Adidas Predator Accuracy.1 ‘Marine Rush’ Review: A Throwback to Predators of Old

Adidas’ much-loved Predator boot range is synonymous with power, control, and innovation, and after 2022’s Predator Edge, the three-stripes brand has reinvented the Predator (to an extent) with the Accuracy, taking some of what worked with last year’s model and combined it with some noticeable improvements. We slipped our feet into the Predator Accuracy.1 in the Marine Rush colourway pack to find out if this apex animal still has some bite.

While the Predator Edge aimed to add some quite drastic elements to the boot in order to make it, well, as edgy as possible (we couldn’t resist), the boot did veer away from what makes Predators so sought-after. While the Edge was a good boot, it was very stiff, so Adidas has redesigned the upper to be a vastly more soft and pliable material, with less grippy materials and accents to allow the upper to move better. So while it doesn’t have as many sticky-grip features on the upper, the boot is better for it.

Speaking of that grip, the upper does feature some smaller sesame-seed-like rubber inlays on the medial forefoot, which helps slightly with getting a bit more control or spin on a ball. The placement of these makes more sense than across the top of your foot too, as most players will be using the inside of their feet to do more precise passing or kicking.

As for the collar, the boot features a soft, knitted synthetic one-piece collar that runs from your ankle area and right under the laces. We checked out the low-cut version, which basically has a more traditional height on the collar, but it is made of the knitted material that is incredibly comfortable and provides some good lockdown, keeping your heel and foot in place without even doing the laces. While you get more material on the collar with the high-cut version, they’re notably harder to put on, while the low-cut edition is an absolute breeze to slip onto your feet thanks to the stretchy nature of the collar and more structured midfoot area. If you have to pick, go for the low-cut model.

Those who follow the Predator boot line might recognise the stud pattern, as the soleplate and stud configuration from the Predator Edge is reapplied to the Accuracy. You get a fairly flexible and bendable toe-area, a stiffer midfoot for stability, and some smaller and longer triangular studs to make up the tooling. You do feel a little ‘elevated’ in the Accuracy.1 (likely due to the stability of the outsole), but it’s incredibly balanced with the shape and wide placement of the studs, giving you confidence that your ankles won’t be wobbling from side to side.

Traction on the Predator Accuracy, therefore, feels a bit more aggressive than old-school Predators, as the studs have some longer edges and a fair bit of bite to them. While the soleplate itself is great, it’s admittedly not my favourite stud pattern and something a little more versatile for pivoting and twisting would’ve been a safer choice, especially given the types of players that’ll be wearing these boots.

With that said, the Predator Accuracy performs well on natural grass, and you won’t feel like your foot is moving around thanks to the great lockdown that the collar and padded fit provide. The studs do a good job of giving you enough wiggle-movement with your foot planted, but still enhance those angle-cutting runs. What’s great too, is that the soleplate features a split-sole design, so there is the forefoot and heel stud area, connected by a stiffened bar through the middle, allowing it to bend and shape to the surface quite effectively.

It’s worth noting that on the takedown models (such as the Predator Accuracy.3 model), the soleplate is one full piece of plastic, so it loses this element — however, they’re still good.

Design-wise, the Predator Accuracy.1 in the calming ‘Marine Rush’ colourway is an absolute stunner. The ocean-blue colourway looks fantastic on the upper, giving it a punchy look, but not overly garish. The knitted collar features a darker navy shade, which contrasts nicely with the core blue colour, and the orange accents on the 3D dots combined with the classic white stripes make this a stunning-looking boot.

If you’re a Predator fan and have been waiting for a classic-feeling Predator boot, you’ll be glad to know that the Accuracy is somewhat of a return to form for the range and delivers that aggressive and comfy feel that makes you feel like you’re in control on the pitch.

Price and availability:

Adidas Predator Accuracy.1 is available in South Africa on the Adidas online store and selected retailers for R4,999.