Now Available at Upper 90 

From the very first glance adidas’ brand new X 15.1 is like nothing the three stripes has ever put out before… It’s not Nitrocharge or 11pro, it’s close, but not quite F50. When they said they wanted a football revolution, this is surely what they were talking about! After talking to their top pro players and coaches, Pep Guardiola is specifically mentioned, Adidas honed in on creating boots for the two types of players found in the modern game: those who control the flow, pace, and feel of the game; and those who break it open with moments of sheer audacity, brilliance, and chaos. X 15.1 is for that second type of player. The unpredictable, anarchic, quick, somewhat reckless, and frankly a little crazy type of player. They are always looking to take defenders on and make something happen with the ball. The X player is one looking for the newest and freshest ideas, technology, and materials in a boot, anything to help them influence the game and take things to the next level.

 

Adidas has created an all new upper material for the X 15.1. It’s a 3 layer construction, and the soft, lightweight, seamless nature of the components lend the upper its name: X-Skin. A synthetic suede lining provides a supple fit, soft against the foot for maximum comfort. Next is an engineered base, the heart of what makes X-Skin work. A thin, slightly stretchy microfiber, this tailored middle layer delivers a close to the ball feel. It moves with the foot to allow for maximum agility and no distractions. Layered over top of the entire upper is adi’s new Non-Stop Grip technology. NSG is a thin, transparent polyurethane coating which protects the shoe from water and dirt, while micro-dots also contribute to better control in wet conditions. One striking feature of the upper is the techfit collar, another brand new innovation from adidas. Made with adidas’ compression fabric, it is designed to offer a sock-like fit and create a better bond between the foot and the shoe. Unlike the Nike shoes featuring their Dynamic Fit Collar, the X is not a mid-cut shoe. The collar compresses just around the lower part of the ankle and top of the foot, creating a seamless and snug fit for the whole foot.

     

With an upper material as flexible as X-Skin, there is a tendency towards instability. To address this issue, adidas created a support layer throughout the midfoot called X-Cage. A super-thin, lightweight support system, the X-Cage, along with the central lacing system, keeps the foot locked on top of the outsole and provides support and responsiveness in side-to-side movement. The lateral and medial sides of the cage are independent from one another and designed to allow the shoe to react at the same time that the wearer does.

Adidas was very focused on creating a boot that allowed for maximum agility. A large part of how that was achieved in the end is found in the X-Claw outsole. Adidas has called this outsole the most aggressive and progressive they have ever produced. The main studs are somewhat L shaped, which in the testing adidas did provided the most balanced and constant traction. This shape, adidas found, is also the best shape for creating the next movement, meaning it works very well during quick cuts and changes of direction. To reduce weight, there are cutouts in the TPU soleplate, making this one of the lightest and fastest outsoles adidas has constructed to date. Across the midfoot and under the big toe are smaller, concentrated studs for additional grip as well as added underfoot control of the ball.

The goal of the adidas football revolution was to shake up their footwear line-up. The X 15.1 is the most extreme example of what adidas was trying to achieve. All new technology and materials, a never-before-seen silhouette, and a fresh idea about the game and the types of players who play it. Built for chaos, and those who seek it out. Come by one of our retail locations to check them out and try them on, or buy them online here:

www.u90soccer.com/adidas-x.html