Fifty years ago, they probably thought we’d be using rocket boosters to get around quickly. We don’t have them. But what we do have is the X19+ boots that are ‘made for speed.’ So, are they the real deal or will you have to suffer months of memes in the Whatsapp group about how you got paced by the oldest or ‘curviest’ guy on the pitch?
Are Adidas’ X19+ football boots worth buying?
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Appearance – 8/10
Adidas X19+ football boots – bottom view
It’s perhaps a testament to the design of these models that the four different colourways Adidas is offering these in each give the boot a distinctively different look. ‘Duh, the colours are different so of course they’re going to look different,’ I hear you say, and it’s a good point. But it’s not just that. Each colour brings a completely different feel to the boot.
The red and silver boot pays homage to the classic Predator Fusion boots – similar to the 19.1s. The grey colour makes it look far more modern and simplistic. The blue with the gold underlay makes them seem like a pair of boots with prestige, while the light blue colourway just looks beautiful.
As for the look of the style of the X19s, the contoured lines give them a bit of dynamism – which is probably what Adidas was going for given their emphasis on speed. It certainly challenges the Puma EvoSpeed Fresh boots.
The blue and grey colour schemes are a particular favourite of ours, but credit must be given for the variety of style portrayed solely by using differing colours. If we were just reviewing the blue version of these boots, looks would be an easy ten but the others – as good as they still look – just don’t match it.
Style – 6/10
Adidas X19+ football boots – side view
It took us a while to be sure, but after hours of double, triple and quadruple-checking, we confirmed that these X19+s are in fact laceless. For you more eagle-eyed among us, you may have noticed sooner, but before the criticism comes our way, just think for a second. How many boots use the term ‘laceless’ as a way to ‘sexify’ the boot up a bit. Laceless means there are no laces, but too many boots have the word thrown into the description willy nilly when the laces are present, but just tucked underneath a tongue. This is not good enough! Anyway, the laceless style here actually is laceless, and it suits the boot well.
Another aspect of the boot’s style is the increasingly more common ‘v-shape’ ankle. As it is, the boot seems narrow, and the sharp ankle collar adds to this. It’s just to heighten the lock-in effect, but the narrower-type boot doesn’t quite look as good as the more traditional open-ankle boots.
Features – 7/10
Adidas X19+ football boots – back view
Although these X19+s have multiple features, they all centre on two aspects of play that Adidas are looking to specifically advance; speed and control.
The laceless feature tailors to both of these aspects. We’re not saying that laces are weighing boots down, but removing them removes the need for a tongue, which both will ultimately help to give the boots a lightweight feel. Light feel = being able to run quicker. That’s the theory anyway. What’s more though, is that there are no laces to interfere with shots or passes.
As we mentioned earlier, the low-cut Clawcollar is another distinctive feature that goes a long way to defining the boot. It’s one of those that makes it a bit of a squeeze to get your foot into them, but once it has made it through the tight gap, it’s rewarded with immense comfort and a lock-in effect that ensures stability when striking the ball.
The Ultralight X-layskin upper is designed, unsurprisingly by the name, to be ultralight. This again plays towards creating a lightweight boot that gives you the best platform to optimise your running to reach your highest speed. Similarly, the Ultralight Speedframe is designed to be light but also enhance acceleration. With concentrated, circular studs at the rear, it gives you the stability to push off from your heels and accelerate into a sprint.
Another feature that helps with the acceleration is the 3D heel. Not to be too critical, but aren’t all heels 3D on football boots? I would struggle to play with a 2D one. Anyway, perhaps a better term for it is a reinforced heel. It’s stronger and aims to provide additional support from the rear of the foot – again in order to push off from.
Value for money 6/10
At over £200 (£229.99 at the time of writing), we’d be lying if we said these bad boys were cheap. But think of these as the Harry Maguire of football boots; you know what you’re getting with them, they cost an awful lot but they still are great boots – especially when comparing what else is available at similar prices.
Pro advocates – 8/10
These are very new releases, so our scouts are yet to detect the players donning the X19+ boots, but an array of players wore its predecessor – X18.
Ironically, perhaps the slowest player to ever step on a football pitch, both physically and mentally, Fernando Llorente, used to wear the X18s – then again, he did score that handball goal against City in the Champions League. Former Spurs teammates Lucas Moura, Son Hueng-Min and Moussa Sissoko, have also worn the X19+s.
The most well-known players to sport them though are Gareth Bale and N’Golo Kante. A serial winner since arriving in England.
Final verdict on the Adidas X19+ football boots
Overall, these boots are very tailored to the wingers of the world. The speed and control aspect of them makes them ideal for skipping down the wing. Attacking full-backs and strikers whose play is based on pace would also benefit from these.
The features of the X19+s make it a boot that’s not that versatile, but that’s not a bad thing. We like the fact that Adidas has focussed in on one or two specific features of play to try and target because too many boots nowadays try to do it all. But if pace if a big part of your game, it will definitely be worth stepping up that extra bit of investment and going all out for these slick, light and comfortable football boots.
Click here to check the current low price on Amazon