adidas Nitrocharge 1.0 Fg, Men’s Football Boots

Product Information

After having a chance to wear the NitroCharge 1.0 for a few weeks, we’re certainly impressed with what seems to be one of adidas’ best all-around boot launches in quite some time. When a brand as big as adidas decides to shake things up by bringing in a new silo, it’s hard not to sit up and take notice. The Nitrocharge boot is noticeably heavier than adidas' F50 adiZero (which comes in at 165 grams) but it is by no means heavy. The SPRINTFRAME outsole with its clever engineering, use of molded nylon, and hollow studs helps keep the weight figure down while the mesh half of the upper helps serve that purpose as well. The outsole is also noticeably stiffer than the F50 and the adiPower Predator before it. An ultra light adidas SprintFrame outsole with a triangular Traxion 2.0 stud configuration provides these football boots with maximum traction and acceleration on artificial grass. Attention Wide-Footed Players: You’re going to want to listen up, here: If you’re wondering whether the NitroCharge will stretch to accomodate your hooves, the answer is basically no.

Seeing as I am a more offensively minded player, I have been sitting on this review for a longer period than I normally would, in an effort to really get a feel for how they perform over time and in an extended period of play. The mesh midfoot and quarter will break in and stretch with no qualms, whilst the rubber EnergySling and uninterrupted KangaTouch give the Nitro‘s the most suitable fits of all adidas’ boots for players with wide feet.As for the break in, they got me through 90 minutes the day they came in with no complaints, so they’re definitely a boot which can go from the box to the pitch without any major concerns. In the forefoot, you’ll find adidas’ HybridTouch – adidas premier synthetic leather. HybridTouch has become a favourite since debuting on the Predator LZ, demonstrating leather-like grain and softness but with great shape retention, malleability and water-resistance. The EnergyPulse Does Soften Up– One of the main concerns we highlight in the video is that the adidas NitroCharge 1.0‘s new EnergyPulse in the forefoot is a little rigid out the box.

The miCoach compatibility is a nice value add if you already have a Speed Cell, but not enough to make a difference to the score. The real benefit, in my opinion, is the dampening provided by the rubber. In similar fashion to a suspension system, rubber actually soaks in energy and reduces the amount of vibration. What you get is a more smooth and comfortable ride without unnecessary movement. This is something I definitely noticed as the boots seem to really sit closer to your feet right through wear. Compared to other boots, there is a difference, even if it is very minimal. The midfoot and quarter of the adidas NitroCharge 1.0 is a performance mesh that’s very similar to something you might find on a running shoe. Performance wise, the changes build on the key features of the first generation. The‘EnergySling’ (the rubber material that stretches across the top of the boot) has undergone the most significant change. The original material has been replaced with a stiffer rubber to increase the stability across themid-footand offer better protection. The band has also been extended in width by approximately one inch while the angle is now perpendicular to the shape of the boot. The extra space attributed to this feature has given adidas the ability toincorporate an extra lace eyelet on the offside of each boot, allowing for a tighter fitthat the previous model. Even with a pretty consistent base, Adidas has modified several key elements of these boots to really differentiate them from other releases, and in turn that has affected how they break in. For example, the soleplate is the same one used on all other modern Adidas releases – except this one features EnergyPulse technology built into the sole. Its purpose is to provide rebound (you can read more about that in the section below) but it starts out extremely stiff. Bending the boots actually proves extremely difficult to do and that transcends into play. It took a few wears before they loosened up to a more natural state, but even at that they still help a stiff feel that Adidas has intended.

BREAK IN and FIT

Between those points and the video, that probably covers most of our first impressions on the adidas NitroCharge 1.0. As with the Predator LZ, adidas have also utilised the creative freedom that comes with working on a synthetic, creating a modular pattern that is a running theme through the NitroCharge 1.0.

Think less what adidas are saying about ‘energy retention’, and think more about one-to-one movement between foot and boot when making planting, turning and cutting-in on one or both feet – that’s what the NitroCharge is really all about. The Adidas Nitrocharge 2.0, is the mid-tier release in the Nitrocharge silo. The concept itself should be up for innovation of the year in the soccer world in my opinion. Thanks to the boss (cheers boss), I’ve been closing out the outdoor season up here in the Great White North in them.The upper used on the new model ispredominately the samefantastically soft mesh we saw on the first editions, however on this boot adidas have used even more of it.The Hybridtouch instep that was previously used in behind the EnergySling has been replaced with this lightweight mesh material with the three stripes now rising to the top of the boot. Hybridtouch has also been removed from the tongue which is nowentirelyconstructed from mesh. Weight wise, there’s no real difference between new and old,with both models tipping the scales at approx 235g. My only real concern lies with the soleplate and the addition of EnergyPulse. It could be that I don’t quite understand or need its inclusion as a winger, but the stiff feel out of the box really set a negative tone in that area. If you consider yourself to be part of the Engine category, let me know below if you agree or disagree that it is a feature you need. Given that the Nitrocharge silo is designed for the player who is “the engine” of a soccer team and given that the boot I was testing is the second tier release (falls under the category: Economical), I was curious if the boot would be “the economy engine”. It’s a rare and welcome occasion when a brand launch an all-new silo, so it’s with great pleasure we can finally reveal the adidas NitroCharge 1.0!