Laceless Next-Gen Adidas X 18+ World Cup Launch Boots Released
May 24, 2018, by Chris
The next-gen Adidas X 18+ Purespeed soccer cleats introduce an all-new laceless design.
The next-generation Adidas X 2018 soccer shoes were launched this morning ahead of their upcoming debut in the 2018 Champions League Final and the 2018 World Cup next month. The blue colorway is the launch edition of the next-generation Adidas X 18+ football boot.
Adidas X 18+ Purespeed Boot - Blue / Solar Yellow / Black
This is the next-generation Adidas X 18+ Purespeed soccer cleat.
The Adidas X 18+ Purespeed football boot comes with an all-new design. The cleat ditches the Adidas X branding of the previous generation and now comes with a new 'speed positioning' for the Three Stripes. The 2018 World Cup (launch colorway) of the Adidas X 18+ Purespeed football shoes is striking blue with electricity used for the Three Stripes and other applications.
Tech-wise, the Adidas X 18+ Purespeed soccer cleats are also totally different to the previous generation.
Whereas the Adidas X 17+ Purespeed soccer cleat featured a lace cover to hide the traditional laces, the Adidas X 18 football boot comes without any laces at all. The cleat features a ultra-lightweight 'Skeletalweave' upper in the front area and a ultra-thin synthetic material in the rear area for lightweight and lockdown.
The collar of the Adidas X 17 boot is gone. The Adidas X 18 soccer shoe features a Speedframe sole plate with a molded heel counter. Adidas uses a mixture of arrowhead forefoot studs and round heel studs to provide perfect acceleration.
Basically, to summarize things up, the next-generation Adidas X 18+ football boot is somehow a modern Adidas Adizero football boot rather than an Adidas X (speed silo instead of chaos silo).
Adidas X 18+ Purespeed Features
- Made for ultimate speed
- Laceless design
- Skeletalweave upper for minimalistic feel
- Molded Heel counter for increased lockdown and more acceleration
- Speedframe outsole with minimalistic construction offers traction for rapid acceleration
- Arrowhead design forefoot studs combined with round heel studs for ultimate traction
- Price: EUR 280 (GBP 230)
- Release date: 24 May 2018
The blue launch colorway of the next-generation Adidas X 18+ Purespeed soccer cleats was launched on 24 May 2018, retailing at EUR 280 (GBP 230).
What do you think of the all-new next-generation Adidas X 18 football boots? Let us know in the comments below and check out all leaked soccer boots in the Boot Calendar.
Adidas x Poland
We finally got the first detailed information about the return of the Three Stripes to Poland. More very soon.
Giant Adidas Three Stripes on Long-Sleeve Kits Overwhelm Aesthetic
Adidas introduced enlarged Three Stripes across its performance templates ahead of the 2026 World Cup, rolling the look out across club teams for the 26-27 season. Designed to maximize on-pitch brand visibility, the wider striping measures around 18mm across. However, its competitive rollout has drawn criticism from kit enthusiasts and fans who feel the oversized proportions overwhelm the aesthetic balance of modern kits.
The visual disruption is especially noticeable on long-sleeved shirts. When worn on the pitch by players like Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, the thick white stripes command the shoulders and arms, dwarfing surrounding elements like the collar and sleeve patches. While short-sleeved shirts offer breaks in coverage, the continuous run of oversized stripes down full-length sleeves makes the branding feel excessively dominant.
Despite the pushback, Adidas will retain this oversized stripe template through at least the 27-28 campaign.
SK Brann 2026 Third Kit Released
Norwegian club SK Brann and Nike have officially unveiled their new third kit for the 2026 season, paying tribute to the club's historic 1976 Norwegian Cup-winning side on its 50th anniversary.
The jersey is predominantly white, highlighted by red vertical striping running down the right chest behind the red Nike Swoosh, red sponsor branding, and a monochrome red club crest. Debuted on pitch during their Eliteserien away clash against Sandefjord, the new release completes Brann's 2026 kit collection alongside their previously launched home and away shirts.
