Antonio Zea is the adidas innovation director driving the amazing so far unnamed new boot and we asked him to tell us more.

What exactly is the 99g boot?
The 99g boot is a revolutionary new product that has been created by adidas in our speed range, adizero, and is the lightest football boot ever produced weighing 99g.

What materials have you used to create these boots that make them so light? 
This is actually the first time we have used a textile composite material on the outer layer which has allowed us to reduce weight. The 1mm thick outsole, made from a high-spec polyamide material, also reduces weight but maintains the rigidity of the boot needed to perform at the highest levels. We have also reduced and removed any non-essential materials, especially in the heel, linings and materials between the different layers of the boot. The new stud layout ensures the fastest possible movement in all directions while playing. Put simply, we’ve reduced the boot to its essential elements which allows for the greatest possible reduction in weight whilst maximising performance, similar to what designers do with a Formula 1 car. 

When will this product be made available to the public? 
The current plan is to have the adidas 99g boot fully developed by 2015 when a limited number will be available to fans.

What was the rationale behind creating it? 
adizero players base their games around speed so we wanted to create a lightweight boot that would give them a physical and psychological advantage on the pitch. These players strive to be light on their feet and quick off the mark so any reduction in weight will make a difference to them performing at the highest level. It’s always been our commitment, both as a brand and to the players who use our products, to be at the cutting edge of technology in football.

What sort of testing has gone into this product?
The key for us was to ensure the boot could perform at the highest level in real-life situations so we have worked and developed the product with the help of grassroots players. Every single one of the new materials that have been incorporated into the design has been rigorously tested in match scenarios and we look out for potential damage such as tear strength and abrasions. This boot is no different to any other we produce and has been through the same tests as all other adidas products.

Where do you think boot technology will go in the future?
Football boots will continue to focus on speed and we are looking at and testing new lightweight materials that allow players to be faster than ever before. However, we always have to be conscious that football is an extremely demanding sport and players have other requirements as well such as energy, power and stamina. We want adidas to remain at the cutting edge of football boot technology and we will look to continue pushing boundaries and changing the game just as we did with replaceable studs in 1954, the Predator boot in 1994, and the f50 in 2010.