adidas Primeknit Boost 2.0

Adidas introduced its first knitted upper indoor soccer shoe with the Primeknit Boost 2.0. Small-sided soccer has been growing in North America over the past decade. Whether it is the rise of futsal or the winter tradition of arena soccer, both games are beginning to run yearlong leagues throughout the continent.

The main feature of this boot is the Primeknit upper. This Boost 2.0 version uses the exact same knitted material that is used on the Primeknit 2.0 firm ground boot. In the first generation of the material, adidas left the knitted material exposed. While forming the boot, they would heat plastic applications that were sewn together with the knitting to create a stable upper structure across the more utilized areas of the boot.

Now, with the Primeknit 2.0, adidas has covered the entire upper with vacuumed coated outer skin to protect the upper while providing a consistence texture to the upper. The knitted upper remains thin, but now has structure, thanks to the outer skin. Whether I was playing with a futsal ball or and normal size 5 match ball, the ball felt soft on the Primeknit upper and the control was impressive.

adidas Primeknit Boost indoor

When you first slip on the Primeknit Boost 2.0, you feel a snug compression-like fit thanks to the Lyrca synthetic fiber knitting that is used in the newest generation of the Primeknit. The synthetic heel liner secures the heel, while an added synthetic application on the underside of the tongue also keeps the mid foot from sliding back and forth. The anatomical heel cup of the Primeknit has an iconic heel pull that extends from the top and it is certainly needed to slip into the shoe until you break it in.

After over a dozen hours of play in these shoes I feel more attached to this pair than I have been to other indoor versions of the past. Adidas implemented their Boost technology extremely easily to their indoor/street soccer line this winter with the Freefootball Boost. With that success adidas took their Boost technology and combined it with their Primeknit upper to give us one of the most advanced indoor boots.

Outsole of Primeknit Boost

One of the hardest things to implement into an indoor shoe is the ability for one to play underneath the ball. Adidas struck a great balance between usefulness and excessiveness with their Boost technology. Older iterations of soccer shoes that have tried to introduce cross-platform midsoles to indoor shoes with a lesser degree of success. I tested this shoe on multiple indoor surfaces: field turf, hard rubber & on a wood court. On all of those surfaces I was able to easily play underneath the ball while utilizing the Boost technology, which was one of my most immediate concerns.

The Boost technology maintained an overall positive comfort level. Stress levels on your foot begin after about an after of stop/start action on hard surfaces like rubber and wood court. I did not experience these sensations as much as I have in the past. I didn’t have any second thoughts about my footing or experience any missteps during play due to the shoes.

The biggest improvements adidas could make going forward with the next generation: relieving the protective film and offering more colorways. The only appearance that the knitting makes without the protective film covering is on the inside of the shoe. When someone pays for a premium shoe, that added feel of pure knitted material would increase the value. That said, I am not sure a purely knitted upper would make as stable and secure of a soccer shoe as this. The Primeknit is a limited release, which doesn’t leave us with a lot of color options. The colorway of this shoe is very striking in a good way on the field, however vibrant indoor shoes are difficult to wear day-to-day.

The shoe ran true to size for myself. I have narrow feet, but had to loosen the laces at times because the fit was at times too secure. If you have wider feet, I would definitely try on a pair before you make your purchase.

Primeknit Boost indoor shoes

The adidas Primeknit Boost 2.0 represents a positive shift towards higher-end indoor shoes for the indoor game. The classic adidas Samba shoe has long been a tradition in the indoor. In recent years Adidas has begun to offer more modern mid-class indoor shoes, like the Freefootball SpeedTrick and TopSala.

I was extremely impressed with their work on the Primeknit Boost 2.0. If you are like me and have begun to play indoor soccer almost more than outdoors, then this is certainly a shoe that you should look into getting. This boot will not last on the market very long as the Primeknit Boost 2.0 is a limited release, so go grab them now!

 

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