The Adidas Predator Absolado LZ is the third takedown model in the LZ line, and while it may look very similar to the top end model, it certainly does not have the same feel. If you’re looking for the true “Lethal Zone” feel, than the Absolado is not going to deliver.
Comfort/Fit
For being a low-end soccer shoe, the fit of the shoe isn’t too bad. The upper is very soft and flexible, but that’s mainly because the upper is mesh based. The upper feels like a mesh running shoe, with a thin cover layer. The tongue is also mesh based, and is on the thicker side. The heel is lined in synthetic suede, very similar to what you will find on the higher end models, and overall, the shoe is pretty comfortable from right out of the box. Keep in mind that the insoles are non-removable, except for the heel section on the left boot, to allow access to the miCoach slot in the shoe. The shoe just feels very padded on your foot, which isn’t necessarily a high-end feel, but it is comfortable.
The fit of the shoe is a little bit funny in my opinion. The toe box and forefoot area of the shoe are on the wider side, while the mid foot of the shoe is much more narrow fitting, transitioning to the heel which fits very wide. This gives the shoe somewhat of an awkward fit, and when you pull the laces tight, the shoe seems to pinch the instep of your foot ever so slightly. I also found that heel slippage was somewhat of an issue, mainly due to the width of the heel area of the boot. This is not a shoe for wider footed players by any means, but given that you have a regular to narrow width foot, you shouldn’t have too many issues with the fit of the boot. Also keep in mind that the upper has very little stretch to it, so the way that they fit from brand new is very close to how they will fit after break-in. The sizing of the shoe is true, just like the rest of the line. I wore my usual size 9US for review, and the fit in the length was perfect. So if you’re looking to order a pair of Absolados, I would strongly recommend going for your normal size.
Weight
The Absolado weighs in at 9oz, which is only a single ounce more than the top end LZ. 9oz is a really solid weight range for a shoe like this, and is still below what I would consider to be average weight at 10oz. This is a shoe that certainly is not going to weigh you down.
Traction
This is the first Predator in a while to not offer the classic Adidas bladed stud pattern. Adidas has instead opted to change all of their shoe lines to variations on the adizero stud pattern, which is the most popular shoe in the line. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it may upset some long-time Pred wearers who have been wearing the same stud pattern for the last little while. This is another move away from the label of a “power” boot for the LZ, offering a stud pattern that is arguably as solid of a stud pattern as perhaps the older bladed one was. When I say “solid” I am speaking simply on the basis of shooting, with the bladed stud pattern offering more of a stable feel when planting your foot to strike the ball. With all of that aside, the LZ offers a stud pattern that is nearly identical to that of the adizero line. The studs are all triangular shaped, offering somewhat of a combination feel between blades and conical studs. The stud pattern is best suited for firm to slightly softer ground, simply because the studs are slightly on the longer side, and because of the larger surface area of the studs, they will not penetrate the ground unless the ground is a little softer. Given that the conditions are right, the stud pattern performs and feels very good. It offers plenty of grip when pushing off for a sprint, which is great. This is a stud pattern that is definitely usable on turf, but again, I do find the studs to be a little on the long side. If you’ve worn the adizero, which many have, than the stud pattern on the LZ should feel exactly the same for you.
Touch
The Predator LZ is the first Predator to stray away from being marketed as a “Power” boot, and is more or less pushing the “Control” elements of the boot. While no shoe is going to improve your control, or any skill based attribute for that matter, if you are looking at the Absolado as a budget version of the high-end Predator LZ, than you may be disappointed. The top end Predator LZ is all about grip on the ball, which is achieved through various rubber strips positioned in the most commonly used parts of the foot. On the Absolado, all of the zones are there visually, but in terms of feel on the ball, have next to no impact when making touches on the ball. Instead of five Lethal Zones, you get one. To go through them quickly, the zone on top of the foot, the first touch zone, as well as the dribble zone, located on the outside of the foot, are pretty much just paint. There are slight indentations in the upper for each strip in the zones, but instead of rubber, all you get is paint, which adds nothing in terms of feel on the ball. The Drive Zone and the Sweet Spot, located on the inside of the forefoot, are present, but are more like the Predator LZ SL rather than the standard Predator LZ. They have texture to them, but add nothing the way of grip, and have no major impact on the feel of the boot. The only zone that remains is the Pass Pad, located on the instep of the shoe. The foam insert is still there, and while I wouldn’t say that the foam is as high quality as the higher-end models, at least it is there, and it does add a nice feel to the shoe.
So, if there aren’t any Lethal Zones, what does the shoe feel like? The answer to that question is, not very good. As described earlier, the upper is mesh-based, giving it an overly padded feel. I found the touch on the ball to be overly padded, where I wasn’t feeling as much of the ball as I would like. Obviously this is a low-end shoe, and it is expected for the Absolado to not feel as good as the higher-end model, but I just was not a fan at all of the upper on this particular boot. There is a difference between a padded upper and an upper that does not allow you to feel the ball.
Shooting
Striking the ball in the Absolado LZ was honestly nothing special either. Like I said, the upper is padded to the point where you don’t feel too much of the ball, so you don’t have a ton of feedback when striking through the ball. The Drive Zone adds nothing to the shoe, and the rest Lethal Zones, or lack there of, have no impact on the feel either. There’s nothing special here to be completely honest.
Protection
While the upper is very padded, the padding is still mesh, which is not a very protective material. At the same time, the Absolado is not a shoe that is going to leave you feeling completely exposed out on the field. The upper will provide enough protection for pretty much anybody, and the internal plastic heel counter will also play its part in keeping you protected.
Durability
I have no doubt that you will get your money’s worth out of the Absolado LZ. As with most takedowns, the materials are not premium quality, but it isn’t always the premium materials that are the most durable. The synthetic upper is sure to withstand all kinds of wear, and you should easily get a season’s worth of play out of them. Keep in mind that the Absolado LZ with the Firm Ground stud pattern was designed for use on natural grass playing surfaces. Use of this shoe, or any firm ground shoe, on artificial grass will have a major impact on the durability of the boot.
The Verdict
I can’t say that the Absolado LZ surprised me in any way. As with most third tier takedown models, you get a pretty generic, dare I say cheap, soccer shoe that is more about looking good rather than actually being good. I found the upper to very low quality, offering a touch on the ball that is honestly not great. While I realize that the Absolado LZ is more of budget model, I still feel like you can get a much better shoe for the same price. If you were thinking about getting a pair of Absolado LZs, I would strongly recommend looking at all of your options before making a final decision.
| Comfort/Fit | 6 out of 10 |
| Weight | 8 out of 10 |
| Traction | 8 out of 10 |
| Touch | 5 out of 10 |
| Shooting | 5 out of 10 |
| Protection | 8 out of 10 |
| Durability | 8 out of 10 |
| FINAL SCORE | 48 out of 70 or 68% |
