I tested the Mizuno Alpha Made in Japan - and they're now my favourite football boots for speed

The Mizuno Alpha Made in Japan is by no means a new release on the football boot market - in fact, they were initially released in November 2022 - but it's never too late to try out a high-tech option that is clearly standing the test of time.

Renowned for unrivalled comfort and quality, Mizuno's Made in Japan range does come at a greater expense than its regular offerings, but the quality makes it so worth it. Traditionally built with leather, the Mizuno Alpha Made in Japan is a synethetic model designed to rival the likes of the Nike Mercurial Superfly 10 Elite and Adidas F50 Elite in the best football boots for speed category.

I took a pair to the pitch to answer the question of whether Mizuno could really compete, and if the Alpha can live up to its name when compared against even the best football boots available.

Mizuno Alpha Made In Japan review

Unlike the plush, quality leather on the Mizuno Morelia II Made in Japan football boots, the Mizuno Alpha Made in Japan feature a thin, lightweight, synthetic upper that feel completely different on feet, though no less exceptional.

I was instantly impressed by how they felt out of the box, and although the synthetic used for the upper is not the softest, these felt better on my feet than most of the best lightweight football boots did at the start. They soften up pretty quickly too, which helps out-of-the-box use, and is a welcome change from the slightly uncomfortable feeling from similar boots.

One area of the boots that is particularly impressive is the heel. It features Mizuno's zero glide technology aimed at preventing heel slip and it does exactly that. It's stickier to the touch than the heel area of any other boot you will find, and this helps keep your foot nicely in place for that all-important heel lockdown. The shape of the heel was also perfect for me, but different foot types might feel differently.

When it comes to lockdown, it's generally about as good as it gets. The lacing is very deep and when I used the top lace holes and tied the boots tight, I felt as locked in as I have felt in any current pair. This is a feeling that does wonders for the all-round experience of wearing a boot, creating a distraction-free feel that good football boots should.

It also means that you feel the benefit of other areas of the boot such as the soleplate and the thinness of the boot. The slim upper gives a nice one-to-one feel with the ball without feeling so barefoot as to feel unstructured and the lockdown enhances this experience.

In terms of the outsole, the Mizuno Alpha Made in Japan features triangular studs on a stiff plate with a Carvo insert to provide the snappy responsiveness needed to push off quickly. I personally tend to prefer less aggressive soleplates so I was pleased that while it has a lot of bite, the plate here is not as aggressive as can be seen on other pairs such as the New Balance Furon V7+ Pro or the Skechers Razor.

As with the vast majority of firm ground pairs, the FG plate of Mizuno Alpha is best kept for use on natural grass rather than on artificial surfaces, especially as there is a dedicated AG option which features arguably the best soleplate of this type currently available.

I wore these both in my usual size and half a size down and preferred the fit of the smaller boot. I prefer a very snug fit so if you like a little bit of room then true-to-size may be your best bet, but the boots definitely fit a little long.

Width-wise, this is a pretty accommodating boot so only those with exceptionally wide feet, needing the best football boots for wide feet, will have any problems. This follows a trend of other major speed boots like the Nike Mercurial Vapor 16, Superfly 10 and Adidas F50 Elite which are more accommodating having traditionally been very narrow.

My biggest gripe with these boots and with the Mizuno Made in Japan range in general, is the price. These retail for £310, making them by far the most expensive in-line speed boots currently available.

An argument can be made that the price is reflected in the quality of the boots, but this kind of price in a space that is already too expensive is hard to justify and harder to spend when there are top-quality choices on the market for considerably cheaper. When there are still some great options in our best football boots under £100 guide, spending triple that can seem largely pointless.

The boots have been around for over two years now, so it is becoming more and more possible to pick a pair up on sale, but due to how high the starting price is, even then we are often talking about a pair that is around the same price as everything else and more expensive than sale options for comparable pairs. There is also the option of the Mizuno Alpha Elite which offers much of the same quality at a kinder price point.

Since its release, the Mizuno Alpha Made in Japan has been the best speed boot on the market. With Mizuno opting to give its models a much longer life cycle than other brands this is all the more impressive as it means the Alpha outperforms both the models that were released at the same time, and all that has come since.

Unfortunately, they are so expensive it means many people will simply never experience them and that is a shame. However, if you are able to find a deal or are willing to shell out the £300+ it will cost to get a pair of these then you won't regret it.