Looking for the best Adidas boots? Look no further.
The German brand are one of the most recognisable names around the world, boasting some of the biggest stars in their army – and they even sometimes wheel out the likes of David Beckham for new releases.
If you're simply looking for the best football boots of any and all manufacturers (including Nike, Puma, Umbro and New Balance), be sure to check out our other reviews.
But here you'll find the best Adidas football boots on the market right now...
Adidas Predator Elite (Image credit: Future)
Adidas Predator Elite
The Preds are in their renaissance and cooler than ever
As worn by: Jude Bellingham, Trent-Alexander Arnold, Alessia Russo
Reasons to buy
+
Lightweight
+
Classic design
Reasons to avoid
-
Narrow toebox
While the return of the folding tongue on the Adidas Predator Elite had many a fan reminiscing on classic Predators from years gone by, the latest model in the iconic range does not fit or feel at all like its most loved and remembered predecessors.
Instead, it's a lot more lightweight and features a synthetic upper - though the classic rubber striking elements anyone would expect from the model are still there. With Adidas' Hybridtouch 2.0, which has a suede-like feel, used on the upper, I found them comfortable almost immediately. This did, however, make them slightly narrower in the forefoot, so might not make them the best option for players with wide feet.
Of course, midfielders will still adore raking long-range passes to team-mates in these boots, but the new construction and lightweight feel to them also makes the Predator Elite great for strikers, too.
As worn by: Mohamed Salah, Rafael Leao, Gabriel Martinelli
Reasons to buy
+
As light a boot as you will find
+
Snappy, responsive soleplate
Reasons to avoid
-
Lacking in lockdown
-
Awkward bulging and creasing around boot opening
Adidas' latest release in the X line is one worthy enough to rival the Nike Mercurial as the best in class, with the lightweight and minimalistic design of the X Crazyfast+ mimicking the feeling of playing with a second skin on feet. That's thanks to the aeropacity speedskin+ implemented on the upper, which is a semi-translucent mesh material
This is then reinforced with an aerocage+ skeleton that I thought provided some additional strucutre, though it is still lacking with a barefoot sensation prioritised. Unfortunately, I wasn't a massive fan of the awkward creasing and bulging on the upper, which also felt a little bit too flimsy in areas for my liking. In turn, this meant the lockdown wasn't quite what I was expecting.
When it comes to the soleplate, though, I couldn't be more impressed. Comprised mainly of chevron studs, as well as a plastic insert running through the midfoot, there was a great snappiness about the boot that makes it one of the best on the market. Truly, it is one of the most aggressive outsoles available, which is perfect for wingers and strikers looking to speed away from defenders.
As worn by : Declan Rice, Fikayo Tomori, Bernardo Silva
Reasons to buy
+
Sleek design
+
Great touch on the ball
Reasons to avoid
-
Bulky heel area
Striking a balance between the class and tradition syonymous with the Copa name, and a boot that still features modern technologies, Adidas has created a midfielder's dream boot.
Coming in a strikingly simplistic design, the leather used on the Copa Pure 2 Elite+ makes them extremely comfortable straight out of the box, with the transition to synthetic materials towards the heel a welcome addition that shaves off some weight.
There's some great padding in the heel area, too, which is perfect for players wanting a more comfortable boot. I personally wasn't a massive fan of this aspect, though, finding there to be slightly too much bulk in this area for my liking. Under foot, though, was great, with the rounded studs providing good rotational support, with their bladed bottoms adding a little extra aggression.
With the upper made from a one-piece construction with the brand’s elasticated primeknit collar, the result is a nicely snug fit that is still accommodating enough for those with slightly wider feet, too. Defenders and midfielders are best-suited to this boot.
As worn by: Mohamed Salah, Rafael Leao, Gabriel Martinelli
Reasons to buy
+
Lightweight
+
Snappy, responsive soleplate
Reasons to avoid
-
Not as soft out of the box as other similar options
A cheaper speed boot option to the X Crazyfast+, the X Crazyfast.1 can provide a playing experience that is prefered by some due to the construction of the boot. The lockdown is markedly better thanks to the lacing system starting quite far back, allowing the boot to really hug your foot, while still using the exact same aeropacity speedskin and aerocage skeleton on the upper.
With the same aggressive soleplate and stud pattern, this boot is still perfect for pacy wingers and strikers playing on the last defender, with the traction rivaling any of the best boots on the market.
In my opinion, the Crazyfast.1 is simply a better boot when it comes to performance. The fact it's cheaper is certainly a bonus, while it still manages to offer much of the same barefoot, unrestricted connection with the ball, but in a more considered way.
As worn by: Anthony Gordon, Gabriel Jesus, Paulo Dybala
Reasons to buy
+
Lightest Predator available
+
Classic design
Reasons to avoid
-
Narrow toebox
-
Lockdown not the very best
An alternative option to the Adidas Predator Elite, the Predator Laceless takes a completely different direction through its low-cut mould and lightweight construction. I honestly thought these felt exactly the same as the laceless Adidas X Crazyfast.1 - the brand's original speed offering.
Not only is the Predator Laceless lighter, it's also sleeker, narrower and has an all-round lower profile. This, therefore, provides a more comfortable and structured alternative to the super-lightweight and thin Crazyfast range. Plus, it still comes with the iconic rubber elements Predators are so famed for.
Lockdown could have been improved, however, which can often be an issue on laceless boots. The low-profile design means that my foot didn't quite feel as secure as I would've hoped, while it's especially narrow in the toebox area. This makes the Predator Laceless less suitable for wide feet as a result.
As worn by: Davide Calabria, Fabian Ruiz, Alexis Mac Allister
Reasons to buy
+
Sleek design
+
Great touch on the ball
Reasons to avoid
-
Bulky
An elite boot worn by professionals, the Adidas Copa Pure 2.1 is a slightly cheaper option than the Copa Pure 2+ Elite, while still offering a similar experience. With a slightly more traditional fit and feel than its Copa Pure counterpart, I believe the 2.1 is more appealing to players wanting a no-thrills option.
The main difference comes in the construction of the upper, with the 2.1 featuring a 2-piece upper with a separated tongue in a ‘u-throat’ construction, making them a lot more accommodating for players with wide feet. The actual material is the same, though, with the same fusionskin technology combing natural leather and soft synthetic to create both a traditional and modernised feel.
On the soleplate, the studs are rounded at the top with a bladed bottom, making twisting and turning safer but not as aggressive as other options. There's a fair amount of bulk to the boot in the heel area, though, while the extra volume on the soleplate means they're slightly heavier than other boots available.
What I found this added, though, was comfort, with extra padding provided in the aforementioned areas. This is certainly a benefit to midfielders wanting their passes to feel more controlled, or defenders going into heavy tackles on a frequent basis.
We utilise the expertise of our testers to put each Adidas pair of football boots through their paces across several training sessions and games. Focusing on a range of key factors, such as stability, fit, comfort and feel, we put a brand's claim to the actual test through wearing the boots first-hand.
The testers are able to cut through the marketing jargon straight to the crux of the detail, with their simple yet detailed advice suitable for players of all levels.
Factors that are important to consumers will be flagged through our in-depth knowledge of the market.
How to choose the best football boots
With an array of options available, the football boot can be a minefield at times. Adidas naturally try and sell as many of their products as possible, so expect to see the brand constantly championing the latest technology that will supposedly improve every aspect of your game.
That might not be true, though, so it's down to what best suits you and your playstyle. Ultimately, it's personal preference, but there are important factors to consider when looking for your next pair...
Getting the right fit
FourFourTwo would always recommend trying pairs on physically in a shop before buying them, because finding out how they fit and feel on your feet is a crucial aspect of the process. This helps you get the perfect length and width, because some boots are narrower than others when it comes to Adidas.
This is especially important when it comes to laceless cleats, because there's even less adaptability without laces. Ultimately, though, it's all personal - so trying before buying is essential.
Styling
Once you've found a pair of football boots that fit perfectly, it's time for the fun part: choosing a colourway that best suits you. Adidas often release a vast amount of different colourways for the exact same models of football boots, so there's always something for everyone.
Whatever your personality or preference, there are likely many pairs that complement it perfectly.
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Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.
