Adidas Nitrocharge 1.02 Review

Adidas Nitrocharge 1.02 (2014)

Last year we saw Adidas make a bold statement by releasing a brand new silo called the Nitrocharge. The boot was made for a specific group of people Adidas termed as ‘the Engine’, the players who run tirelessly across the field be it to assist in a goal or stop the opposition from scoring. The boot was designed to give the players solid protection whitest retaining their energy.

The original was overall a good looking, comfortable sport silo featuring lots features that gave control and helps retaining energy. The 2014 version, Nitrocharge 1.02 is a visually distinct boot from the original yet still incorporating the features that made the previous one a great boot, also bringing various changes that makes the boot similar to the previous model but with a more refined feel.

Like the original the prominent forefoot EnergySling plays a pivotal role in the overall fit and feel of the boot. Unlike the first, the new energy sling is twice as wide and runs straight across the forefoot instead of the diagonal orientation seen before. It is made from hard rubber material and works well with the lacing system. The strong rubber material nicely wraps up your feet and the extra lacing in it gives you a firm locked down feel.

The tight feeling given by the EnergySling is both a boon and a bane. The secure feeling will be welcome by all but needs some getting used to. For some, the forefoot region may feel a little cramped. It can be easily rectified by readjusting the laces and in time you’ll be comfortable wearing the boot and will learn to love the tighter feeling, especially when cutting and turning. The upper doesn’t flex so easily, enabling you to quickly turn and the boot following your reactions perfectly in synch with your foot.

The Nitrocharge is fully synthetic with the upper of the boot divided into 3 materials, namely the HybridTouch synthetic at the front, the rubber energy sling and protective mesh from mid-foot back. Even with the variety of materials used, you don’t feel any discomfort at all. The boot fits nicely and doesn’t require a break in period like other synthetic boots out there. The Nitrocharge 1.02 runs true to size. Order a pair in your default size and you can easily fit into the boot right out of the box. The inclusion of smooth synthetic leather material with some padding on the inside heel area makes for a great feeling stepping into the boot.

The outsole and stud pattern remains unchanged from the previous model. The Nitrocharge SprintFrame used on the Nitrocharge is based off of the SprintFrame outsole seen on the F50 adizero but slightly more rugged and stiffer in comparison. The stiffer soleplate is regarded as a new feature called by adidas as the EnergyPulse. Like the EnergySling, it is made so to satisfy the needs of ‘the Engine’ of the team as marketed by adidas. The zig-zag EnergyPulse and the stiffer soleplate is designed to provide a spring like action giving back small packets of energy as the foot leaves the ground. There isn’t any significant difference brought about by the EnergyPulse but it’s an interesting concept none the less.

Adidas Nitrocharge 1.02 (2014)

The unchanged stud pattern offer excellent traction. There are four studs under the heel and six in the forefoot with three studs on each stud accompanied by a single support stud in the middle. The triangular studs works well offering great stability. The deciding factor is the stiffer soleplate and the EnergySling, both working seamlessly to give you a very responsive and agile feel and giving you the confidence to turn at high speed knowing the boot won’t have a mind of its own while twisting and turning.

The main detail in protection of this boot is the protective mesh, spanning from mid-foot back as well as the upper. It provides a lot of impact protection keeping the weight to a minimum without adding any extra bulk. The Nitrocharge 1.02 just weighs around 232 grams. The strong rubber EnergySling provides some decent protection across the forefoot while the extra padding and the solid plastic heel provides good protection for the rear foot. The only area you need to worry about is the HybridTouch portion but it was done so to enhance ball feel.

The original Nitrocharge 1 even though brought some rather interesting concepts it didn’t gain much popularity. It may not have the magical energy retrieving capabilities it says but with the Nitrocharge 1.02 you still get the great response and protection offered by the original in a more lightweight and good looking package.