What's Up with the Upper of the Adidas Ace 17+ PureControl?
Nov 28, 2016, by Pat
It's time to speak more about the confusion that is the Adidas Ace 17+ PureControl and its different uppers.
As you might have noticed over the last few days and perhaps already before the official launch, not just Paul Pogba, but ALL professionals are wearing a sort of prototype / sample of the Adidas Ace 17+ PureControl - one that's almost nothing like the one that hit retail and was dubbed a "16.5" by some.
An interesting perspective on the whole situation is offered by Unisport's JayMike who recently said that he hopes that the Ace 17+ PureControl will get updated before its eventually replaced by the Ace 18+. Now, this could just be his inner boot nerd speaking, but it would be extremely naive to assume that a person in his position would voice something along those lines without knowing at least something.
Another point in favor of an update of the Ace 17+ PureControl upper at one point is the fact that all leaked colorways feature the second upper. If Adidas had settled on reverting to the 16+ upper for whatever reason, one would assume that later samples, for example for the Fall / Winter 2017 period, would be based on the definitive upper by now.
All in all, we are fairly certain that we'll see the Ace 17+ PureControl's real look instore sooner than later. Possibly already with January's Checkered Black edition. If you cannot wait to try out what the pros are wearing, you should probably give the 'Tango' rendition of the Ace 17+ PureControl, available with turf and indoor outsoles, a try. By the looks of it, its upper is identical to the earlier leaks of the cleated edition, i.e. what the professionals are wearing.
So why is so important for Adidas to update the upper? First, it's kind of odd to release a boot that's virtually unchanged and branding it as a whole new edition - or at least that's what people could feel in this situation. Additionally, we believe it's important that players are not advertising boots that have almost nothing in common with what they are wearing on the field, as e.g. Paul Pogba is doing currently. We feel that this could hurt Adidas reputation with time.
There are also a number of more practical reasons to update the upper. For one, there where a few critics of the initial laceless PureControl boots voiced concerns about the fit being too loose in general - an update could help resolve this. Also, the 16+ PureControl's upper construction, while getting rid of laces, added a second compression techfit layer. It looks like the 'real' Ace 17+ PureControl upper is just one layer, which could offer a better connection with and improved feel for the ball.
What do you think? Share your thoughts on the Ace 17+ PureControl upper controversy in the comments below.
PSG 27-28 Home Kit Leaked
Based on leaked details from myach_lab, our partner @whatthekit_x have created a mockup of the PSG 2027-28 home shirt. The iconic blue-red Hechter stripe remains, while the shirt gradually fades into a darker shade towards the bottom, with a red collar section connecting to the central stripe.
Extremely Limited: Macron Lausanne-Sport 26-27 130th Anniversary Kit Released
Swiss Super League club FC Lausanne-Sport and technical sponsor Macron have officially unveiled a special commemorative kit celebrating the club's 130th anniversary. Founded in 1896 under the original name FC Montriond, the Swiss side pays tribute to its foundational roots with a look directly inspired by the earliest outfits in club history.
The Macron Lausanne-Sport 26-27 130th Anniversary shirt showcases broad alternating blue and white horizontal hoops across the body and sleeves, framed by a neat crew neck collar. Honoring its heritage, the jersey swaps the contemporary LS crest for the historic FC Montriond badge on the chest alongside the Macron Hero logo. The kit is complemented by simple white shorts and white socks to finish a faithful retro aesthetic, while a matching pale green variation has been crafted for the goalkeepers.
The special shirt will not be released for general retail sale. Only 130 individually numbered copies have been produced, each accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. Fans will have the chance to win the shirts via a charity raffle benefiting the club's youth development fund during the official anniversary match against FC Thun at the Stade de la Tuilière on November 1, 2026, where the team will wear the kit in action.
Cobh Ramblers 2026 Third Kit Released
Cobh Ramblers have officially released their new third kit for the 2026 League of Ireland First Division campaign. Produced by German brand uhlsport, the strip introduces a classy black and gold color scheme while sharing the bespoke local design language featured across the club's 2026 kit collection.
The uhlsport Cobh Ramblers 2026 third shirt combines a black base with subtle tonal vertical striping. Flowing down the left side beneath the monochrome gold club crest are two striking gold vertical stripes shaped like lancet arches, inspired by the architecture and stained glass windows of St Colman's Cathedral in Cobh. Celtic knotwork adorns the v-neck collar and sleeve cuffs, while the uhlsport lettering and front-of-shirt sponsor Caltech Electrical Supplies are also finished in gold.
The new Cobh Ramblers 2026 third kit is now available through the club's official online store and physical club shop, retailing at €70 for adult sizes and €50 for kids.
Salisbury FC 26-27 Third Kit Revealed
English non-league side Salisbury FC have officially unveiled their new 26-27 third kit, brought back following the squad's recent tour of Kuwait. The release complements the club's home and away strips that were launched earlier in the summer.
The Salisbury FC 26-27 third shirt features a vibrant yellow base contrasted with royal blue accents. A retro-inspired blue collar with a v-neck insert frames the neckline, while dynamic blue striped graphics run down the sleeves and lower flanks. Continuing the club's deep ties to Kuwait under owner Ali Alhamad, the chest prominently displays the Arabic script logo of a Kuwaiti digital bank alongside the club crest.
The strip is completed with matching yellow shorts featuring blue side panels. The Salisbury 26-27 third shirt was made available exclusively to match-going fans at the club shop ahead of their FA Cup qualifying clash against Dulwich Hamlet.
