adidas Ace 15.1

The ACE 15.1 from adidas. Viewed by many as the boot that replaced the extremely loved Predator. I think that is giving off a vibe that this is going to be a direct replacement to the Pred, but the Ace is its own boot that many are missing out on. The first pictures of the Ace surfaced over the summer and honestly, I was not a huge fan of the look. It looked heavy, strange, and disappointing. But after awhile, I decided to give these a shot after reviewing the X 15. Once I opened that adidas box to take a peek at was inside, I knew this boot was a winner.

The Look

This cleat has been given a ton of different colorways in its short lifespan and I can’t say that I dislike any of them. I have the Ace in the launch colorway and it looks better in person than online. No matter what colors the adidas team decides to splash on the Ace next, it will look stunning. If I had to choose a pair to wear right now, I would grab the Eskolaite Pack colorway. Talk about shiny new boots.

The Touch

adidas Ace 15.1 upper

Let’s start with the upper, shall we? The brand new three-layered, 3D design upper is perfect for the player who enjoys controlling the ball with the same feel from one side of the foot to the other. Adidas are calling this upper their new Control Web upper. I reviewed the Magista Opus last summer and I started comparing the uppers in my hand and on feet. You will get a cushioned feel while also being closer to the ball than you think you will. You get the best of both worlds while striking with that “pingy” sensation as well as feeling cushioned enough where you won’t feel the sting as much. The NSG (Non-Stop Grip) dots that are found on the outer layer of the upper help in adding a bit of extra grip when it is rainy or just a wet surface. I found myself preferring the Ace upper to the Opus’ because of the NSG and the more padded sensation I felt while testing.

A feature that I really like in cleats is the lacing system pushed to the outside of the foot to give a larger striking area. As a striker, I love having a large zone to pass and strike the ball any way that I need without going through the laces. A smaller feature that I wish more boots included is the NSG on the tongue. This keeps grippy elements exactly where you will control the ball. This is not something that you will necessarily notice but I like the concept from adidas.

adidas ACE outsole

Moving back to the heel, you’ll notice a thick heel counter that not only helps keep you locked in the boot when the laces are pulled tight but also gives more protection from tackles. The soleplate has had everyone talking ever since the pictures showed a crazy new look. The FG/AG stud pattern is called the Ground Control system. I tested these on FG as well as AG surfaces for you all and this feels perfect on both. If you are a player who plays on both FG and AG on a regular basis, this might by the boot for you so that you don’t have to buy two different cleats.

The Ace will not weigh you down while playing which is a concern of a lot of potential Ace buyers. The boot weighs about 9 ounces so it will not be extremely light but is a good weight for a control boot. I tested these about 2-3 times a day for 3 weeks and can not find a single durability issue. The comfort has not changed from the first time I put these on. I really tried hard to find something I did not liked about the Ace and I can only say that it was stiff right out of the box but once you break in the cleat, it softens up and becomes nice and soft. I can say as of right now, I would pick these over the X 15.

The Feel

The Ace is rather stiff when you first pull them onto your feet so at first I was a bit skeptical as to how they would perform. After a few sessions, I noticed how quickly the upper softened up and really felt closer to my foot. It is not going to feel paper thin or feel like a speed boot but is much like a Predator in that is not too thick and not too thin. Comfort issues were non-existent for me as the Ace is wide enough for most foot types. If you have overly wide feet then I would suggest looking at the leather option, as it will offer more stretch.

Bang For Your Buck

The regular Ace 15.1 comes in at $220, just like the X and Messi cleats from adidas. If you are looking at the Primeknit version then you will have to pay a higher price since it is a special release ($275). With the top Nike boots retailing at $275 and the other higher end Nike cleats retailing at $200, I think these are well priced. If adidas were to release these under the $200 mark, I think everyone would purchase the Ace or X over a Nike cleat. Especially if you catch these on sale, like they are over at SoccerPro.com, I would highly recommend these for any player.

Who’s Wearing It?

Ozil with adidas ACE

Plenty of professionals are going with the Ace. This being the Control boot from adidas, you’ll see mostly players of that sensibility in these. Mesut Özil, Ivan Rakitic, and Manuel Neuer are among the many pros wearing colorways of the Ace.

The Verdict

Blue adidas ACE 15.1

The Ace is without a doubt one of the best cleats available on the market today. With the technology implemented as well as the comfort you are able to receive, I can’t help but give the Ace 15.1 a high rating. The Ace did feel stiff when I first slipped them on but after a few hours of breaking them in, they softened up and felt fantastic on feet. If you have been a fan of the Predator lineup and especially found the Instinct to be a favorite, then check out the Ace. In my opinion it is a nice cleat that deserves recognition. It’s the prefect cleat to control the match with no matter where you play on field.

Sizing: Runs True to Size

4.5 / 5 stars     
 

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