Nike is the largest sportswear company in the world and now dominates the football (or Soccer) industry, sponsoring many of the largest teams and best players in the world. Nike produces equipment and clothing for all major sports but specialises in being at the fore front of style and technology in the football industry. Many top English Premier League players are sponsored by Nike and wear Nike boots, Nike under armour and Nike shinpads.
The latest Nike shinpad to be brought to market is the Nike Mercurial Blade shinpad. Some say these shinpads are too high price but we believe they show the level of technology that is now being devoted to all aspects of sports apparel, especially shinpads. The leg bone the tibia is largely exposed due to the lack of muscle around it that usually protects bones from impact. This means that knock to the shin are very common and often result in bruising and time out from playing. Add this with the increased speed and intensity of the modern game it shows that shinpads are a necessity.
The Nike Mercurial Blade shinpads are an innovation. They are ultra thin and weigh a miniscule 2.6 ounces. Nike have used a carbon fibre weave to create the hardened shell, created to withstand all the demands and knocks of the most intense games. The cushioning is made from a dual-layer foam that actively disperses the impact to reduce the chance of pain and bruising whilst creating high comfort. These Nike shinpads have a special channel in the foam to wick away any moisture and to increase comfort. Unlike most shinpads the Nike Mercurial Blade shinpads have specifically designed left and right to ensure comfort and protection is maximised. Nike shinpads come with a Dri-FIT sleeve that keeps the pads in place whilst providing compression to the muscles in the leg, to keep the leg warm and supple reducing chances of injury and letting you play harder for longer.
The best thing about Nike Shinpads is the protective sleeve that comes with the shinpads. Nike have created a whole range of shinpads where the protective shield attaches to a compression sleeve. This is either done by placing the shell in a ‘pocket’ at the front of the sleeve or some shinpads have Velcro systems to keep the protective layer in position. Nike was also one of the first companies to produce a shinpad with detachable ankle protection. This meant you had a choice of whether you wanted to use ankle guards or not. Some players prefer not to use ankle protection when training and Nike shinpads allowed them to have the choice.
Another Nike shinpad innovation was the Nike calf protectors. These are placed in a second pocket in the compression sleeve and prevent the rate of injury to the back of the leg.
