Adidas adiPure 11Pro 2 Review
Perhaps the biggest complaint that I had regarding the original adiPure 11Pro was the lack of leather through the mid-foot of the upper. The new adiPure 11Pro 2 sports a full Taurus leather upper, which is essentially calfskin leather, providing a much more traditional feel when it comes to comfort. Other changes to the 11Pro model include a different cut around the ankle and heel area of the boot. The cut is now much more similar to that of the Predator LZ and Nitrocharge models, providing a slightly deeper and more secure fit overall. Memory foam is also one of the major new implementations on the 11Pro 2, with inserts in both the forefoot and tongue of the boot. This makes for a very cushioned feel, with the padded tongue eliminating any possible chance of lace-bite, while the memory foam inserts in the leather forefoot have less of an impact on comfort.
Other comfort elements include a removable EVA foam insole, providing some decent step-in comfort, but isn’t anything remarkable. The heel is lined in a smooth synthetic material, with plenty of extra padding, keeping your heel locked in place quite nicely. The Comfort Frame outsole is also a significant change coming from the previous 11Pro model, which is all about comfort, as you might have guessed. Unlike the Sprintframe outsole of the original 11Pro, the Comfort Frame is made from a much more flexible plastic material and also features a slightly wider base, making for great comfort when running, as well as slightly improved stability. Stud pressure is not an issue, as the new 11Pro stud pattern does a great job of evenly distributing pressure across the entire foot. One feature that has been left out with the Comfort Frame is miCoach compatability. The outsole does not feature a miCoach cavity, which doesn’t impact the performance in any way, but if you currently use the miCoach chip, just know that it is not compatible with the 11Pro 2.
From right out of the box, the 11Pro 2 is relatively comfortable, but at the same time somewhat awkward. This is mainly due to the unique feel of the leather in the forefoot, which features thin memory foam inserts designed to provide a dampening effect when making touches on the ball. The memory foam insert running through the middle of the synthetic tongue also adds to the slightly bulky feel of the shoe, as it is thicker than I would have liked. With all of this being said, after about 2 to 3 hours of break-in time, everything starts to feel a lot more natural. Discomfort is never an issue, its just that it takes a little time to get used to the unique feel of the 11Pro 2. Once broken-in, the 11Pro 2 provides the comfort that you would expect from a more traditionally styled boot, which is a major improvement coming from the original 11Pro.
The 11Pro 2 offers a fit that is suitable for nearly any foot type. The Comfort Frame base of the 11Pro 2 is definitely the widest base of any current Adidas model, making it the most appropriate choice for wide footed players. With the being said, if you do have slightly more narrow feet, you shouldn’t have any problems achieving a quality fit in the 11Pro 2. The calfskin leather upper will stretch a decent amount, so ideally you want a fairly snug fit from right out of the box in order to avoid any kind of over stretching after break-in.
In terms of sizing, there is a little bit of variation. I had the opportunity of wearing both a size 8.5US and 9US for testing, and found that I was able to achieve a comfortable and quality fit in both sizes. Normally I wear a size 9US, but since the leather upper stretches a decent amount, I found that I was able to comfortably go down half a size, with a slightly tighter fit of course. At the end of the day it comes down to personal preference. If you prefer a tighter overall fit, than I would recommend going half a size down, where as if you prefer a snug, and arguably more comfortable fit, than I would recommend staying true to size.
Weight
The adiPure 11Pro 2, in a size 8.5US, weighs in at 9.1oz, which is about an ounce more than the original 11Pro. Some might view the difference in weight as a negative, but to me, this is a step in the right direction for the 11Pro, in that it shows that Adidas is focusing more on comfort and feel, rather than the stripping down the boot to make it as light as possible. The added weight is mainly due to the full leather upper as well as the Comfort Frame outsole, but these changes make all the difference when it comes to the overall comfort of the boot. At the 9oz mark, the 11Pro 2 is in my opinion the perfect weight for a more traditionally styled boot.
Traction
The all-new stud pattern of the 11Pro 2 is more traditional variation of the previous 11Pro. The studs are triangular in shape and feature a much narrower profile, similar to the size of the studs on the Copa Mundial. The layout is pretty straight forward with four studs under the heel, four studs on the lateral side of the forefoot, three studs on the medial side of the forefoot and one support stud in the middle.
The narrow profile of the studs allows them to easily penetrate the ground, providing decent grip at push off. The triangular studs feature rounded corners, making for a stud pattern that performs very much like a traditional conical stud pattern. When planted, you still have plenty of freedom to pivot and turn, making for a very maneuverable feel. The slightly shorter length of the studs also makes for a very stable feel, keeping you nice and close to the ground, while the flexibility of the soleplate allows the boot to move very closely with the bend of your foot.
Overall, there’s nothing ground breaking about the new 11Pro 2 stud pattern, but it works, and that’s what matters. It suits the traditional style and feel of the 11Pro 2 and is what I would consider to be a modern variation on the Copa Mundial stud pattern.
Touch
While the 11Pro 2 might have the appearance of a pretty standard leather soccer cleat, the feel is actually quite unique. The quality of the calfskin leather is actually pretty good. It’s about the same thickness as the original 11Pro, but has a slightly firmer cushion to it. One could argue that the boot should be kangaroo leather instead of calfskin, but if that’s something that really bothers you, than you probably aren’t going to buy these anyways. With all things considered, the quality of the leather is just fine and feels premium, but if you have your heart set on getting the highest quality leather boot possible, shoes like the Copa Mundial, Nike Premier and Nike Tiempo Legend 4, just to name a few, might be better options.
With that being said, there’s more to the overall feel of the 11Pro 2 than the quality of the leather. The most unique aspect of the 11Pro 2 is the memory foam inserts on the leather forefoot. It’s a similar concept to what we’ve seen for several years now from the Mizuno Supersonic Wave series, which they call the “Feather Touch System”, but the feel and implementation of the memory foam is much different with the 11Pro 2. The foam inserts on the 11Pro 2 are subtle enough to where you won’t really notice anything unusual about the boot until you actually start to use them.
The leather upper provides softness and flexibility, while the memory foam provides an unusual dampening effect on the ball. At first, the dampening sensation feels really strange, and to certain extent, takes away from some of the ball feel that a plain leather upper would normally provide. Once the boot is thoroughly broken-in, your feel for the ball will improve and the dampening effect of the upper does make for a slightly more controlled feel in that it seems to absorb the impact of the ball quite effectively. Of course, no shoe is going to improve your touch on the ball, but if you’re looking for an extremely cushioned feel, the 11Pro 2 might be something to consider. Apart from the forefoot, the rest of the boot is made from plain old calfskin leather, providing a nice soft touch on the ball when making and receiving passes.
My one complaint regarding the upper is definitely the tongue. Instead of leather, the tongue is 100% synthetic, with an unusually thick layer of memory foam running the length of the tongue. While the memory foam insert makes for a very comfortable fit, there is no denying that it takes away from the ball feel. You will get used to the feel of the extra bulk, but I still would have preferred a simple leather tongue.
I wouldn’t say that the touch of the 11Pro 2 is better or worse than a traditional leather soccer cleat, but instead would classify it as different. I would recommend the 11Pro 2 just like I do the Predator LZ, in that its not for everybody, but if everything that I’m describing sounds good to you, than you may want to consider the 11Pro 2.
Shooting
When striking the ball in the 11Pro 2, there is a noticeable amount of extra padding across the main striking area of the boot. Again, the memory foam is the main reason for the padded feel, but I don’t necessarily view it as a negative when it comes to shooting. Again, it really comes down to personal preference, and if you prefer having a more padded feel, than you’ll love the 11Pro 2.
The smooth leather finish of the upper is pretty slick, so you don’t get any additional grip on the ball other than what the leather provides on its own. This again isn’t an issue, as this is the case with pretty much any traditionally styled, leather boot.
Protection
One of the major positives to having some extra bulk to the upper is protection. The memory foam inserts in the forefoot and tongue will provide some decent impact protection should you get stepped on. For the most part, traditionally styled soccer cleats tend to be above average when it comes to protection, but with the extra protection provided by the memory foam inserts, I would say that the 11Pro 2 is one of the more protective boots currently on the market. The 11Pro 2 also features an internal plastic heel counter, that will provide some decent protection against kicks to the back.
Durability
Everything about the 11Pro 2 feels really solid when it comes to build quality. The leather is soft, but at the same time doesn’t feel delicate. I didn’t experience any issues with sole separation and nothing jumped out at me as a potential durability concern. Keep in mind that the 11Pro 2 features a natural leather upper, so some maintenance is required to keep the boots in optimal condition. If durability is a concern for you, then 11Pro 2 is a safe bet.
Also, keep in mind that the Firm Ground version of the 11Pro 2, or any FG shoe for that matter, is designed for use on natural grass playing surfaces, and nothing else. Using any FG boot on turf/artificial grass will have a major impact on the longevity and durability of your shoes.
The Verdict
The 11Pro 2 is a significant improvement over the original 11Pro. It offers a unique blend of classic and modern elements, making for a shoe that offers a feel unlike any other traditionally styled boot currently on the market. The part leather, part memory foam upper offers a very controlled feel, while the new Comfort Frame and general fit of the boot makes for a very comfortable playing experience. While there are still some minor issues with the latest 11Pro, it is still a great effort by Adidas to create what is essentially a modern variation of the classic Copa Mundial. For anybody on the market looking for a traditionally styled boot with a twist, the 11Pro 2 is definitely something to consider.
| Comfort/Fit | 10 out of 10 |
| Weight | 8 out of 10 |
| Traction | 8 out of 10 |
| Touch | 9 out of 10 |
| Shooting | 8 out of 10 |
| Protection | 9 out of 10 |
| Durability | 8 out of 10 |
| FINAL SCORE | 60 out of 70 or 86% |
