Sporting Goods Review Paul Westlake reviews the latest sporting goods recently released onto the market Under Armour ArmourBite mouthpiece
Overview: For use in contact and non-contact sports, the ArmourBite is designed to reduce your body’s production of cortisol, the hormone producing stress and fatigue. When you train and compete, your clenched jaw and teeth compress your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which produces cortisol.
Verdict: At fi rst sceptical, I used the mouthpiece whilst playing a range of sports including football, squash and golf. Whether or not it was the placebo eff ect, whilst playing football there was a noticeable improvement to my fi tness in the last few minutes of the game.
Football Nutra Football Nutra system
Rating 4.1 / 5
SGB
Overview: The only football specifi c supplement system of its kind. Included are daily tablets that include vitamin tablets to aid hydration and recovery for match day before, during and after. Alongside the tablets are energy drinks in a variety of fl avours.
Verdict: The branded bottles included are very useful to advise on how much powder to use per serving. After using the Nutra system for most of my Sunday league season, results are impressive. Recovery time after playing is reduced and that dreaded lactic acid build up is largely a thing of the past.
Under Armour Hydrastrike
Rating 4.6 / 5
SGB
Overview: A 2-part boot including a soft K-leather toe and microfi bre mid-sole, the product is poised to become Under Armour’s fl agship boot. The boot also features a 4D cushioned innersole which acts like a memory foam.
Verdict: The boot looks and feels high quality. However, it may be too heavy for a winger or striker. A lack of colourways may also put off some who favour a brighter coloured boot particularly with the younger generation. However on the whole the boot deserves a 4 star rating particularly for any defenders or holding midfi elders looking for comfort and durability.
Mizuno Morelia
Rating 4.1 / 5
SGB
Overview: A heritage style boot with a traditional design incorporating a thick leather rollover tongue and big metal studs. The Morelia comes in a variety of colourways and is currently being used by Brazilian star Hulk. Hulk is very hot property at the moment so this appears to be a shrewd move from Mizuno.
Verdict: The Morelia is highly durable but the leather is very rigid on fi rst use but softens after a few games. As a winger, I felt the boot to be a tad too heavy but the ankle support is very accommodating.
Mizuno Wave Ignitus II
Rating 3.4 / 5
SGB
Overview: Featuring a Mukaiten panel on the medial side of the boot designed to give added precision to set pieces. The Mukaiten panel is reported to reduce the rotation of the ball by 17% making it harder for goalkeepers to predict the path of the ball mid air. CSKA Moscow star Keisuke Honda has reportedly mastered the art of producing an unreadable late dip or swerve on the ball by using the Wave Ignitus.
Verdict: Being picky, the many grooves on the boot mean they are diffi cult to keep in good condition. The detailing is high quality and a touch on the ball is a touch from the footballing gods! As a winger, passing precision is essential and even at my level I found my passing accuracy to have improved a great deal. Highly recommended!
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SGB-SPORTS.COM
Rating 4.8 / 5
SGB
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