words by Larry Luk
With the launch of adidas Football’s new Copa 19+, most players will notice that the newest silhouette in the storied Copa franchise has no laces.
While other boot icons such as the Predator and the Nemiziz were designed for control and agility respectively, the Copa 19+ was designed for touch.
“With touch such a key focus of this boot, we spent a huge amount of time developing the new upper to ensure it delivers unparalleled touch and control when in contact with the ball,” states Senior Design Director, Dave Surface.
By eliminating laces altogether, not only does this allow players to feel the ball on all parts of their foot, but it takes away from any variables that laces may introduce. The key takeaway is that your passes should be more precise and your shots should be more accurate.
In discussing the design inspiration for the Copa 19+ Surace mentions that, “Our inspiration came from taking a classic product and infusing innovation and modernity.”
Technical innovations in the new Copa can be understood in three ways – fit, touch and movement. The boot features foam pads and an Ortholite sockliner which provides cushioning and comfort.
The Sockfit collar provides support and expands to your movements. The boot fits snugly without constricting your foot. Playing 90+ minutes should be no problem in terms of comfort. The boots also come with a shoehorn to help you put them on efficiently.
In terms of touch, the Fuse Skin is an evolution of the Copa’s K Leather that provides a seamless and less permeable surface. The K Leather is also one of the softest football boots you’ll find on the market.
Finally, with movement, the most noticeable advancement centers on the stud positioning and shape designed for rotating player movements. After all, the game isn’t all just running in straight lines. That slight advantage could be the difference in staying on the ball or slipping past defenders.
For traditional players that can’t quite get past the no-laces concept, adidas Football will be releasing a Copa 19.1 that will feature key innovations of the Copa 19+ but it will have laces.
The adidas Copa 19+ launches online at adidas.com on Tuesday, November 13th at 5am EST for $275 a pair.
