You knew this was coming

When the Predator Powerswerve was released in December of 2007, it marked an evolution from the previous model, the Predator absolute. It was slightly lighter, and the power spine had changed into a PowerPulse chamber which had tungsten powder in the inside, that shifted with your foot. Admittedly, it does feel a little weird at first, but you quickly get used to it. This particular colourway is the “Control” model, which had extra Smartfoam inserted into the upper in order to improve your control on the ball and was released in February 2009 (a two-year lifespan!). The Powerswerve also had slightly less leather than the Absolutes but this did not compromise the boot.

In spite of the fact that I am a massive fan of kangaroo leather boots, having less leather on the Powerswerve actually improved the boot versus the earlier Absolute models. Part of this is because the leather on the Absolutes had a slight tendency to over-stretch. The leather on the Powerswerves allowed you to get that lovely touch on the ball that only leather can provide, without conceding on the overall structure of the boot. It is much heavier than one might remember and is bulkier in person than one might realise. The flip side of this is that the boot is very comfortable, even by today’s standards. It also has a good amount of cushioning on the heel, but still provides great lockdown. Part of this is because the heel liner is decently grippy.

And my word – the fit! There is nothing like a classic Predator. It fits almost every foot type and feels solid on foot. You can go into every tackle with these a feel like you’ll come out on top. You’ll also be able to take almost any tackle as well. The traction is still great, even on softer surfaces. Adidas did use the same stud layout for some many models, but there is a reason for that, the TRX FG soleplate was an absolute champion.

For me, this is the best Predator ever made. The rubber Power Zone is impactful enough without being intrusive, the longer tongue created a classic Predator look that holds up even now. It worked for every position and for almost every type of player. An all-around performer that was at the top of its class. Its wasn’t the lightest – weighing in around 300 grams – but it’s a power boot. At the time, not every boot needed to be under 250 grams. It was the pinnacle of the Predator series. This next season, they will be going into my rotation and I will see how it performs versus other, newer, boots

But what are ya’ll’s thoughts? And what is your favourite Predator? Let me know in the comments and make sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

じゃあね！