Worn by Rakitic: Tapedesign Anti-Slip Socks Review
A few weeks ago, we made a post about the socks worn by FC Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic, produced by Austrian company Tapedesign. Tapedesign's anti-slip socks have been gaining a lot of traction lately, with many different professionals at the highest level using them - amongst them are players such as Reiss Nelson, Bas Dost, Malcom and Marko Arnautovic.
Over the past couple of weeks we've been able to try the Tapedesign socks and we'll give you our unfiltered opinion and verdict today, but let's start with a short introduction.
Tapedesign's socks aim to reduce slipping inside the shoe by placing sticky dots on the bottom of the socks, something that was of course first done in football by Trusox. Unlike Trusox, which has patented this part of its construction, Tapedesign's socks do not feature dots on the inside. Instead, they aim to make sure that the foot is not slipping inside the sock by using a very firm and yet quite elastic material that closely wraps around the foot. In fact, this allows Tapedesign to have just two sizing options (30-36, 37-48) which is quite outstanding.
The Tapedesign socks are available in a wide array of colors and its possible to have them personalized with your initials, country flags or even Emoji. They range from €30 per pair for the basic options to €40 for personalized and longer socks.
Features
- ONE size (size 37 – 48) due to special processing of the very high quality material
- Specially placed rubber knobs on the outside in ergonomic foot shape for a perfect fit in the shoe
- Tested by professional and amateur athletes in all kinds of sports (such as football, tennis, handball, volleyball, etc.) and perceived as excellent
- Can be used in all sports where direction changes and rotational movements are required
- RRP: €30 (~$35, £27)
Following our test, which involved football as well as running, we can confirm that Tapedesign's socks basically eliminate any kind of slipping inside the shoe. This brings a lot in many sports as it allows for faster direction turns and less lost energy with every step.
We were a bit skeptical about the one-fits-all sizing, but they've managed to pull it off thanks to the material that's used. Although they are pretty stretchy, and thus easily to put on, the socks have a very tight fit. It might actually be a bit tight for some people, especially with larger or wider feet. However, since these socks main feature is to provide a tight and close fit, it's something you'll have to live with.
The socks are also a fair bit thinner than other football socks, which again might not be what you want. Quality and production of the socks appears to decent, and while we of course haven't put in a lot of time with them yet, we feel like they should hold up for a fair amount of time. We'll continue to wear them regularly and will update you if there are any issues in this department.
Impression
- No slipping inside the shoe
- Easy to put on
- Very firm fit
- Might be too tight for some people
- Decent quality
- Very visible branding
To sum it um, Tapedesign's socks bring more or less what they promise. They are a true performance product made for match days, but might lack a bit in terms of comfort. Pricing is definitely a bit steep at €30 per pair, but if you're currently having issues with things like slipping or blisters, they're worth trying out for sure.
The socks can be bought directly from Tapedesign as well as a small selection of retailers, mainly from Austria and Germany.
Do you have anything to add, any questions? Comment below.
Vintage Football Shirts
from Cult Kits
Iconic Liverpool Shirts A3 Print
2020/21 QPR Ball #12 *Match Issue* Home Shirt (M) Errea
1992 Umbro *BNWT* L/S Template Shirt (XL)
1999/00 Lecce Home Shirt (L) Asics
1992/94 Spain Home Shirt (L) Adidas
1994 Argentina Reusable Face Mask
2004/05 Puma *BNWT* Template Shirt (S)
1994 USA 94 *BNWT* World Cup Cap Twins
2002/03 Shamrock Rovers Away Shirt (Y) Umbro
2004/05 AC Milan Inzaghi #9 *Player Issue* Home Shirt (M) Adidas
Derbystar Austrian Bundesliga 26-27 Match Ball Revealed
The Austrian ADMIRAL Bundesliga and technical partner Derbystar have officially unveiled the new official match ball for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. The new ball already made an early on-pitch debut last weekend during the crucial final round of the current campaign. Starting next season, the new design will be used uniformly across the top-flight ADMIRAL Bundesliga, the 2. Liga, and the Frauen-Bundesliga.
The Derbystar Austrian Bundesliga 26-27 match ball is heavily inspired by the ultimate goal of the domestic season: the championship trophy. Moving away from the vibrant magenta and turquoise of the previous campaign, the 26-27 ball features a classic black-and-white base enhanced by modern graphic applications.
The artwork intricately incorporates depictions of the trophies from all three participating leagues. Crucially, the design pays a special tribute to the iconic gold "Meisterteller" (Champions Plate), specifically celebrating the 50th anniversary of the famous trophy's first-ever presentation to the league winners back in 1977.
In addition to the standard primary match ball, Derbystar has also developed a vibrant High-Visible variant specifically designed for optimal tracking during poor weather or snowy winter conditions.
What do you think of this trophy-inspired black and white design for the new Austrian Bundesliga ball? Let us know in the comments below.
Decathlon Serie C 26-27 Ball Released
Lega Pro and sporting goods retailer Decathlon have officially presented the new Official Match Ball for the upcoming 2026-2027 Serie C season.
The Serie C 2026-2027 match ball boasts a very striking look, "inspired by the concept of energy, reflecting the intense passion and movement that characterizes the third tier of Italian football".
The highly refractive optical white base is decorated with dynamic, futuristic graphics featuring a chromatic texture that fades from cobalt blue to bright red, which is further highlighted by vibrant neon yellow accents.
What are your thoughts on the striking design of the new Decathlon Serie C match ball? Let us know in the comments below.
Adidas Italy 1992 Retro T-Shirt Leaked
We can leak the first images of a new Adidas Italy retro lifestyle t-shirt.
As part of a wider Originals collection aimed at national teams, this new piece brings a strong 1990s aesthetic back to the modern era. The release highlights the German brand's continuing strategy of mining its extensive design archives to create bespoke, off-pitch apparel for its top-tier federations.
The Adidas Italy retro t-shirt features a clean, off-white base color that immediately establishes a classic throwback feel. Drawing direct inspiration from the colors of the Italian national flag, the shirt incorporates striking green, white and red geometric blocks.
Adding heavily to the nostalgic appeal, the chest displays a centralized logo arrangement, featuring a classic Adidas wordmark and Trefoil paired with a faithful recreation of the historic Italian Football Federation crest used throughout the early 1990s.
Other Adidas federations will get the same range in their colors.
Adidas Germany 'Alternate History' 1992 Retro Jacket Leaked
We have the first image of a unique new Adidas Germany retro jacket, showcasing an intriguing new approach from the sportswear brand.
While the design instantly evokes strong nostalgia for the 1990s, this upcoming release is actually an "alternate history" creation. Despite its highly authentic vintage appearance and period-accurate details, this specific track jacket never actually existed in the official Adidas catalogues during the 1990s, making it a brand new addition to their retro-focused lifestyle collection.
To achieve this convincing old-school aesthetic, Adidas has utilized their classic 1992 template as the structural foundation for the design. The garment features a vibrant green base that heavily nods to Germany's traditional away kits of the era. The colors of the German national flag are cleverly completed on the sleeves through large geometric blocks that also recreate the 3 stripes.
The same jacket will also be released for Spain and other Adidas national teams.
Jesse Lingard Wears 'J Lingz' on His Corinthians Kit
Former Manchester United and England midfielder Jesse Lingard yesterday night wore a unique name on the back of his shirt for his current club, Corinthians.
During the Brazilian side's Copa do Brasil clash against Barra FC, Lingard took to the pitch with his popular moniker, 'J Lingz', printed above his squad number. Rather than a permanent vanity choice by the 33-year-old, this unusual kit alteration was part of a coordinated, team-wide initiative where all Corinthians players swapped their traditional names for their recognizable nicknames.
The temporary name changes were implemented as part of a promotional campaign for Brazil's Generic Drug Day, which is officially celebrated on May 20th. Driven by pharmaceutical brand Hypera, the initiative aimed to highlight the importance and reliability of generic medications in public health. By replacing the players' standard names with their nicknames, the club and the sponsor sought to creatively demonstrate that even if the name on the back is different, the player - and by extension, the generic medication - delivers the exact same performance and effect.
Lingard joined the Brazilian giants in March following a stint in South Korea with FC Seoul.
