'Built to support quick changes in direction' - Trinity Rodman among those backing the new Adidas F50 SPARKFUSION, boots for women and designed by women

Adidas unveils new cleats, designed based on research into the boot requirements of women in football

• adidas

  WHAT HAPPENED

  Adidas unveiled it's newest cleat, the F50 SPARKFUSION, a football boot built specifically to "support the performance requirements of the female body, based on the speed demands of the modern women’s game." The boot is the result of a thoughtful design process, and comes with the backing of a number of professional female soccer players.

  The Adidas Innovation team gathered more than a decade's worth of female foot data from women's football players. The research conducted included scans, qualitative feedback and testing on current and partner team rosters, including Washington Spirit's Trinity Rodman, Real Madrid's Linda Caicedo and Barcelona's Vicky Lopez.

  The research was sparked by reports of women players having experienced discomfort while wearing a unisex cleat, at some point, in their careers.

• Adidas

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As the women's game continues to evolve, the company wanted to make sure that the cleat would align with the progression. According to match insights, one of the biggest changes in the elite women's game is the increase in speed and changes in direction.

  The new boot takes that into consideration, as well as how a woman's foot differs in shape - specifically women's feet typically have a more narrow heel, higher arches and more volume around the mid-foot area.

• Getty Images

  WHAT THE ATHLETES ARE SAYING

  Trinity Rodman: “Developing tailored products for the women’s game is a huge win and I have found it so valuable to be a part of the design and research journey with adidas for F50 SPARKFUSION. I love how the boot is built to support quick changes in direction - a trait that is a huge part of my craft - so I can’t wait to get out onto the pitch with them on and for everyone to feel the benefits.”

  Linda Caicedo: “Working closely with the adidas team and being a part of the process from the early stages for this boot was a really special experience - it provided a platform for me to share important feedback and ultimately meant I have been able to play a part in creating a better future for all athletes.”

• Adidas

  WHAT'S NEXT?

  The boot is on the market, and is a pastel purple color with bold neon green and different graphics. The classic Adidas three stripes have a strong role on the cleat as well, colored in a neon green on the outer part of the shoe. The models are being sold at different price points, depending on the model and whether laceless or lowcut laced.