Adidas X 15.1

The Look

It took some time for me to really like the look of the X. The extremely bright solar yellow upper looked fine for me from the get go, but I was not a fan of the X-CAGE when I first saw the boots. After some time and getting to experience them more, I started to appreciate the uniqueness of the look. When on feet, they really stick out on the field but in a good way. The X is a fantastic boot for players that really want something flashy. Something I loved was how the adidas branding was larger and in black on the heel. It really looks nice and it is a nice touch from the three stripes. A unique look from adidas, but it really does work for the X line. 

The Touch

Made for those who want to cause chaos on the field, the adidas X is designed to give every player the ultimate fit and technology to give that extra competitive edge to dominate on the field. The upper found on the X is named X-SKIN synthetic. When I first put the cleats on feet, the upper was slightly stiff but only after 2 sessions of an hour and half each, the X-SKIN became super soft.

A nice touch on top of the synthetic is what adidas is calling Non-stop Grip or NSG. It is made up of tiny raised bumps that are designed to enhance grip in all weather conditions, much like Nike’s ACC coating. I was actually able to play in some rainy weather one day and I actually noticed the grip while playing. Now, I don’t want people thinking that it changed the grip completely but it helped enough that I was able to notice it when controlling the ball. Oddly enough, the NSG is even found on the heel.

The X-CAGE is thin and allows you to have more stability when making sharp cuts during a match. The X-CAGE is much thinner than what online photos give off. It does not get in the way whatsoever.

Moving up the boot, the techfit collar is one of my favorite parts of the X 15.1. The sock-like fit is more comfortable than Nike’s Dynamic Fit Collar. It fits snuggly right below your ankle and wraps your foot like a tight-fitting ankle sock. It is a little tricky to get in the boot at first but it becomes easier with some practice.

The outsole is a mix that can be used on both FG and AG surfaces. The X-CLAW stud pattern had raised a lot of questions if it is suitable for AG as it has some F50-like studs plus some extra smaller studs under the forefoot. I tested on both firm natural grass and an artificial grass field and I had no problems on either. The stud pattern works well on both surfaces and I felt comfortable on both. Overall, the performance is outstanding on the X, I had no problems with comfort or  heel slippage, and the upper gave me a nice touch on the ball.

The Feel

Now this is an area that completely surprised me. The comfort on the X is incredible. The X-CAGE really helps lock your foot down to the soleplate and keeps you locked in for a great ride. The upper is a bit thicker than most think and has some slight padding in the toe box area to give a nice personal fit. The heel counter is internal and is padded on the inside to help protect your foot from hard tackles. I was very impressed with the comfort of the X and I think it is something a lot of people will be willing to sacrifice a lighter weight boot for.

Bang For Your Buck

With a $220 price tag on these boots, you are paying about the same you would pay for a top model from adidas in the past. With the technology packed into the adidas revolution boot, I would recommend picking this boot up if you could find it below retail price.

Who’s wearing It?

With adidas making the switch from 4 silos down to 2, a lot more high profile players are wearing the boot. Bayern Munich players David Alaba and Thomas Muller have been wearing the X for sometime  now. Other players who sport the boot include Real Madrid star Gareth Bale and Barcelona’s Luis Suarez, among others.

The Verdict

The X truly changed the way we look at how players play. Instead of dividing players into a boot per position, adidas decided to make it all about how they actually play. The Chaos silo is something special from adidas and everyone who is upset about the old adidas models being scrapped, you have to try these boots. The fit and performance is one to be experience.