Guide
The Predator Fold-Over Tongue
Which Predators had it, when it vanished, and why it came back.
Ask anyone to draw a Predator from memory and they will draw the tongue. That long flap folding down over the laces has become the boot’s signature — more recognisable, for many fans, than the rubber elements that started it all. But it wasn’t there at the beginning, it disappeared for fourteen years, and its return in 2024 was one of the biggest boot stories of the decade.
Why a fold-over tongue?
The idea is simple. Laces and eyelets make an uneven surface across the top of the foot — exactly where you strike the ball. A long tongue folded down over them gives a cleaner, smoother striking area. It also gave the Predator a look no other boot had.
The golden era, 1995–2007
1994 — the original Predator. The first Predator introduced the rubber elements, but not the tongue.
1995 — Predator Rapier. The second Predator was the first with a fold-over tongue, and it set the template for the next fifteen years.
1996 — Predator Touch. The tongue grew, stretching further down over the laces to cover more of the striking surface.
1998 — Predator Accelerator. Zidane’s World Cup boot paired the tongue with asymmetric lacing, pushing the laces to the side for an even cleaner strike zone.
2000 — Predator Precision. The tongue was held down with a Velcro fastening — the boot Beckham wore against Greece.
2002 — Predator Mania. The Velcro gave way to an elasticated strap that fixed the tongue to the sole, locking it in place. For many, the Mania’s tongue is the Predator tongue.
2004 and 2006 — Pulse and Absolute. The tongue stayed as the Predator moved into its PowerPulse era.
2007 — Predator PowerSwerve. The last of the original line to carry the fold-over tongue, again secured with an elasticated strap.
The gap, 2009–2023
With the Predator X in 2009, the tongue was gone. adidas moved the line toward synthetic uppers and new technology, and the tongue didn’t come back — not on the adiPower, the Lethal Zones or the Instinct, and not when the Predator returned in 2017 as a laceless, knitted boot. For a generation of players, the fold-over tongue was something from their dad’s old boots.
The return — Predator 24
For the Predator’s thirtieth anniversary, adidas brought it back. The Predator 24, unveiled at the end of 2023, offered a fold-over tongue version at the top of the range — and it was an instant hit. It has stayed ever since, on the Predator 25 and the Predator 26, and it now runs all the way down the range rather than being reserved for the top model.
Does it actually help?
Honestly: mostly it is about feel and identity. A tongue gives a slightly smoother surface over the laces, and many players simply prefer the way it looks and feels. But testers of recent models have noted that the tongue versions can feel a little less locked-in around the heel than the laced ones. If lockdown matters more to you than heritage, try both. Our sizing and fit guide covers the difference.
Frequently asked questions
Which was the first Predator with a fold-over tongue?
The Predator Rapier of 1995, the second Predator.
When did the Predator lose the fold-over tongue?
The PowerSwerve of 2007 was the last of the original run to have it; the Predator X of 2009 dropped it.
When did the fold-over tongue come back?
With the Predator 24, unveiled at the end of 2023 for the boot’s thirtieth anniversary.
Related: The full Predator history · Predator Mania · Predator Precision