Within the four categories of adidas football boots, the high-end range is divided into two, as we have the laceless version and the lace-up version, which is also a full-fledged high-end range and features the same technologies typical of this type of model. Therefore, given that the materials are the same, we are going to focus on those small details that will help us choose between one or the other. And remember that we also have all this laceless football boots.
Why should you choose a laceless football boot?
Let's start by reviewing the advantages of this type of boot, the main and most obvious one being that there are no laces, with all that that entails. Where we will notice this most is when striking the ball, as the strike is completely clean and allows us to do all kinds of things with the ball, as the main distraction when kicking the ball is removed.
Of course, as they don't have laces, and although it may seem obvious, you don't have to tie them, something that sometimes drives many more footballers crazy than you might think. Another unavoidable advantage is that there are no eyelets for water to seep through, which makes our boots even more waterproof. In short, the kick is fantastic and we avoid distractions at every moment of the match. What's more, if we choose the right model and size, the fit is something that changes the way we see football boots, and the truth is that the aesthetics of laceless boots are exquisite.
A clear example of this can be seen with the X Speedflow, as the fit feels simply incredible in the laceless model, and slightly less so in the model with laces, simply because of the fact that it has them and because of the differences in material. This speaks to the kind of sensations and experiences that can be achieved in a completely laceless boot. Something similar happens with the adidas Predator Edge, as you can feel the ‘ribs’ even more with every pass or shot.
Why should you choose a lace-up football boot?
We come to the most classic boots, the ones we've always known, with their laces and customised fit, which remain the choice of many players. Ultimately, the key lies in how they feel. If we're looking for a free feeling and a new, clean strike, the laces get in the way, but if that doesn't bother us, laces are always a safe choice.
The main difference is the fit of the boot, as the tension we can apply with the laces will be exactly what is needed for our foot type. This is no minor issue, as a good fit of our foot in the football boot will prevent unnecessary slipping as well as blisters or chafing, provided, of course, that we choose the right size. The lockdown in this type of boot is perhaps always better, as we can secure our foot better and feel more confident, depending, as always, on the sensations we are looking for.
Conclusions
The word we need to keep in mind when deciding is fit, as there are boots where, due to the shape of our foot, we will need laces to give us the extra fit we need. Whereas, in other models, for the same reason, we will only need to put on the boot and play, as it adapts perfectly to the shape of our foot.
So, are laceless boots better? The answer is it depends. It will depend on each of us and whether the boot fits our foot, because if it doesn't, we will need our old friends, the laces, to get the perfect boot for us. For this reason, we see many players using lace-up models, such as Marcelo or Messi, and others without laces, such as Pedri, Joao Felix or Dybala.
Now all that remains is for us to choose the model that gives us the best feel and decide whether we prefer laces or no. Which would you choose?
