The adizero f50: The smart new kicks

The adizero f50 has been dubbed the intelligent football boot and is powered by adidas miCoach . According to adidas the electronic soccer shoe tracks and uploads performance data to help improve the players performance. The boots have a cavity in the outsole unit which houses the miCoach SPEED_CELL™, which in turn captures 360° movement and measures key performance metrics including speed, average speed (recorded every second), maximum speed (recorded every five seconds), number of sprints, distance, distance at high intensity levels, steps and stride rates. On-board memory stores all the measurements during your game or training for up to seven hours and then wirelessly transmits the on pitch performance data to a tablet, PC or MAC. Other adidas technologies built in to the new shoe include the Sprintweb, which provides stability during high speed movements, Sprintskin, a synthetic lightweight layer to reduce the weight of the shie and Sprintframe, which uses geometrics and a new stud construction to balance between lightweight and stability.

The adizero f50 boots come with a Speed Cell™ and a smart device dongle miCoach CONNECT for iPod and iPhone as well as the miCoach CONNECT for PC / MAC. The boots weighs 165g and costs €245 ($330) and will be available at adidas retail outlets and specialist stores worldwide from November.

Safer soccer boots

Bobby Robson's boot fail to sell at auction

Recently an old pair of  Bobby Robson’s football boots  failed to sell when they went under the hammer. The unworn pair of size two boots, believed to have been owned by the England, Barcelona and Newcastle United manager when he was a schoolcboy, did not reach the reserve price of £300 during the auction at Thomas Watson’s in Darlington.  The boots were put up for sale by Sir Bobby’s childhood friend, Thomas Robson.

Stramash

Have a swizz at Stramash

F50 adiZERO: The Green Machine

The colourful CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II

Football boots are becoming more of a fashion statement these days as marquee players make them a focal point for TV cameras. Designs and colourways which might previous have not been out of place on the dance floor are finding their way to the green blaze and all in the name of selling product. The minute you see visible high end footwear on sports persons the more likely the industry has nothing else to offer. Traditionally dark coloured boots were associated with soccer but Hummel changed all that in the 70s with the introduction of white boots for Alan Ball * (England and Arsenal). Took a brave player to wear anything other than black for fear of being picked on by rival fans. “Who's the poofter in the boots?” would ring out from the crowd and low be tide anyone who dared wear coloured boots and have a poor game. Two decades later and high colour became a bi-word for companies like Adidas and Puma who seemed to realise soccer moms like their offspring in visibly fashionable boots. What is good for the amateur must be good for business and endorsed players became fashion doyons. Televised events such as the FIFA World Cups with its millions of viewers have made the football pitch the macho catwalk where the models i.e. players, demonstrate the new look and functionality of the footwear range from the companies that pay them thousands of dollars just to be “seen.” Always good then to see the antics of rival companies outdoing the official sponsor as with the red heels of Nike at the recent World Cup. Being top does not always mean being the best and when the great David Backham wore golden boots for his 100th cap for England (against France), his team lost 1-0 and David did not excel in the game. Now it is the turn of Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) to wow the faithful with shoe and deed as he sports his new safari-themed black-and-white-spotted CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II Nikes. I wonder if he may have an Alan Ball moment ?

*After Ball heard a rumour Hummel, were prepared to pay £2,000 to a professional willing to their white boots he took them up on their offer. The boots were uncomfortable and Ball substituted his own adidas boots after painting them white. All went well until the white washed away in the rain during the game and Hummel withdrew their £2,000.

Pink Dominate Pro

Under Armour have released a limited edition pink (magenta) version of the Dominate Pro for women, in order to raise awareness towards breast cancer research. Moreover, 100 % of the proceeds from the sales of the boot will go to the 'Kicks Against Breast Cancer’ programme Imprinted along the sole of the boot is the slogan ‘Power in pink’, and the boot also has ‘She’s a fighter’ printed along the heel. The latter is a tribute to all women who struggle each day with the disease.