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The Predator was upgraded from Freak to Edge earlier this year. While the Predator is a traditional shoe from the brand, the new model, despite its laceless design and more aggressive appearance, feels a bit inferior to the older Predator. From the adhesive materials of the Predator 18 and 19 to the grainy uppers of the Predator Mutator and Freak, the brand is constantly striving for technological breakthroughs. They aim for innovative designs while also ensuring the legacy of the Predator's powerful "lacy" feel. This time, we'll be testing the Predator Edge.1 Low, a low-top shoe with laces.
Like the modern Predator, the Predator Edge.1 Low utilizes Primeknit material. Its most distinctive feature is the texture of its upper. The prominent pimpled design of the previous generation has been replaced with a horizontal Control Zone rubber design. The slightly raised rubber strips create a slightly squishy feel, reminiscent of the old Predator Lethal Zone. The Predator Edge.1 Low also utilizes a sock-like design, designed to provide a more comfortable fit. Regarding the studs, the model tested was the FG. The studs are a two-piece configuration, with the top stud at the toebox being slightly heavier, hopefully giving players a more powerful feel when playing.
I've been testing the Predator Edge.1 Low and am most pleased with its ball control and the power it delivers from the rubber tape. Speaking of ball control, I think the new Control Zone stripes create a smooth, controlled feel, especially on high-definition shots. I find it easier to control the ball to my desired position. Similarly, the Predator Edge.1 Low's feel is quite good on ground control, allowing for easy control, a feature that's particularly noticeable on high-definition shots. As for shooting, I find the rubber stripes on the Boots provide a stronger rebound, resulting in a more powerful shot. After the boots are on, my shots feel sharper. On long passes, the Predator Edge.1 Low feels more powerful than before, so it needs to be adjusted to get the ball to the desired position. However, thanks to the Lassi rubber, the feel of the ball is quite good; as for short passes, the ball feels quite solid.
However, the Predator Edge.1 Low also has its drawbacks. The rubber strips on the upper make the Predator Edge.1 Low stiffer and heavier, affecting its wearing comfort. The overall feel is bulkier and less flexible.
As for shooting, Ah Xu feels that it takes a long time to break in the shoes and adapt. At first, he was a little uncomfortable, but after breaking in the shoes, he felt a strong sense of power. The rubber on the shoes also brought stronger friction, and the arc of his shots was more obvious.
As for the studs, I tested the FG real grass studs. These triangular, longer studs give a more aggressive kick and excellent grip, but I prefer shorter studs. Furthermore, while the Predator's toe box has a slightly heavier stud, I don't think the difference is significant.
Overall, I feel there's still a gap between the current Predator and the old one. Sometimes I think the performance of the old leather with a finer lacing is hard to replace. Primeknit with lacing is the future trend for the new Predator, but too much lacing would make the boot bulky and inflexible. The Predator Edge.1 series offers both high-leg and no-leg options, and I prefer the latter for its greater flexibility.
Finally, I feel that the Predator Edge.1 Low is a little long, so I would recommend everyone to choose half a size smaller. As for the shoe shape, I think it will be suitable for players with wide feet.
Predator Edge.1 Low FG test report:
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Dribbling: ●●●
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Long ball: ●●●●◐
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