Both, both are good

In the first of what will be a recurring series over the next few months, I thought it apt to compare two speed boots I have thoroughly enjoyed this year. Those being the adidas F50 Hyperfast Elite and the Sokito Scudetta Biotouch. As many people who have come across the Scudetta will know, the Scudetta is a spiritual successor to the 2014 F50 adiZero. So, it is interesting to compare them to a modern F50 to see how they stack up.

Upper/Touch

Much like the 2014 F50 adiZero, the Scudetta Biotouch is a more stripped-back approach to a speed boot: a soft upper, aggressive soleplate, and a low-volume fit. In many ways, then, the F50 Hyperfast is the opposite of this in terms of the amount of tech thrown into the boot. Where the Scudetta has an all Biotouch upper, the Hyperfast has a two-material upper, HALOSKIN+, and HALOCAGE+.

Comparing the two uppers, the Biotouch upper of the Scudetta feels slightly thicker than the HALOSKIN+ on the F50 Hyperfast. This is not to say that the upper on the Sokito boot is overly thick, as it is still thin as one might expect from a speed boot, but I find that the upper on the adidas boot is thinner overall.

In spite of the thinner upper, the extra stability added to the upper of the F50 as a result of the extra support cage added to the lowest layer on it results in the F50 having more side-to-side stability between the two boots. The Scudetta does have some stability, but it is not as strong and is even less stable than its non-full Biotouch upper sibling, the regular Scudetta.

One of the great things about both of the uppers is that the break-in process is minimal. I would say the F50 breaks in slightly quicker, but part of that is down to the shaping of the boot overall, which I will touch on more a bit later.

The touch on the ball in both boots is also great, and in this case, it comes down to what your preference may be. Since the Scudetta has a slightly thicker upper, the touch on the ball has a bit more cushioning to it. However, neither boot has a particularly pingy sensation when hitting the ball with power. It’s something to keep in mind if you prefer your speed boots to have that feeling.

Another difference between the two boots is the amount of grip on the ball. The F50’s SPRINTWEB texturing is somewhat grippy and is placed on multiple high-contact zones around the forefoot. This is in juxtaposition to Biotouch’s stripped-back approach to grip elements, where they do exist but are less prevalent overall. They also have a rough feeling instead of a grippy one.

Even in the zones without the grip elements, the F50’s upper feels grippier, whereas the Biotouch upper on the Scudetta is smooth to the touch. Again, preferences will differ from player to player. However, I think both boots have a good touch on the ball. In any case, any extra elements on the upper should enhance your touch rather than be the only thing to rely on. If you’ve got a good touch, it doesn’t matter what boot you wear.

Fit/Sizing

Moving on to the fit, the Scudetta is surprisingly the wider boot in terms of how wide the last and the soleplate is relative to the F50 Hyperfast. However, the F50 Hyperfast is taller and has more volume across the top of the foot. This is why the F50 seems like it is the wider boot overall, as the Scudetta has a lower profile fit, thus making the upper sit tighter across the top of the foot.

In terms of the overall shaping of both boots, the Scudetta has a touch more rounded forefoot when compared to the F50’s slightly pointier toe. Both boots do have a more rounded toe than other speed boots on the market, and I personally prefer a more rounded toe.

As far as the sizing comparison is concerned, in the Sokito Scudetta Biotouch I went with my normal size, which is a US 8.5/UK 7.5/EU 41.5, whereas in the adidas F50 Hyperfast Elite I went half a size down from my normal size (relative to US sizing) which means I got them the F50 in a US 8/UK 7.5/EU 41 1/3. I do find the F50 to fit slightly long, but it may not fit long enough to go that half size down for some people. I have not included the JP/CM sizing as I find that the CM sizing in Sokito is slightly off.

In terms of my size in the Scudetta, I prefer the tight fit, but I can understand that some people may want the half size up instead as a consequence of the lower volume fit.

Lockdown/Heel

Something that I find surprising is that the lockdown is better in the Scudetta than in the F50. While the Hyperfast has the HALOBELT+ tunnel system to help with the lockdown, the Scudetta still feels more locked in.

This is because of two things: firstly, the lower volume fit of the Scudetta means the upper sits closer to the foot even before lacing up the boots. Secondly, the design of the laceholes on the Scudetta are an oblong shape that does a great job of stopping the laces from getting loose during play. The lockdown is good on the F50, but the Scudetta is superior.

Another difference is the approach that both brands have taken to the heel. The F50 has a softer, more flexible heel that does have good lockdown. It is one of the best heels adi has put on their speed boots since the Speedflow, and is even better than those, in my opinion.

The Scudetta Biotouch has a lovely stitch-and-turn heel, with more cushioning than the F50 heel. And while it is not as flexible as the F50 heel, there is still some flexibility. The heel on the Scudetta is also feels more pinched than the Hyperfast, partially because it has more cushioning on the inside, and the studier heel helps with the lockdown. The Sokito boot also benefits from having an extra lacehole for a runner’s knot, further increasing the lockdown.

One last bit about the Scudetta Biotouch heel, which I mate have failed to mention in my original review, the faux suede lining is fairly grippy and locks onto the sock well. It’s another smart material choice on Sokito’s part.

Outsole

Because the F50 Hyperfast Elite has a more aggressive outsole than the previous F50, the boots are easier to compare, as both boots have aggressive outsoles. Both boots offer a lot of grip when sprinting and cutting. The Sokito Scudetta Biotouch does offer more grip and aggressive traction; this is because of the elongated studs. It has one of the strongest snapbacks outside the Mizuno Alpha 3 Japan.

Although the F50 does not have snapback as strong as the Scudetta, the F50’s studs are not as lengthened, and as a result of this, the boot feels like it releases from the ground quicker when making quick cuts.

What both boots do have in common is that both outsoles have sturdy midfoot shanks, and there has been no awkward twisting in the middle of the foot during testing in either boot.

Sokito does get a bit more credit for me personally, outside of the obvious more environmentally friendly nature of the Scudetta, and that is because there is texturing on the bottom of the studs, which I like my boots to have for ball manipulation.

The choice of outsole preference comes down to how aggressive and snappy you prefer your outsoles to be.

Also, do not wear either boot on AG. The outsoles are far too aggressive for artificial surfaces.

Personal Choice

It is impressive that we have had two excellent speed boots release this year already, with more on the way, seemingly (the new Mercurial has just launched, for example, as has ASICS’ upcoming speed boots, the Jetray). Picking one boot over another is a difficult choice for me, as I love both boots for different reasons. The Sokito Scudetta Biotouch is a low-volume, super aggressive boot, while the adidas F50 Hyperfast is still aggressive, but just has a bit more of a balanced feel overall.

I did wear the F50 into several matches the week I got them, and I enjoy what adidas has made. However, I think I ever so slightly lean towards the Scudetta because of how tightly the boot wraps around my feet, as well as the more aggressive outsole. That being said, both are currently in my matchday rotation, so I am torn between the two. It is a very difficult choice to the point that, yes, both are good.

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I split my time between wearing HAVO Grip Socks and PureGrip Socks for training and matches.

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じゃあね！