A Classy Kind of Flashy (Adidas AdiNova Trx FG)

Member Name: Puggers

Product:	Adidas AdiNova Trx FG
Date:	28/04/09 (896 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Clean, smart design, exceptionally comfortable.

Disadvantages: May not prove as durable as more expensive versions.

Somewhere between flashy and functional, between Beckham and Beckenbauer, neither the bells-and-whistles of their Tunit range, nor the "sensible shoe" conformity of the basic equipment, Adidas' new AdiPure football boots look to cater to a kind of in-between market.

White boots have long been the preserve of those who are good enough to get away with it (or at least think they are), quick enough to get away from the kicking that is traditionally punishment for indulging in coloured footwear. With the arrival of a rainbow of eye-catching boots on footballing feet, however, times are a-changing. Compared to lime green, neon orange and day-glo pink footwear, white suddenly seems quite restrained - and Adidas seem to have attempted to reflect this with a restrained, classically-styled boot with a few low-key modern touches.

Visit the Adidas website, enter the boot room and behold the vast range of boots out there bearing the famed three stripes; hovering over each one will tell you which well-known player is proud to wear it. Steven Gerrard's feet bear Predators, Lionel Messi has a snazzy pair of Tunits - while these boots are sported by the Brazilian maestro Kaka.

Well - kind of. The above boots are dubbed AdiNova, not AdiPure. They look almost identical - so what's the difference? Well, price most obviously. Where the top-of-the-range AdiPures will set you back around £100, their ostensibly very similar siblings come in at a more reasonable £40ish (In some stores, this may come down to around £30 - try Sports Direct). Of course "reasonable" is a very relative term; if the more expensive boot is longer-lasting and more durable than the cheaper one, the cost may work out as less in the long run.

Adidas will usually do this, bringing out two or three versions of their most popular boots, catering for a range of budgets. In the past, the differences between top- and bottom-end incarnations have been noticeable, with the latter featuring the styling but not the finer details of the expensive boot. With these designs, however, there is less of an apparent demarcation; the boots are simple and straightforward, without some of the gimmicks of previous boots (the "fins" of the Predator series, for instance, used to "curl" the ball, making it move in the air after being struck). As such, there's less to leave out, and the two boots appear much the same.

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How does it look?
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Very much a "classic" look, the boots are all-white leather, with a set of black stripes on the outside of each foot, the inside faces plain. The boots feature are a simple lace-up design over a more contemporary 'wrap-around' upper boot - as there is no tongue, the leather on the inner side continues over the top, parting once to allow for lacing. They are absent of any ridges or other markings on the leather, so it's all a very clean, classy piece of foot-housing. Available with soft-ground studs, firm-ground studs and blades, the boots are fine for 3G and grass surfaces, and reasonable on astro-turf.

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How does it play?
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The new boots made their debut in a 4-1 defeat - however, playing the same team previously in my old boots, we lost 7-0; statistical proof of the four-goal difference they make! First impressions were very good - with the 'wrap-around' design of the top of the boot, the AdiNova is a snug, close fit, although there's enough 'give' in the leather that it's not constrictive. Some retailers suggest that you buy a half-size up from your normal fit to allow for this tightness, but I have naturally wide feet, and found no problems with my usual size; unless you like a particularly roomy boot, this shouldn't be an issue.

Pleasingly for new footwear, there was minimal rubbing on first wearing - save for some abrasion right at the top of the upper foot, where the tongue would be, there was no discomfort. Continuing use of the boots has been similarly trouble-free and thus far tough-wearing - the pair seem to strike a good balance between being lightweight enough for speed, comfortable enough for regular wear and sufficiently well-built to withstand the knocks and strains that go with football.

The clean, simple design of the boot is a factor practically as well as aesthetically. Free of gimmicks and adornments, the AdiNova has a large, smooth striking area on every surface. After years of wearing Predators and getting used to the ridges along the instep, this simpler boot was a slightly different experience - one tends to get a consistently good, clean strike, although I found my touch was slightly heavier. This may, though, be something which improves as I get used to the boot, and is likely more a reflection of my own deficiencies than any weaknesses in the product.

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How does it compare?
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On the whole, then, I'm very impressed with the AdiNova - so how does it compare to its more expensive sibling? My experiences are limited insomuch as I only own the cheaper pair, although prior to buying them, I tried out both, and have previously only owned top-of-the-range Adidas boots - so I can look fairly generally at both sides.

As alluded to earlier, there are normal apparent differences between the 'proper' boots and their more affordable counterparts - the latter tend to be a bit plasticky and lack key features. However, in neither case is this true of the AdiNova. The main difference here is in the type of leather used - the top-range boots feature Kangaroo leather, which seems to be a little softer and more pliable; it is also said to be stronger than other leathers. Other than this, there are only a few cosmetic contrasts; an engraved metal stud one of these, the kind of thing unlikely to affect performance.

In terms of whether the full-priced boot is worth it - I suppose it's all relative to one's needs, demands and budget. If you can afford the pricier boot, it's probably worth it; doubtless it's a better boot and should last longer, although I'm not sure it merits a £60-70 difference. The cheaper boot, the AdiNova, is a more than adequate alternative to paying top-dollar, and makes for a piece of stylish, comfortable footwear that's an excellent all-rounder. For all that, though, it's still a white boot. So you may yet get kicked; invest in some decent shin-pads as well.

Summary: A restrained, toned-down all-rounder of a boot.