The latest set of speed boots from Adidas represents a slight deviation from what we have become used to over the past few years.
For the first time since 2016, the centrepiece of the brand’s speed selection is not a laceless boot. Instead, the ‘+’ option of the Crazyfast generation is laced, features a tongue, and is a different model entirely to the laceless version which has been relegated to the Crazyfast.1 category alongside its own laced counterpart.
That means there are now three elite options available from Adidas, but is the Adidas Crazyfast+, at £20 and £30 more than the laceless and laced .1 models, respectively, worth its position as the premium option? I tried an FG pair to find out.
Adidas X Crazyfast+ review
The Adidas X Crazyfast line replaces the X Speedportal, with all three models of the new generation a marked improvement on the outgoing boots. While not the worst boot, the Speedportal was a massive step down from the excellent Speedflow that it replaced, and featured a slightly less flexible upper out of the box than I personally like.
With an upper that is unrivalled when compared to the best boots on the market, the lightness and thinness is built using what Adidas call ‘Aeropacity speedskin+’, a thin film that covers a semi-translucent mesh. Supported by the brand’s ‘aerocage+’ skeleton, this helps give the boot a weightless sensation while still providing an adequate structure to midfielders, strikers and even defenders.
Plus, the upper softens up extremely quickly, resulting in a boot that I could barely feel on my feet. There is a level of comfort that comes with the minimalism of the upper with the complete absence of any restrictions or distractions. This is, of course, not for everyone, because some players do prefer that little bit of extra support and structure from a boot. In my experience, though, I thoroughly enjoyed wearing the X Crazyfast+ for the upper alone.
Featuring a separated tongue, the boot is constructed in a slightly more traditional way, making them fit a little wider than conventional speed boots which focus on a narrow build. The tongue and laces do, however, feel a little flimsy, and I would have preferred if the laces in particular were a little more substantial given that it wouldn't have added any noticeable weight.
There is also a little bit of extra space around the opening of the boots that I was not a fan of. Ideally, a boot will wrap around the whole of your foot when tied tight, but I found there is some room around the ankle with the Adidas X Crazyfast+ and this also creates some awkward looking bunching and creasing in this area. The lockdown in this area of the boot is less than perfect, so if you prefer a very
locked in feel then I'd definitely recommend trying these before buying.
When it comes to the soleplate, it's exactly the same as the other Crazyfast models, having been brought forward from the Speedportal. With chevron studs in the forefoot and more bladed studs in the heel, it's one of the most aggressive outsoles on the market. The plastic insert through the middle of the plate provides the kind of responsiveness that you want from a boot intended for those who like to go fast, and it is on the whole wonderfully snappy, helping you take off at speed.
These are the boots worn by some of the brand’s most explosive athletes, such as Gabriel Martinelli, Achraf Hakimi and Mohamed Salah, and the construction reflects that well with the upper and soleplate lending themselves perfectly to raw speed.
I wore these on dry, natural grass and would recommend keeping the FG version
of the Crazyfast+ exclusively for this surface. Wearing these on artificial ground would be unsafe due to how aggressive the soleplate is, and Adidas do offer a dedicated AG option of this boot so I'd suggest opting for those instead.
The Adidas X Crazyfast+ does enough to justify its place at the top the brand’s speed tree of three, going even further than the two .1 models in creating an almost impossibly lightweight, thin upper aimed for distraction-free speed. In this particular boot, this does come at the expense of some structure and lockdown, and those who would prefer a different trade-off between minimalism and support may actually prefer the Adidas Crazyfast.1 in the laced variety.
For me, though, the Crazyfast+ is a great speed boot that provides the right tools for a boot of its type. They'd certainly be a welcome addition to the arsenal of any budding speed demon or player looking for a pair that listens faithfully to all the movements of your feet.
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