Objective vs Subjective

There are not a lot of boots that can claim to be best in class, but the Mizuno Morelia Neo IV Beta always tends to be the modern leather boot that all other modern leather boots are measured against. There are a lot of things to love about the Beta: its knit midfoot, comfortable heel, and of course, the fantastic kangaroo leather that is among the very best available. If anything, the only thing the Beta was lacking was a more aggressive soleplate to match the more high tech nature of the boot. People like JayMike from Unisport have been begging for a change for years and we have finally gotten it in the Innovation Pack model. However great the Beta is though, on a personal level the Beta has never really worked well for me. And while there is no doubt that the Beta might be one of the best releases this year, for me it just does not work, making this one of the most difficult boots I have ever had to review.

Fit and Feel

But first we need to talk about what is so great about the boots. The leather softeness and the smell from out of the box is incredible. There really are not many brands who can do what Mizuno does when it comes to high quality kangaroo leather. It feels absurdly premium and obviously that is what you would hope for given the high price of the boots.

There is a lot of attention to detail with the boots in terms of the materials used. The knit is top grade, and the brushed suede lining is very soft and super comfortable. The stich lines and patterns make sure that the boot will not suffer from overstretching and nothing seems out of place. The manufacturing of the Mizuno Morelia Neo IV Beta is among the best you will see on the market as there are no weird lines and the whole boot feels carefully put together.

Objectively, on feet the boots are very comfortable and the midfoot and heel combine well to provide excellent lockdown. The lockdown is also so good because the way the lacing system is designed makes sure that the laces cinch up properly when tightened. Unfortunately, the laces are extremely subpar for a product of this quality and price point. Given that these are such expensive boots, Mizuno should really just go ahead and use their premium ZeroGlide laces, especially as they are very difficult to find outside of Japan.

Subjectively, the fit is where I begin to run into problems. While the fit of the midfoot and heel are good, even in a half a size down my foot feels like it is floating in the forefoot somewhat and I do not get that snug fit I want and expect in my leather boots. A full size down is too tight in the length. With half a size down my toes are pressing against the end of the boot, which is how I like my boots to fit. However, the leather is not wrapped around my foot like I prefer, and the forefoot feels overly wide. It is a bit jarring considering how tight fitting the midfoot is. And there are more issues when it comes to playing with the ball, which we will cover later.

This seems to just be something with me and a few others specifically, while the majority of people I have talked to about these boots have no issues at all. It is really weird because while the Neo has long fit me strangely from the first model onwards, I have never had this big of an issue with the overall fit before. It could be possible because of the way the Alpha soleplate fits with the upper of the Beta, but widthwise the Alpha fits me well. It almost seems as if Mizuno has slightly widened up the upper with the Innovation Pack model. Wearing thicker socks somewhat helps, but it is still very evident. I do not have a particularly narrow foot, and I would say my foot is medium to narrow.

Again, like every other Neo Beta, the Innovation Pack runs long, and it is recommended to go half a size down from your normal size in other brands.

On the Ball

The fit issues become much more noticeable for me when I am doing ball work. Every time I juggle the ball, it is really obvious that the Mizuno Morelia Neo IV Beta does not properly wrap my foot, and I can feel my foot floating around the forefoot. I have doublechecked that the sizing is not off (it is not) and that my toe is really on the end of the boot (it is). It is really bizarre sensation. The majority of the touches made with the forefoot just makes it obvious that the boots do not fit my feet.

On the other hand, the boots are technically really good. The leather is not too thick and in theory the touch on the ball should be superb. Again, other people who are wearing the boots do not seem to have any issues and some, like Brns Boots, say it is their Boot of the Year already. Pretty much every other reviewer absolutely loves these Beta, so in that way they are easy to recommend.

Dribbling also should be excellent for most people, with the consistent shape of the upper and stitching means there are no surprises on the ball. The thinner leather also means that there is not much between the foot and ball so that touch feels more direct.

Hitting long balls and shooting will feel enjoyable for most people, and the Beta is one of those boots that you get out what you put in. Thankfully, because of the snug midfoot and excellent lockdown, most people will not feel their feet shifting around the boot when hitting the ball with power. For me, because the fit is off, and it feels disconnected from my foot. However, one of the positive things, even for me, is that the Alpha soleplate is great at anchoring the foot in the ground when hammering the ball so it does not feel as if you will slide about awkwardly when giving the ball some oomph.

Grip

The Alpha soleplate is easily the highest performing soleplate that Mizuno makes right now. Slapping the Beta upper on this soleplate is a simple but excellent idea that immediately makes these one of the top boots on the market. Again, for most people.

It is so good that Mizuno should stop using the Neo soleplate on the Beta model and switch to the Alpha soleplate permanently. I personally would argue that it would lead to higher sales for the Beta and it might be more likely to see non-sponsored players wearing the boots. In my view, it not only gives the Neo Beta higher performance, but automatically makes it one of the best speed boots on the market.

The Alpha soleplate is excellent overall. There is great springback because of the KaRVO forefoot, and lots of support in the midfoot as well. Add Mizuno’s Enerzy tech in the heel, which is not very noticeable but is appreciated as someone who used to suffer from heel issues, and you get one of my favourite soleplates on the market.

This soleplate also offers a comfortable ride, and for me, no matter the surface I have worn boots with this soleplate on I have not felt any stud pressure. There have not ever been any durability issues as well. This is mostly because the studs seem well designed to take a beating. They are not the most aggressive studs or stud layout, but this actually works to the Beta’s benefit as on even on AG I do not feel like I am getting stuck in the ground. But, as a word of warning, if you have knee or ankle issues it is best to avoid boots with this soleplate, just to be safe.

Conclusion

Once again, this has been one of the most difficult and frustrating reviews I have done. The Mizuno Morelia Neo IV Beta from the Innovation Pack is objectively now one of the best and highest-performing boots on the market. People seem to absolutely love the boots, and it is a huge statement from Mizuno. At the same time, it has to be acknowledged that for me, as well as a few other people, the Beta simply does not fit certain foot shapes. I absolutely love these boots in concept and execution in everything but the fit. I do highly recommend these boots, but it has to come with the asterisk as there is a chance that they will not fit your foot. If they do fit you, the Innovation Pack Beta is easily one of the top boots out there.

What do you think of the Mizuno Morelia Neo IV Beta from the Innovation Pack? Make sure to share this with your friends and please follow me on Instagram!

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