Breaking In

There is nothing spectacular about the F30 when it comes to comfort through the first few wears – but there are also zero complaints. Out of the box, the soleplate offers decent flexibility and I found they were easy to wear and break-in. Because of the nature of the synthetic upper, the F30 seems like it is stiff in your hands. It is primarily related to the region just above the strike zone. But, when you wear them in-play you don’t actually notice it as much and it doesn’t cause any problems, in part to adding a natural foot shape inside. All-in-all, the perfect word to describe these boots in my opinion would be “efficient”.

What are the differences – F30 vs F50

Other than price point and the inclusion of miCoach technology, there are plenty of differences that separate boot boots and give players options when deciding how they want to spend their hard earned cash. For those that need a refresher, don’t forget to check out our F50 adiZero miCoach review.

• Visuals: If you take a step back from both boots, it is actually pretty tough to tell them apart. Both versions are extremely similar bar some miner details. For example, along the tongue you will find “F30″ wrote on the F30, whereas the F50 has “adiZero” featured on the tongue and along the yellow line that runs along the upper. The other visual difference lies in the soleplate, where the miCoach cavity is visible on the F50 compared to a flat soleplate on the F30.
• Upper: The F30 features a high-density Singmax synthetic upper, while the F50 features a thin and advanced SprintSkin.
• Weight: F30 – 9.2oz F50 – 5.8oz

In-Game Performance

One thing is quite obvious: the F30 is designed to be a very different boot to the F50. Instead of a lightweight boot designed for speed, you are getting a more durable boot that offers players protection right through the upper. Since they are considerably heavier, you do experience a sluggish feeling from the F30 after wearing the F50. Of course, if you haven’t worn a speed boot you probably won’t experience this reaction. On the ball, you get a competitive level of touch and control. The strike zone features some very light cross line texture that can only play in your favor when it comes to touch on the ball – if it had been a little more prominent, it could have been an even better selling point for Adidas.

The last point to be covered surrounds the soleplate. Adidas use the same configuration on both the F30 and F50, so there is limited differences in terms of traction. But there is no cavity for a miCoach chip and thus the soleplate is much straighter and what I would consider to be streamlined.

Durability – Top Notch!

Given that players have encounter durability and protection issues with the F50, Adidas has bulked up the F30 such that it provides a pretty solid long-term option for players. A high-density Singmax synthetic upper is the backbone of the new boot, giving it additional support. And on a positive, it also holds certain lightweight properties that don’t leave it in the power category! I did spot some scuffing on the upper through wear, but from the 4 weeks of testing they held up very well and I would be confident recommending them as a boot that will easily last a hard working season.

How do they Fit?

Length wise, the F30 fits just about true to size. I found that my toes fit slightly closer to the front of the boot so there might be a half a finger length difference between these and other Adidas releases. If you normally find that Adidas boots fit tight, a half size up might be the way to go. They also offer a more narrow fit through the midfoot and there is limited coverage along the arch – important to note for those who like a wide fit.

The Critics Notes

Even though you are getting a boot that is pretty identical visually to a more expensive boot, there is a certain sub-standard feel about the upper. It leaves the F30 lagging behind other 2nd tier releases on the market (like for example the Tiempo Flight.) Of course, this is in part due to the use of a synthetic upper over a leather.

The Skinny Summary

Highlight: An affordable option that takes on a very similar look to its more expensive brother. Features a more solid upper that will keep players decently protected through wear, with increased durability.
Category: They fall into the economical category – not quite heritage or speed, but you do get added durability and value for money.
Weight: At 9.2oz, you might be slightly heavier than you expect, especially when compared to the superlight F50, but they are still a decent weight and they look fast!
Would I Buy Them: They work pretty well as a back-up boot, but straight up they would not sit as one of my preferred options.
Player Position: The benefit of this boot is that they offer enough protection to suit hard hitting players who might otherwise be turned off by the lightweight F50. Players anywhere along the back-line will enjoy them in game, as well as midfielders. They make for a very adaptable boot.