Rooted in the Copa Mundial, the adidas Copa Pure II projects a football boot that optimises ball touch using the finest of leather, as well as integrating technologies to give it a modern fit and feel. Does it live up to such expectations, and has it address the concerns that hounded the Copa Sense that it replaces?
What You’ll Find On This Page:
- Copa Pure II Elite Review
- What is the Copa Pure II Pro?
- Cheap Copa Pure League Review
- Previous Copa Generations
adidas silos do have distinct identities that make them viable in their own right. The F50 is all about speed. The Predator is all about grip and accuracy. The present Copa concerns itself with making leather boots still relevant in today’s football.
Copa Pure II Elite Review
| Model | Quality | Pitches | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Copa Pure 2 Elite+ |  Fusionskin Upper Torsionframe |  |  |
 Copa Pure 2 Elite | Fusionskin Upper w/ tongue Torsionframe | |  |
 Copa Pure 2 Elite Made in Germany | Full Calfskin Fusionskin Upper w/ Magnetised Fold-over Tongue Torsionframe |  |  |
Copa Pure II Updates
Pure is the current generation of the modern Copa. And in October 2023, adidas launched the Pure II, meaning that it is pretty much like the first Pure release with just minor tweakings. The Pure II still has that same Fusionskin upper comprised of calfskin leather forefoot and a Primeknit midfoot for the + model a flexing mesh material for the Elite. And like the first Copa Pure+ and Pure.1, the Pure II has a one piece upper construction for the former and a standard tongue construction for the latter (now called Elite).
No More Laceless +!
Biggest change so far, and one that I noticed right off the bat is that the + model is no longer laceless. So you might want to get your hands on the laceless Copa Pure you whenever you can if plug-and-play leather boots is your thing. Otherwise, you will get added lockdown and a more snug fit with the Pure II because of the security that laces bring to the table, plus the contribution of the one-piece upper construction to the maintenance of the boot shape. The overlay that helps in locking the foot down in the laceless setup has already been modified, so I discourage to wear the Pure II without laces.
New Heel Finish
Moving on to the laced Elite, the Pure II has a relatively smoother finish around the edges as it clips the extended height of that collar piece on the rear. Moreover, the internal heel liner is fuller than in the first Pure.1. While the shortened rear collar might be a relief, some might actually miss the strategic cushioning of the heel liner of the Pure I.1. The chunkier heel liner of the Pure II.1 might improve heel lockdown, but it might end up giving too much grab though for some.
Haptic Print on the Medial Side
Another update on the Pure II is that the overlay has been streamlined relative to the Pure I, where certain sections of the midfoot material can still be felt. Pure II streamlines the overlay in order to introduce a 3D Haptic print system that gives it a textured feel for ball grip. Given how small the prints are, they may be obvious with the hand touch but may not be that impactful when it comes to actually gripping the ball.
Jay Mike of Unisport Reviews the Copa Pure II
Here boot reviewer Jay Mike of Unisport gives his take about the second version of the adidas Copa Pure 2. Here are some of his points:
- Heel has more width and padding and to some might feel like an upgrade because of how you feel the foam and suede all around the heel
- Calfskin leather forefoot is ridiculously soft and screams COMFORT
- Midfoot material has added firmness compared to the Pure I’s
- Tongue on the .1 is still the same-stretchy and has an extended width to wrap the top of your foot and to stay in place
- Pure II does a bit better in lockdown because the lacing system runs a bit deeper
- Still has slight internal boot slippage which can be addressed with a runner’s loop and a pair of grip socks
- Size-wise, narrow-footed Jay says its true-to-size in; length and width spot-on, but new heel finish helps the Pure 2 accommodate more width
- Laced Pure II+ feels like the speedy alternative to the Pure II.1 because it has a tighter sensation once the laces are tied tight; Pure II+ not anymore built for laceless setup
- Ball touch still the same-somewhat padded but still thin enough to have a direct ball sensation
- New haptic print doesn’t feel too much
- Tooling works-if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
- Pressure point out of the box around the ball on the forefoot
- Flexing mesh on the Pure II doesn’t match the softness of the leather as well as that of the Pure I
- Heel liner comfortable but feels chunky
- Price difference between the + and .1 might be a too much if you’re just after getting that added snug fit
adidas Copa Pure IIs and How We Tested Them Out
The guide for our boot testing methodology is available here. I made sure to try out both the Elite+ and Elite.1 as the difference in the closure system was surely going to bring a different fit and feel experience. But in general, as a leather boot, I set out to see how the Copa Pure’s Fusionskin rank up against the quality of other leather football boots. Again, going back to the need of trying out both the one-piece upper model and the one with the u-throat construction, each variant has a different midfoot material to support the leather forefoot. In essence, I wanted to see where the two Copa Pures converge and what are the points that they diverge.
What Changed in the Copa Pure?
Since the introduction of the Copa 19 in 2018, the modern Copa has been synonymous with the Fusionskin technology that seamlessly fuses a forefoot leather to knit that comprised the rest of the upper. The outgoing Copa Sense was no exemption, and it even strategically added memory foam inserts to help the leather in dampening the ball touch.
However, the main critical point with the Copa Sense, despite having one of the finest K-leather material, was that it has too little of it! In addition, the Sensepods in the heel that was meant to eliminate negative space and improve fit and lockdown, was not for everybody as they can be too restrictive to some.
In a way, Copa Pure is a way of going back to its Copa leather identity by first and foremost, increasing the amount of leather. Second, gone are the memory foam inserts and in their place are quiltings that do not in any way undermine the leather feel on the forefoot. A triple foam backing is also a new addition to this iteration of the Fusionskin upper.
Also out of the place are the heel Sensepods in favour of a sculpted heel padding. Outsole-wise, we can see the return of the Torsionframe tooling that informed the soleplate construction of the first few Nemeziz lines.
2023 Copa Pure
As it name suggests, the Pure brings it back to the point where purists would still consider the present Copa as a leather football boot. Whatever positives the previous Copa Sense had, having a limited amount of leather significantly decreased its standing on its boot category. The Copa Pure is a positive direction for the silo, especially as it competes with techy leather boots like the Nike Tiempo Legend and Mizuno Morelia Neo Beta.
K-leather or not, it doesn’t matter for the Copa Pure as it is still meets the expected softness which bodes well for the comfort aspect. The triple foam lining not only helps make the boot feel padded and plush but also streamlines the sensation across the Fusionskin upper.
The fit is also much improved given the new dynamic of the Fusionskin and triple foam, plus the removal of the Sensepods that really took some time for some to get used to.
The switch to Torsionframe from the Senseframe is a good point as it makes the Copa Pure lighter than its immediate predecessor.
FAQs about the Copa Pure:
- Are Copas good for wide feet?
Width-wise the Copa go in between the Predator and the X, but does fall on the wider side of the spectrum and so should be worth trying for wide feet.
- Who wears adidas Copa?
Paulo Dybala and Pedri usually headline the laceless model, with popular goalkeepers like David de Gea, Manuel Neuer and Gianluigi Donnarumma all going for the laced .1.
- Which is better Predator or Copa?
Being distinct to each other, the Predator and the Copa are better than the other in identifiable aspect. Ball grip and accuracy are points for the Predator while ball touch, comfort and fit go to the leathered Copa.
Copa Pure I Review
Copa Pure Boots 7 Things To Know
- Now has more leather than the Copa Sense it replaces
- Cow leather instead of K-leather
- Utilises first-gen Nemeziz Torsionframe outsole
- ‘Triple foam structure’ lining providing both structural integrity and additional padding
- Has laceless and laced options
- Fusionskin in laceless involves Primeknit, Flexing Mesh for the laced variant
- Directly competes with Mizuno’s Morelia Neo Beta as both partners the leather forefoot with a different material on the midfoot; indirectly with the Nike Tiempo Legend and Puma King Ultimate, which are now synthetic leather boots
Our Copa Pure Expert Review
adidas Copa Pure
A return to the Copa's leather identity, leather is fused with Fusionskin upper for a soft fit and good feel on the ball, just lacks that k-leather quality which is a shame for some.
Product SKU: HQ8885
Product Brand: adidas
4.1
✔️ Pros
Relative to the Copa Sense
- I welcome the increased amount of leather now
- I didn’t notice any leather quality difference as the calfskin leather is on par with the usual K-leather used in previous Copa models; Should mould around your feet well because of the high quality leather
- It’s one of those boots I think that can truly cover both narrow and wide feet players
- Lighter because of the Torsionframe
- Best fitting compared to the Predator Edge and X Speedportal
❌ Cons
- Still not as much leather as the Nike Tiempo
- Pleasantly simple but might not command any attention to stand out
The Copa Pure puts back the modern Copa at its best-no nonsense leather with just the right amount of tech added to complement and not overshadow it.
Boot Rankings, Best For…
What is the Copa Pure II Pro?
| Model | Quality | Pitches | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Copa Pure 2 Pro |  Fibertouch Upper Fusionskin |  |  |
The good thing about the Copa Pure II Pro is that it almost replicates the Fusionskin technology at a significantly lesser price. There’s a bit of a more substantial feel to the midfoot though because of the additional padding to the synthetic leather part. Considering how boots weigh nowadays, this leads to Copa Pure 2 Pro weighing more than other boots in the market. Calfskin on the forefoot still feels premium though and the shortened tongue might actually appeal to more people.
Unfortunately, there’s some shallowness on the heel that might lead to issues with fit, lockdown and soleplate pressure. Volume and width seem to also be lessened that the Elite model. This puts the Copa Pure 2 Pro a bit of a disadvantage when considering its price, as you can get more quality in fit and materials with the likes of the New Balance 442 v2.
Cheap Copa Pure League Review
| Model | Quality | Pitches | |
|---|---|---|---|
 adidas Copa Pure II League |  Synthetic with leather |  |  |
What’s New with the Copa Pure II.3
In October 2023, adidas made the move to introduce some adjustments to the Copa Pure and aptly named the boot Copa Pure II. This included some slight tweaks to the takedown boots as well like the .3. Take a look of the launch model of Copa Pure II.3 and continue to read on to see what changed on the second-gen Copa Pure boots.
The first thing that’s immediately noticeable is the perforated-like texturing on both the lateral and the medial side of the boot. This is presumably to add some ball grip especially when dragging the ball. Especially on the lateral side, the indention pattern is also changed to perhaps accommodate the inclusion of the aforementioned texturing. Next is that the u-throat construction has been slightly deepened thereby slightly increasing the lockdown from the laces as well.
Copa Pure.3 and the Things You’ll Want to Know:
- The Copa Pure.3 replicates the Fusionskin feel with its cow leather forefoot and a textile collar and midfoot
- Available only in a laced setup
- One of the few remaining leather takedown options
- The Copa takedown costs £70
- Direct competitor to the Nike Tiempo Academy
Previous Copa Generations
The Copa Mundial is still up and running, but that does not stop adidas from their Copa modernisation program, which they have started in 2017. Time to look back and get a sense how we reached this point in the Copa’s history.
Copa 17 (2017)
The most innovative part when the Copa 17.1 arrived was the compression tongue that wrapped closely around the feet, not to mention the conical-heavy Sprintframe that very much look like a future-looking tooling.
Copa 18 (End of 2017)
Just before the year ended, adidas pushed things up for the Copa, with the tongue now forming a one-piece construction with the K-leather upper.
Copa 19 (2018)
Copa 19 gave us the first laceless ‘+’ Copa, while retaining an option for a laced ‘.1’ model that had a burrito-styled tongue. But most importantly, Copa 19 introduced the Fusionskin technology that became a mainstay in succeeding Copa lines. It also had its own tooling-the Exoframe.
Copa 20 (2019)
Not much to say about the Copa 20 except that it was simply a name change, with a few releases adding some curved line texturing that was barely noticeable.
Copa Sense (2021)
The Sense significantly reengineered Fusionskin to its detriment, as the amount of leather got decreased and additional tech like memory foam inserts and heel Sensepods were introduced. Great step from a fit and tech perspective but a step back for a leather football boot.
