The one to get

With the recent release of the X Crazyfast, adidas has given players several choices for their boots. While the X Crazyfast+ offers the lightest possible boot without sacrificing performance, the X Crazyfast.1 models seek to offer solid performance while adding a bit more comfort and stability. Along with this, the price is much more digestible, being a decent bit cheaper than the plus model. There is also the fact that the boots seem better designed to handle more rough surfaces and as well as the boots seem to be able to take more of a beating. It is because of this and other reasons that the X Crazyfast.1 should be the model that most people should pick.

Fit and Feel

Perhaps not surprisingly the weight is one of the first things that is noticeable about the adidas X Crazyfast.1. One thing that might be a surprise is that the boots still have a fairly thin and almost see through upper. While it is thicker than the plus model, it is still very thin and one can expect the touch on the ball to be almost barefoot, but more on that later.

Something that is fairly surprising is the overall shape of the boot, which differs from the plus model. One would think that both models would have the same fit, but it appears adidas are using different lasts, the with the X Crazyfast.1 model having a more rounded toe while the plus is more pointy at the end of the boot and toe area. The width also seems a little more forgiving despite the fact the .1 model has a one piece upper, which normally restricts the fit.

One of the things that adidas have got right with this series is the feel and cushioning around the heel. Yes, it is fairly thick with cushioning, especially compared to other speed boots on the market, but this can be argued to me a good thing since it reduces stress on the foot and helps keep the ankle secure in the back of the boot. While some people might prefer having less cushioning in the heel, it can be pointed out that most professionals have a similar amount of cushioning in the heel of their boots and given that this blog has previously argued that we should be getting more stuff that pros have on their boots, this is a win. The other thing is that during play the cushioned heel is pretty much forgotten during play except for the fact that there are no hot spots.

As mentioned previously, the shape of the toe is more rounded than the plus model and given the shape of my foot, the shape of the X Crazyfast.1 is preferred. There are no hot spots and the while the boot has a one piece upper, the boot does not feel like it is forcing the foot into a certain shape. Part of this is down to the central lacing system, which could be deeper, but still allows for plenty of adjustment especially given the relatively elasticity of the knit part of the upper.

The lockdown is also good, as a combination of the heel cup and the laces, as well as the knit, help produce a very locked in sensation to where the boots can be laced up and forgotten. Even on grippier turf surfaces, cutting and turning does not to seem to affect the lockdown in the slightest and the X Crazyfast.1 does a great job of keeping the entire foot locked down in the boot.

Breaking in the X Crazyfast.1 is also fairly quick. The upper has a slightly plasticky feel but within a couple of sessions the boot feels ready to go for anything. In fact, even after one session, the boots felt good enough to be taken into a match situation and they performed with no issues.

For sizing, I went half a size down from normal and the fit was perfect. Unlike the plus model which requires true to size for a good fit, the more rounded toe of the X Crazyfast.1 not only makes the fit more accommodating, but also means the boot runs slightly long.

Touch

The upper is somewhat similar to the plus model in that the X Crazyfast.1 has an upper that is rough to the touch. It is not as grippy as the plus model; however, this also means that it feels less intrusive when playing. There is just enough there to give a little bit extra on the ball without feeling super grippy. In wet conditions this is appreciated since it means that the upper is not slick and still provides that little bit extra that one would want in such conditions.

Since the upper is mostly uniform, this means that dribbling with the ball feels easy and unobtrusive. Given the thinness of the upper, the touch on the ball is sharp and thin, as there is still very little between the foot and the ball. For those who like thin uppers on speed boots, this feels like one of the thinnest on the market.

Passing and Shooting

Of course, with a thinner upper, one feels everything. Passing the ball is fairly straightforward as there are no pass pads and the like to get in the way. This changes slightly when it comes to longer balls and crossing as that slightly gripper upper means one can get just that little bit of extra grip on the ball when bending it. The grip also does feel noticeable in the midfoot which is great for controlling the ball and is personally preferred over something like a pass pad.

What most people will want to know how shooting in the adidas X Crazyfast.1 is. It’s excellent. There is that ping that most people want in a speed boot. There is a really satisfying feeling to be found when hitting the ball with power and again that thin sensation means that there is relatively nothing to get in the way of hitting the ball. Additionally, there is a nice feeling when catching the ball on the volley as that bit allows one to hit the ball with a little bit more swerve.

Grip

It is the same as the one found on the X Crazyfast+. Here’s what was written in that review:

” The soleplate may no longer have the CarbiTex but in spite of that, it still feels very responsive. The boots seem like they are willing you to sprint after every lost cause and of course that slightly upward curve makes it easier to run and reduces the amount of force needed to push off.

Coming to the stud shapes themselves are really good and even though they are a firm ground variation, they worked great on artificial grass and there have been no issues, other than the durability worry. So good are the studs and stud layout that I personally prefer them over the ones on the Ghosted and the Speedflow. They really perform that well.”

Versus the X Crazyfast+

The plus is more expensive, less durable and has a pointier fit while also being more expensive. Given that the .1 model is the opposite of all of these and still performs very well, it seems like a no brainer to go with the .1 model, especially since they are more widely available. Also, given that there is more lockdown in the laced model versus the laceless model, it seems clear which one of the three models is the best bet.

Conclusion

While adidas has sought to give the consumers more just by offering three high end models, by changing the fit and making the prices all different, it only can seek to confuse consumers rather than give them more choice. At the same time, while the models are all different, it seems clear that for the best performance, bang for the buck, as well as comfort and lockdown, the X Crazyfast.1 laced model is the best one to go with. The boot can take tackles and feels more well-rounded compared to the other options available. Even better is that the availability on the .1 model is better and more likely to be found on sale earlier, which makes the boots even more enticing. The boots have even managed to make it into my rotation to a point where, I even prefer them over the X Speedflow.1 in terms of overall fit and performance. These might be the underdog boot of the year so far.

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This review was done in collaboration with BOOTHYPE.com