Adidas Copa Sense .1

When I saw these drop in 2021.....I fell in love...again. Okay I'll admit it, I am probably not a faithful lover....when it comes to boots of course, but oh my eyes are easily turned. The Copa Sense did exactly that!

The Copa silo is quite unique. Where as most Adidas, Nike & Puma have individual models, each one uniquely targeting a footballing position or strength (Tiempo - comfort, stability. Mercurial - lightweight, speed). The Copa series are a little different, taking their name and their inspiration from the original gangster, the COPA MUNDIAL. Ever-evolving, the Copa series gave Adidas designers the opportunity to branch out from that award winning formula and toy with modernisation while at the same time, keeping the loyal Mundial fans sated.

Sometimes it doesn't work, see my review of the Copa Gloro.

Sometimes it does. See this review of the Copa Sense.

The Copa Sense, is an old-school boot in aesthetics but has a shed load of modern features to make this silo sit with the best of the new releases. Adidas state that it's upper is premium k-leather, but several good review sites (SR4U, Boothype and Unisport - our sponsors) have called out Adidas, in that only the toe-box is actually k-leather. That's tiny!

To me, we have to take issue with the false advertising. It's wrong and isn't acceptable but it also brings a lot of unneeded negativity to the Copa Sense, which detract from what I believe is an all round good boot.

Ask yourself how important a K-Leather is to you. If that's such a major factor for you, then there's no point in getting angry, look elsewhere. The Puma King, Mundial or Premier IIs for a start. There's nothing wrong with taking umbrage with Adidas' marketing but don't let it define the boot we're reviewing here.

The fresh out of the box comfort is ace, it's been a while since I've been 100% happy with a boot right from the off. The synthetic/leather hybrid is still plush and the durability seems if anything, better. There's very little wearing in, if any at all. Although not 100% leather, the upper feels like leather and is very plush nonetheless. It has a structural hardness throughout which I like, I get the impression that like the Tiempo, the synthetic tames the leather, tells it to behave, not to lose it's shape over time.

My biggest complaint with total leather uppers is the way that they stretch, and stretch to different levels amongst say the Mundial and Premier II, it makes it hard to get things right in terms of fit. Because you're second guessing future outcomes, but that's always the trade off. Traditionally made leather boots do mould to your foot over time which improves the fit immensely but there's a peak, its starts to lose it's structure over time beyond a certain point.

FIT: True-to-size - I was lucky enough to try out a 10.5 initially, then a size 10. It's very interesting, the size 10.5 fit great, I would probably of stuck with them, but after trying the 10, it was perfect, it shows how important it is to try different sizes out.

online shopping is the future and the returns processes are critical, I've found they have improved truckloads, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, long may it continue.

Ultimately only you will know. Personally I felt sizing up added extra length, not width. With Adidas boots, the mid-foot is notorious for it's almost python like grip throughout a lot of it's silos. So it was eye opening to see that my choice in sizing up didn't make a difference in that sense, it felt just as tight but the toe box overly spacious. I like a liberal toe box but size 10 were fine, 10.5 just a little too roomy.

The new features of the Sense are the touchpods dotted around the boot. On the corner of the toe joints, the interior of the heel, and the wavy ridges on the upper. The heel pods are meant to eliminate dead space for better lockdown which I think works. I haven't felt any abrasion like other reviews. The other pods are meant to cushion the ball where the it is touched the most. The whole ethos of this boot is about you feeling "it". It's not lightweight, it carries timber, it looks quite traditional with some modern flair sprinkled in, it doesn't jump out at you like say the Predator's Demonskin. It's more refined. I'm not sure how long the gold chrome will last, but it adds a nice bit of bling, not over the top like the CopaSense+ however.

Overall, this boot is worthy of being a relative of the Copa Mundial. It fits fine straight of the box. People are moaning about the leather % content, but I just think it's fan boys. People are always afraid of change. They don't want their fave boots to be made extinct, that's what it is at its core.

Aesthetically, I love the traditional look, but I can't help but feel that they are a little chunky on the eye. That doesn't mean they are, I'm just talking about the look from my eyes. Like it or not, it sat on my mind.

The Copa 20s were good boots, but there was criticism of the burrito sleeve, the thickness of the leather and the overly tight fit. These have been resolved with the Copa Sense....it's called evolution.

Price: £150 Fit: True to Size Tech: Minimum Leather on upper, misrepresented, touch pods inside/outside Comfort: Nice close fit, good lockdown, true Copa comfort returns Look: These are modern looking traditional boots if you get me?

Rating: 8/10