Shifting up a gear to redefine fast in football for the 21/22 season, adidas launch the X Speedflow, which is designed to support key speed states in the modern game: instant acceleration, agility and instinct.
Last year, adidas launched the X Ghosted, a light-weight boot that reflects fast football, enabling and promoting next-level speed on the pitch. Following on from this Adidas listened to athletes and amateurs alike on how the boot could be improved. Taking these insights into account they created the X Speedflow, which will be worn by some of the world’s fastest players including Lionel Messi – who returns to the speed franchise for the first time since 2015 – Mohamed Salah, Lindsey Horan, Heung-Min Son, Karim Benzema and Vivianne Miedema.
Despite this being the official launch of the X Speedflow, it’s not the first we’ve seen of it, with the aforementioned Messi debuting his own signature version as Argentina claimed the Copa America, and Messi the player of the tournament accolade at the same time. But this is the first standard X Speedflow launch, which arrives in a vibrant red colourway that will heralds a wider pack release.
So lifting the hood of the X Speedflow and we see the introduction of a new Engineered Agility Frame. Connecting player to boot, the lattice structure is engineered to wrap around the foot, providing lockdown and stability in every direction, whilst being as minimal and lightweight as possible.
The outsole still boasts that lightweight Carbitex Speedframe for instant transmission of power. Rounding off the newly introduced technology, a Engineered lightweight Primeknit upper provides an adaptive fit. The Primeknit upper is the lightest-to-date on a football boot, designed to adapt to the player’s foot. This combines with a new Primeknit Speed Collar for further enhanced lockdown fit for zero distraction.
Informed by direct feedback from adidas athletes, the new boot retains a Sprint Spike Last foundation, engineered for an optimised vacuum fit, characterised by a unique sound when placed on the foot. The team behind the product also considered feedback around the desire for a slightly softer heel for further improved comfort, resulting in a new engineered heel construction and an anti-slip heel lining created from softer, more comfortable materials.
As with previous iterations, there's the laceless '+' version along with the laced '.1' option, with both packed with the same innovation. Simple choice of if you like laces or not.
“X GHOSTED was a major breakthrough for us in helping players unlock new levels of linear speed,” said Ben Herath, VP Design, adidas Football. “But through our research when developing the next iteration of adidas’ fastest football boot, the team were led by this idea of merging the physical and mental. So, we’ve combined the very best in adidas performance technology with a deep understanding of the speed needs of the modern game – X Speedflow supports instant speed, radical agility and instinct with the aim of creating the space for players to reach a true state of ‘flow’”.
Pick up the adidas X Speedflow at prodirectsoccer.com
