In 2015, adidas gave us the F50 adizero 99g, making the Crazylight boots even lighter. It was followed up 4 years later with the X 19.1 99 (the 99g boot that actually weighed twice more!). The Stripes brand goes at it again this year with the launch of the X Speedportal.1 99, continuing the trend of incorporating the present adidas speed boot to the form and build of the original 99g boot.
A key feature of the current X model (as well as the preceeding Ghosted and Speedflow generations) is the responsive Speedframe. It is 100% adopted in the 2023 X 99 boot just like how the previous 99 boots utilised the present speed boot outsoles during their respective times. So if you like the X Speedportal precisely because of the soleplate, then you’ll have no issues with the latest X 99 boot.
Regarding the 99g boot, a boot won’t be as such without the meshed upper with a thin skeletal underlay. Those who were fond of the lightweight material will be extremely happy to know that it does make an appearance once again and brings with it the translucent properties on top of its obvious weight benefits.
Whereas the 2019 edition simply added a slight amount of structure and durability to the mesh upper, the X Speedportal 99 introduces a novelty and now has a K-leather on the forefoot. The aforementioned lightweight mesh material is now limited to the midfoot and rear, as well as to the tongue of the boot. For that combination of leather and mesh, it’s hard not to compare it to the Mizuno Morelia Neo Beta, with the adidas boot perhaps showing even more responsiveness because of the springy sensation from the outsole.