Laced Up | adidas Nitrocharge 1.0 Review
Hankering after a fresh pair of boots in time for the new season? Then chances are you've already flirted with the idea of eating into next months pay cheque in exchange for the adidas Nitrocharge. But are adidas' bright blue boots worthy of the hype? We recently slipped them on to find out.
This year adidas have injected some fresh blood into their boot stable. They know how to make an exciting new boot model - always have done and hopefully always will. The adidas Nitrocharge is a hard-hitting blend of innovation and style with a tough build that makes them appealing to every position on the park.
Getting behind the wheels of the Nitrocharge you immediately realise what adidas have gone for. They're big, bold and feel like they pack some serious horsepower. After all, the adidas Nitrocharge is built for "the engine" player who requires a powerful boot at the heart of his game. If you're a tough-tackling centre mid, adidas might have just built your perfect boot.
With the Nitrocharge on, one of the first things you become aware of is the impressive fit. The adidas Nitrocharge is built to offer an adaptive fit which makes them easy to break in, but don't bet on them stretching out much - high shape retention properties mean they wont be best suited to wide-footed players. The padded forefoot, mesh midfoot and rigid heel support combine to create an extremely comfortable and secure fitting boot that fills you with confidence.
When it comes to fit, you feel the worth of the ENERGYSLING immediately. The high-elasticity rubber band provides an assured fit and gives you real confidence during those sharp cutting movements. We all know that feeling of having your foot slip around inside a boot. The ENERGYSLING is here to stop that and does an excellent job at giving you assured stability.
The forefoot upper of the adidas Nitrocharge incorporated adidas' famed Hybridtouch material - a supper soft synthetic leather that offers superb shape retention and high water resistance. The super soft Hybridtouch material is nearly indistinguishable from the brilliant Taurus leather used on the 11pro series.
With such a soft upper, finding your touch isn't difficult. The padded forefoot and coarse textures used across the boot provide an excellent feel for the ball. Perfect for when you need to kill a high one or set yourself for a pass or shot.
The Nitrocharge makes passing the ball a joy. Whatever technique you're using to send the ball from A to B, you'll feel more confident at delivering higher levels of consistency. The grippy texture of the ENERGYSLING offers moderately enhanced control properties for when you're looking to switch play or deliver that killer ball over the top.
When shooting, the adidas Nitrocharge really packs a punch. With the ENERGYSLING and the padded forefoot, the boots provide a surprisingly large sweet spot when striking the ball. The instep allows you to caress the ball when going for that finesse shot or when you're looking to maximise the amount of curve.
The ball really does fly off this boot. So much so that it might be a case of 'taming the beast'. There will be occasions when you connect too well with the ball, so you will need to re-tune when necessary, whether that's taking a bit off the pass of keeping your shot that extra bit lower.
The second main feature of the adidas Nitrocharge is the ENERGYPULSE system. The technology is designed to provide optimal energy return during the toe-off phase, distributing your weight and energy to where it needs to be. Don't bank on it increasing your stamina levels, but it will make the boots more comfortable in the later stages of a game. The technology was noticeably responsive during strenuous, fast-paced exercises.
Functionality aside, where do we sit on the styling? They might not be to everyone's taste, but we've grown to love the look of the adidas Nitrocharge - they're one of our favourite looking adidas boots of recent seasons. The bright yellow ENERGYSLING might be a deal breaker for some, but not us. The colours compliment each other, the black sprint frame on the heel looks professional and we all love the adidas three stripes.
Summary: A good-looking, adrenaline-charged powerhouse and an overall impressive boot that's built to last. If you're considering a new pair for this season, have a long, hard look at the adidas Nitrocharge. The best adidas boot since the adiPower Predator, quite possibly longer. Let us know what you think and if you'll be bagging a pair.
