Soccer Cleats 101 Soccer Cleats News and Reviews
One of the more stand out boots of the World Cup so far has been the Mizuno Wave Ignitus. Below you will see the pair that Paraguay international striker Santa Cruz has been wearing. His version include his native flag stitched on along with the names of his two children. At the bottom are images of Nigeria’s Kalu Uche during training, and Japan’s goal scoring hero Keisuke Honda. Honda scored the winning goal in his countries fantastic 1-0 win over Cameroon earlier this week. Without a doubt, the Mizuno team will have been extremely pleased about that goal!
The main question I have got about these boots is “What are the black panels on the front?” Basically, they are called Bio Vamp panels and they span across 360 degree of the boot. The idea of these panels is to enhance 2 different types of ball contact whilst kicking. First, the grooves on the instep of the boot offer enhanced control and touch when you are controlling the ball, while the deeper grooves on the forefoot give added spin to deliver a more deadly shot or pass.
Located on the inner side of the boot just above the bio vamp, you will see the revolutionary Mukaiten Panel that is designed to add lethal precision to set pieces. If you are wondering what the word ‘Mukaiten’ refers to, it is the Japanese phenomenon of non-spin free kicks and it will cause the ball to swerve in the air if you catch it just right – a potential nightmare for goalkeepers! The boot has been created using a super soft K-leather that goes hand in hand with a patented ‘Dynamotion fit concept’ to create a super comfortable fitting boot. Good stuff all round!
Unfortunately for us here in the US, Mizuno boots are not available (unless you order from overseas.) This is mainly because Mizuno feel that there is not a big enough market, which I completely disagree with! But, don’t be surprised if after this summers World Cup, they decide to take a stab at making a name for themselves here.
What are your thoughts on the Wave Ignitus, and do you think Mizuno would have a market in the US? Leave your thoughts below.
