidable and the Primeknit was maintained as a technology to create the base of the boot, which although it was a bit harder than in the last generation, it gave us that feeling of reinforcement that improved a lot. A boot that recovered everything that is adidas Predator.
adidas Predator ‘Freak’ football boots (2021)
A new year, we have a Predator re-styling and adidas presents the current Predator. The new adidas Predator Freak, keeps the base of the last generation with an aggressive outsole and a reinforced Primkenit. The key modification comes with the new version of the Demonskin, with spikes that are reduced in quantity but expand over the framework, even reaching the knit area, which is also modified and grows up to the upper heel area. 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 power as the differential point of this boot.
It also introduces a new element in the sole, which is a continuist design, but it has the Powerfacet, which is the diamond we see in the front part that adds weight to the boot, so that each strike has all the power we have in our foot.
Quite a change to bring us a new adidas Predator, which just like in the last generation has all the elements of a true Predator.
Since it was born in 1994 we have seen a constant evolution with the aim of being at the forefront in terms of technologies that favour contact with the ball. That philosophy is still present in the new adidas Predator Accuracy football boots, the latest creation of the brand with the three stripes that, without any doubt, improves its predecessor Predator Edge.
Let's start talking about the upper and the material it is made of. This is the Hybrid Touch, a synthetic compound that we have seen before in other boots from the german brand, and this time it will be in charge of maximising the comfort of everyone who gives a chance to the new adidas Predator Accuracy football boots, the 19th generation of this silo. But... What would Predator be without its Predator Element? This is the technology that every year has a different name but always with the same objective, to maximise the ball striking and increase comfort when we strike the ball. In these new adidas football boots it is called High Definition Grip and it is composed of two densities. Kicking Zone is the first one and it is located in the inner part of the boot with the aim of favouring the strike. On the other hand, we have Dribbling Zone which, located on the outside and with a lower density, has the objective of increasing the grip when driving the ball.
Finally we will talk about the only element that these adidas Predator Accuracy football boots inherit from their predecessors. The plate is still the FACETFRAME, exactly the same that we had in the Edge, so the brand decided that it wasn't the right time to create a new outsole for their flagship silo.
adidas Predator 24 football boot (2023)
The boot was presented at the end of 2023, almost coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the silo's launch (1994), adidas simply pulled off a real bombshell. The return of the tongue, the redesign of the upper and the return to a much more ‘manic’ aesthetic, completely hit the nail on the head, in a model that was a success no matter how you look at it.
The new upper gives us a very matte feel with the ball and the ‘predstrike’ or predator element comes back with that grip and full strike sensation that we love and has been the signature of predator for many years. Clearly inspired by the adidas Predator Mania, both the strikeskin and the tongue bring us those punching boot sensations, comfortable and with an outsole that gives us that perfect traction without losing stability.
A great boot that has been a real delight and has once again made predator one of the best boots on the market.
adidas Predator 25 football boot (2024)
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 presented us with this small redesign of the adidas Predator 30 anniversary, which slightly improves what we already had, and fulfils a football maxim which is that when something works, don't change it.
The upper is modified and goes back to the normal Hybridtouch (not the 2.0 we had in the last generation) and gives us a softer and lighter material. Also the strikeskin is reduced and reminds us more of what we saw in other Predator models (adidas Predator Pulse). A model that still has the same aesthetics as the accelerator with the adidas three stripes design and that slightly improves the few weak points that the old model had. Predatorias 25, is at the top.
That's it so far for all the Predators in history, a silo that is undoubtedly football heritage.
Leave us your comments and tell us which one was your favourite!
