Lotto debuted the original laceless soccer cleat back in 2006 with a synthentic upper - now Adidas has taken over the laceless game with a model for every line of cleat they have. Are they worth the extra money? Let's find out...

Check out our full YouTube video detailing the laceless Adidas Predator Freak + as we compare them to the .1's with laces

Not all laceless cleats are the same. These have demonskin for the predator line, others do not. Some are completely synthetic, some have fabric with woven elastic, some even have fuzion leather, but ultimately the main take-away is simple: laces allow you to adjust your shoe, laceless do not

We break down 3 main categories to help you make better buying choices:

1) Look and Feel

2) Performance

3) Cost

Look and Feel:

When comparing these two predators the look and feel is almost the same. However, it's clear the laceless pair feel more relaxed on the foot and the upper brings no interference when connecting with the ball. 

Performance:

To be fair, the Predator Freak + (laceless) performed well, but it's obvious the lockdown isn't as amazing as we'd need it to be for elite level play. When changing directions at speed, the foot may roll or slide over the edge of the insole. Because of this we recommend Tru Sox (extra grip and secure fit), going down a half size if you have the room, and having an athletic trainer tape your foot/ankle for stabilization before matches and intense training. 

Now if you're just looking to play at the park or in a recreation environment these will perform perfectly fine and you will look awesome!

Cost:

This tends to be the biggest tipping point for most buyers. In general, laceless cleats are costing about $25 more than their laced counterparts...

We first recommend coming into the store to try on a few pairs and compare the fit yourself, especially to see if you can go down a half size when buying laceless. Then you just need to decide if you can go an extra 20 bucks or so to have the look and feel you really want. If you've never had laceless cleats before, don't count them out or be nervous to make the change. We've also tested the Adidas Nemeziz +, Adidas Copa Sense +, and Adidas X Ghosted + which all had better lockdown and performance compared to the Predators. In checking these other boots, we're actually surprised more players aren't going for some of these new laceless models!

If you're still worried about overall cost, just remember you're almost always getting THE best deal at Soccer Zone USA. Plus joining our Loyalty Club allows you to earn points with every order and get rewards!

If I had to choose personally, I'm giving the nod to the Predator Freak .1 fg over the laceless Freak +. I ultimately felt like I had more control with the shoe when playing at speed even though they were a little less comfortable.

However! I'd be going with the laceless models on all of Adidas's other lines

Copa Sense + for it's leather design and seamless touch

Nemeziz + for overall agility and ball control

X Ghosted + for pure SPEED (they're positioned high on the forefoot to help you accelerate faster!)

Happy shopping!

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