Drehkraft broken down to “dreh” and “kraft” means twist and power. The word itself, drehkraft translates to torque. Name fits perfectly to one of the most advanced lifters on the market: Adidas Drehkraft Weightlifting Shoes.
Drehkrafts are supposed to be comparable with Adidas AdiPowers 2.0, same form, same heel height and similar weight. What distinguished them from the previous models and other weightlifting shoes is the Boa® Closure lacing system, which opposed to the traditional, old-school fabric laces offers a stronger hold to keep your foot securely in place.
Turn to tighten + pull up for a quick release
Boa® Closure system was first developed for snowboarders. While speeding down the hill, you want your feet to feel stable: you tighten the boots to the “painful max”, and release them quickly, right after you cross the finish line to give your feet a little rest.
Drehkrafts offer a similar strategy for weightlifting: strong hold when on the platform, quick release right after and a relaxing lightness when resting on a bench.
What is Boa® lacing system?
Gary Hammerslag, surfer, snowboarder and entrepreneur, developed the Boa® Closure System in 1998 after his snowboard boots with traditional laces didn’t secure him a good fit. The product had a kick start in Steamboat Springs, Colorado (USA) and went from snowboarding and cycling to other sports like weightlifting.
Steel lace, nylon guides and a mechanical reel were designed to “upgrade” the deficiencies of traditional laces. Besides sports, this award winning closure system is now also used for medical braces and other equipment.
Like most of the other Adidas lifters, the Adidas Drehkraft might feel tight in the front (toe) area. The leather is thicker (due to the Boa® lacing system) which makes the tongue less flexible. However, those features are also the reason the shoes feel more stable and offer a better, consistent hold.
Compared to Nike Romaleos, the Drehkraft shoe feels extremely light. Heel height is 0.75″ (1.9 cm), same as in AdiPowers. Color scheme ranges in monochrome tones: from iron, silver metallic to light grey. Although the leather is thicker, Drehkrafts were designed to have a better breathe-ability: your feet are supposed to sweat less.
The official stats from the Adidas Drehkraft
- Synthetic upper with flexible textile heel tab; Micro-adjusting Boa® Closure System for ultimate, consistent hold
- Weightlifting-engineered, high-density die-cut midsole wedge for lightweight stability
- Wedge heel height configured specifically for snatch and clean and jerk disciplines
- Heel support designed for an integral rearfoot with superb lightweight stability
- Flexible welded 3-Stripes for lightweight durable support
- ADIWEAR™ outsole offers the ultimate in high-wear durability; Full-length flat outsole for consistent floor contact
We’ll see in November if any of the world-class athletes decides to use the Adidas Drehkraft for the upcoming World Weightlifting Championship (Huston, USA).
Image Sources
- Addias-Drehkraft-Weightlfiting-Shoes: adidas