A Boot for Battle

Something that is not really seen in the market these days is a synthetic boot that is classically styled. Even rarer is a handmade example of such a boot. It almost seems contradictory, a classic style synthetic boot. But Adler had a challenge to fulfill, make a boot that is durable and has good performance in any condition and on any surface. When a company says they have designed a boot to be used in poor conditions, it almost sounds like they are challenging me to put their boots through the ringer. And Adler have pulled it off with the Yamatokyo.

Fit

The first time the boots are laced up on feet there is a nice, secure feeling. The synthetic upper wraps the foot well but unlike some synthetic boots it is not to the point the foot feels as if it is be squeezed and forced into a certain shape. This partially comes down to the fact the lacing system is deep and highly adjustable. This also means that the boots fit a majority of foot types with ease. Another reason why the boots do not squeeze the feet is more obvious: it is not a one piece upper with a fully connected tongue. It has what is called a floating tongue.

The upper itself is not the softest when first worn but it breaks in quickly thanks to the fact that it is designed a synthetic leather. The upper has a grain look to it, like one would expect to see from a leather upper. This is not to say that the upper is a soft as a leather upper one would find on boots like the Yatagarashu, but it is still softer than other synthetic uppers I have come across. It is also really durable as there have been no issues at all during testing and the boot feels like you get into heavy tackles with them and have no problems.

Another nice part of the upper is the fact that there is a slight grippiness to it. It is not anything crazy grippy like one would expect from a power boot, but it is still noticeable. This was something that was obvious even in wetter conditions much, which was a pleasant surprise. It gives a confidence to the touch on the ball, which will be covered more later.

Because the Yamatokyo replicates the Yatagarashu but just in a synthetic form, this also means that the heel has the same excellent fit that is found the Yatagarashu. In the Yamatokyo, the heel is cushioned, but not overly so and securely locks the foot into place when the laces are tied up. It also offers good protection when getting kicked in the heel, which I had found out the hard way.

The toe box has a pretty good shape for almost every foot type and because the lacing system is so deep you get a more adjustability than you might expect in this area. There is also just a little bit of stretch to the toe box, just in case the boots feel overly snug when first putting them on.

As far sizing goes, I went half a size down versus normal and found the fit to be good. I recommend half size down if you are ordering unless you have really wide feet.

Touch and Dribbling

With a lot of synthetic uppers there are many different gimmicks that are added in order to enhance or change the touch on ball. The reasoning for this is understandable as brands want bullet points and tech jargon to add to the product in order for the boots to seem more appealing. Adler have not with that approach. The upper of the Yamatokyo has that bit of grippiness that was mentioned earlier and not much else.

While some might take this as a negative, I find it to be a positive. This is because there is a good, uniform feeling to the upper meaning that there are no surprises when it comes to touch on the ball. Not ever boot needs to be mind-blowing and while it is fun when there is something different about the upper, there are also a fair share of players who do not care about that and just want a boot that does its job with the minimal of fuss.

The uniform feeling of the upper also shows that there is something to be gained by having such a simple execution of a synthetic upper. Dribbling is a simple but enjoyable affair because the boots just let you get on with it and readers of this blog will know how positive I am on such experiences. Northing to get in the way and a slight roughness of the upper means that there is a nice confidence to be found when dribbling.

Passing and Shooting

This also means there is no surprises when it comes to short passes. But it is nice since there is nothing awkward on the upper to have to get used to. But, like most of the other Adler boots, the KaRVO midsole is of great benefit when it comes to shooting and hitting long passes. KaRVO gives the foot a solid platform not just for supporting the foot, but also to provide a solid piece to midsole that allows the ball to be hit with more power.

The slight roughness of the upper also means there is a little bit there when it comes to putting some spin on the ball. It does mostly come down to technique, but if you have the ability, there is a slight advantage to be found here.

Grip

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Conclusion

Adler did not set out to break anybody’s mind with the Yamatokyo, but what they did do is create a boot with a nice and pliable upper, with just a few tricks to make a noticeable difference. The biggest advantage of the Yamatokyo is that the boots are a solid performer no matter how bad the conditions are, and it is a boot that does feel like you go into battle with them.

What do you think of the Adler Yamatokyo? Please share this with your friends and make sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook!

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To Buy the Adler Yamatokyo click the link here. Make sure to send me your order number after you complete you order.