A month before opening the new year, adidas lead in with a limited edition release: the Predator 30. The boots already had a flying official match debut when Jude Bellingham, wearing them in a November 2023 UCL match, made a darting run and scored a goal against Napoli. Now worn by a budding superstar and with a look that calls back to the classic Predator colours, boot enthusiasts are on DEFCON alert levels now in search of this special launch football boot. In fact, not only are the colours your iconic one for the silo, the added visuals are said to be inspired by the boot that started it all.
This Limited Edition Predator launch is called the ’30’ and for good reason. Beyond the fact that it has red and white accents on a predominantly black colourway, the boot has a scale-like print all over it. The inspiration behind the snakeskin visual is none other than the original adidas Predator launched in 1994 (hence the 30 referring to the 3 decades since then), specifically the first iteration of the rubber ridges that formed the core DNA of an adidas Predator boot.
Speaking of the rubber ridges, the Predator 30 has that compiled along the instep in a blocked, sleek fashion like it was in the Precision and Mania. And then there’s the classic fold-over tongue that appeared in the said iconic Predator models. The tongue has the branding EST. 1994 though to indicate the OG source inspiration. Another classic detail to come back is the Predator Eyes logo on the underside of the tongue.
It’s worth noting that the adidas stripes do not have the same profile in terms of their tilt, and from the looks of things we would see the rest of the Predator 2024 to have that kind of a warped effect on the positioning of the stripes. Another nice detail is the PREDATOR wordmark covering the entirety of the outsole.
Reflecting on the last three decades of innovation, we felt the time was right to hit a reset and be inspired by the elements that first made Predator so popular – its look, feel and focus on goalscoring. We’re sure admirers of the early Predator models will be delighted to see the famous tongue making a comeback, and we hope newer fans will enjoy rocking the tongue on pitch for the first time.
–Sam Handy, VP Product and Design, adidas Football
Make no mistake, as much as it is a limited edition release, the Predator 30 is a product of consumer and athlete feedback, enabling the boot to give confidence to its wearer in front of the goal. Safe to say it is a precursor to the Predator model that will rock 2024. Pre-order now as the Predator 30 arrives in 1994 pairs on December 8, 2023 in select retailers and the adidas website.