The history of adidas X

It was 2015 when the German brand decided to completely overhaul its entire range of adidas football boots, reducing the number of silos from four to just two. Iconic silos such as the adidas Predator, Nitrocharge and F50 football boots, as well as Messi’s exclusive boots, were phased out, and only two silos remained: the adidas Ace and the adidas X football boots. A radical change that reshaped the future of the German brand.

These major changes ushered in a new era of speed and chaos with the adidas X range, a complete rethink of football boots, and we’re going to take a comprehensive look at every boot in the range right up to the present day. 

We begin with the launch of the boot that directly replaced the F50 – a boot that faced a tough challenge given the affection that fans of the three-stripe brand had for the F50. This boot changed the concept of the ultra-thin, minimalist upper found on the adidas F50, offering a slightly more structured boot that combined a braided yarn shell known as Spaceskin with a Spaceframe for support and an internal Techfit ankle collar. 

The outsole was available in FG/AG versions, featuring a radical change in the stud layout and shape, moving away from tri-studs to a combination of large semi-conical studs and small studs for artificial turf pitches. It was a major change for a boot that also came in leather versions, including SL and Primeknit versions, and which was very popular despite weighing over 200g.

It’s been just over a year since the launch of the new X series, and the truth is that the German brand’s fastest boot range is undergoing yet another transformation. The upper structure has been completely redesigned, featuring a full TechFit shell with the addition of NSG (Non-Stop Grip), a coating that provides enhanced grip and control. Internally, it also retained the TechFit support and laces, but these were covered, providing a clean striking surface that was absolutely brutal. The tri-studs returned, along with an FG sole featuring a slightly more reactive and thinner plate that brought back the Speedframe and external heel counter – a sole better suited to sprinters. 

This evolution of the Silo continued in 2017 with a slight restyling that kept the sole unchanged but added micro-perforations to the upper, providing a little extra grip and lightness.

 

The German brand has unveiled the latest evolution of the X, featuring the first laceless X. This model represents a complete technical and aesthetic overhaul, bringing back the three adidas stripes on the side – a design element that had been absent in previous editions, and one that has truly hit the mark with its return. 

From a technical standpoint, a very fine synthetic microfibre structure has been created, bringing back that essence of a speed boot. Furthermore, as there are no laces, the fast-footed player is provided with a full surface area for contact with the ball. As for the sole, the large tri-claw studs—a hallmark of the F50—have been brought back, and the external heel counter has been improved by adding a cushioned inner layer that secures the foot to the base spectacularly. 

In 2019, this boot underwent another minor redesign, retaining the boot’s core characteristics whilst featuring an even more flexible and supple shell, making it a truly luxurious speed boot. 

And so we come to the latest adidas X boot bearing the ‘Ghosted’ moniker, which we’ve discussed at length on the Fútbol Emotion website. A boot that recaptures the essence of lightness found in the original F50s and is truly mind-blowing from a technical standpoint; in fact, it shares many similarities with the adidas 99 Grams, which was a special edition. 

The semi-transparent upper, featuring Mirageskin, creates a spectacular vacuum-sealed feel, which is complemented by a sole that’s perfect for sprints and also incorporates Carbitex (carbon fibre), offering one of the best levels of responsiveness available today. Without a doubt, a top-of-the-range boot. 

In conclusion, the evolution of the adidas X has been a journey that has gone back and forth: we started with an X model that was a far cry from what the F50 had been, only to gradually, over the years, return to what we consider to be a 2021 version of the F50 with the X Ghosted. Maximising the concept of lightness, with a sole designed for sprinting and featuring the latest technical innovations. All that remains is for us to have a leather version of the new adidas X Ghosted, to complete the full circle.

Football Boots X Ghosted + FG Solar yellow-Black-Team royal blue

-39%

€279.99

€169.99

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