The pinnacle of modern Predators

Adidas released the Predator Rotiero last year with much acclaim. After so many years, adidas was finally giving the market a proper leather Predator and it was excellent. For some, like TexasCleatCollector, it was their boot of the year. I also was over the moon and the only reason I did not keep mine was because I received an absurd offer from someone for them. As one might imagine, as soon as the Obsidian Strike released, I wasted no time in getting a pair. For as good as the Roteiro is, the Predator Obsidian Strike goes above and beyond what I, and others, thought was possible for a modern leather Predator. It truly feels like the zenith of what a modern Predator can be, and there are many reasons for this.

Fit and Feel

Opening the premium box for the first time and getting the boots in hand, it is immediately obvious that adidas Predator Obsidian Strike has received a massive upgrade with the leather upper. The new upper is super soft in hand, and the leather upper feels high quality. It is shocking because I did not think adidas could improve upon the upper of the Predator Roteiro and yet the Obsidian Strike is absurdly nice in hand.

One of the surprising aspects of the upper is the fact that it is a calf leather. While kangaroo is still the top tier material for leather uppers, I want to give adidas praise for how quality and soft the leather uppers have been on their boots this year. From the Copa Icon II, to the F50 2010 adiZero remake, all of the boots have had impressively soft uppers. And the Obsidian Strike is no different.

Sadly, the tongue itself is still synthetic. It is not a bad choice – it is the same as the Roteiro – but still seems like a missed opportunity. Aside from that, I personally feel that it still works well with the boot overall. It would have just elevated the boot to that next level if adidas had given us a leather tongue. A minor issue, overall, though.

Something else I wish was different is the heel. The heel is not bad and has pretty good lockdown overall. I just wish adidas had given us the stitch and turn heel like they do with their professional players. Again, I have no major issues with the heel. There is no discomfort during wear, and the overall fit is really good. However, a stitch and turn heel would have been another addition that would have raised the boot to be among the very best Predators.

Speaking of lockdown, it is good enough. Obviously, with the foldover tongue some sacrifices will be made in order for the boot to have the right aesthetics. There is no speedboot like lockdown here. In spite of that, there is never a point where I feel my foot slipping out of the boot. This is partly because I do not pull the tongue down as low as some people do. Still looks good, however. And the lacing system itself is not super deep, but there is enough depth to allow for plenty of adjustability to the overall fit. This means that the adidas Predator Obsidian Strike will fit a majority of foot types.

While I am happy that adidas also released an AG soleplate option, something that was definitely needed and wanted, I also wish that they would release a non-FT model. I know it is sacrilegious to suggest that, but I think in future adidas should expand the line-up slightly in this direction. Maybe by releasing less colourways of other Predators would be a good way to stop adidas from cannibalizing their own sales.

Something I would also like to point out is the little details around the boot are a nice touch. The “Est. 1994” on the insole and elsewhere are nice, as is the PRED lettering on the back of the heel. Little details like this make it feel like that adidas a paying attention and that there is a bit more value for money. Though prices for these and across the market as a whole are far too high.

As for sizing, I think most people should probably stay true to size. The Obsidian Strike runs slightly longer than the normal Predator 25. Because of this, I went half a size down from my size in the regular Predator 25 to a size 8 US/7.5 UK/41 1/3 EU/26CM. The fit is perfect for me because while tight, the leather has been stretching around my foot nicely. In spite of that, unless you prefer a tighter fit around your foot, true to size will be the best option for most.

On The Ball

It is good, very good when touching the ball. The leather upper on the Predator Obsidian Strike is so absurdly soft that the feel on the ball is very natural. The upper is not as thin as other leather uppers in the market, but working the ball around in the boots feels really nice. And because it is a leather boot, it just gets better the longer the boot is worn.

I mentioned this in my review of the regular Predator 25, but I really appreciate the way the Strikeskin (the rubber fins) have been refined versus the previous Predator. There is not as large as a surface area as previously, but it still feels plenty grippy on the ball. Naturally, this means bending the ball feels awesome and for me, I feel like I get better feedback when hitting the ball since the upper is so soft.

It is also appreciated that adidas did not try to add some soft of weird grip on the lateral side of the boot. This means that there is a nice, clean area to dribble the ball with.

Earlier, I mentioned that the leather is not as thin as some other leather boots on the market. I actually think that this is a positive thing when hitting the ball with any kind of power. This is because there is this extra oomph that I feel when slamming the ball. Part of this is probably mental, but still, it is noticeable versus other boots.

Grip

The soleplate is fine overall, and I think some might really like it. For me though, I kind of wish that adidas went with broader studs. This is not necessarily for grip purposes as the grip on the current plate is perfectly fine. I just prefer having a larger surface area to grab the ball with.

A broader soleplate will also help will eliminate more stud pressure. There is not much stud pressure as it is, and the insole in the Obsidian Strike has pretty good cushioning overall. I just wish there was that bit more comfort, especially because the stud layout can feel just a bit awkward on harder surfaces. But this is also me being nitpicky with a soleplate that is serviceable enough. I just think we deserve a bit more.

Conclusion

Perhaps this is a little bit much, but the Predator Obsidian Strike is not only one of my favourite boots of the year, but it has quickly become one of my favourite Predators. The leather upper is very soft, has an excellent touch on the ball, and has very pleasing feedback when hitting the ball with more power. It is crazy to think that adidas have managed to surpass the Roteiro, which was already very good. A few changes, like a leather tongue, and a stitch and turn (thicker and more cushioned) heel could probably elevate the adidas Predator Obsidian Strike to one of the best Predators ever made, in my opinion. As it is, the Obsidian Strike is brilliant in its own right. It is probably my favourite Predator adidas has made since the adiPower Predator. It is a marker not just for adidas, but for the market as whole to what brands can achieve for modern control/power boots. A giant in the market.

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